Seasonal Wild Flowers

Russian-vine

Fallopia baldschuanica

Polygonaceae

June to September

The garden plant is found throughout the country.

It is alsoestablished in the wild throughout the country, but is

much less common in the North and parts of the Midlands

and the Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Russian-vine

It scrambles over trees, scrub, hedges, fences and buildings.

It is a neophyte that was introduced in the 1890s and became

naturalised by the 1930s.

It is mainly found close to habitation and is on the increase due

to greater dumping of garden waste in the countryside.

Russian-vine is a climbing perennial, with vine-like stems,growing

over10m.

The flowers are in showy clusters.

Each flower has 5 shiny, white tepals, which are petaloid sepals.

The fruits are wart-like.

Leaves are deep green, triangular ovals.

Stems are vine-like and often reddish.

Russian-vine growing over a hedge

Cluster of flowers

Individual flowers - tepals (petaloid sepals)

and stamens

Wart-like fruits

Leaves

Vine-like stems