Tutsan

Look out for tutsan with its last remaining black berry-like capsules, which have transformed from their bright red colour last autumn. This low growing woody species can be up to a metre high with woody stems at the base. It is a semi-evergreen with broad oval hairless leaves with tiny translucent dots. Found in deciduous woodlands and hedges in slightly damp areas, only a few individual plants grow in an area – never dominating. Often found with other less common species – it indicates a valuable hedge margin, which has not been sprayed or cultivated. Tutsan is the native member of St. John’s-wort family and is part of our native Irish biodiversity.