In December, there’s not so many flowers in bloom along the pathways of Hvar, but a few linger on from autumn because of the mild temperatures, while others are getting an early start on spring!  For this winter edition, I’ve expanded the scope to include seeds, fruits and leaves as they make quite the splash of colour on our walks!

Vine leaves – a lovely splash of colour in winter!

Here’s my winter reference table, with the usual health warning about my ability to identify plants correctly! So many can be very similar, especially the myriad varieties of small yellow flowers!! Click on the images for a bigger picture, and links go to wikipedia or plantea (Croatian) to find out more.

Arbutus Strawberry tree Planika

Arisarum vulgare Friar’s cowl Croatian not known

Bellis perennis Common daisy (older name bruisewort) Tratinčica

Calendula arvensis Field marigold Neven (calendula officinalis)

Citrus sinensis Orange Mandarina Not a native species, but all kinds of citrus trees grow really well on Hvar!

Crocus biflorus Silvery crocus Dvocvjetni Šafran

Diplotaxis tenuifolia Perennial wall-rocket Uskolisni dvoredac

Erica manipuliflora (Winter-flowering) heather Primorski vrijes

Hippocrepus comosa Horseshoe vetch Croatian not known

Iberis sempervirens Evergreen candytuft Vazdazelena ognjica

Ipomoea purpurea Purple Morning Glory Ukrasni slak

Juniperus communis Common juniper Borovica / Smrča

Juniperus phoenicea Phoenician juniper / Arar Gluhač / Gluha smrča The Croatian name translates as deaf juniper, implying this is not the common version.

Leontodon Hawkbit (not to be confused with dandelion) Oštrodlakavi lavlji zub / kratkodlakava ločina

Lotus corniculatus Bird’s Foot Trefoil Svinđuša

Opuntia Opuntia / Prickly pear Opuncija / indijska smokva Introduced from the Americas

Pinus halepensis Aleppo pine Alepski bor

Pittosporum tobira Mock orange Pitospor Import from Japan, China and the Far East

Quercus ilex Holm oak Hrast crnika / česmina

Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Ružmarin

Sedum Stonecrop Bijeli žednjak No flowers at this time of year, but very pretty amongst the rocks!

Silene vulgaris Bladder Campion Pušina

Solanum nigrum Black nightshade Crna pomoćnica

Taraxacum Dandelion Maslačak

Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry / blaeberry Borovnica

Viburnum tinus Laurustinus Lemprika

Yucca Yucca Juka Another import from the Americas