Common plants can easily be taken for granted, but the pretty Ivy-leaved toadflax warrants a close look. A native from southern and western Europe Europe it arrived in the uk in the early 1600’s, likely as a domestic rock garden plant, but rapidly spread to give life and colour to our stone walls. This is not a plant you will find in natural habitats. It was rumoured to reach Oxford on imported marble from Italy, becoming known as the Oxford Weed as it thrived on the old stonework in the city. It has around 20 local common names including mother of thousands, creeping sailer and my favourite “wall rabbit” from the flower’s rabbit like ears. The flower is said to resemble the wide face of a toad. Other toadflax species were commonly found as weeds on flax fields. This clever plant has stems which initially seek the light, but once pollinated turn away from the light to deposit the seeds in dark wall crevices to germinate. It doesn’t cause damage and is an important source of nectar for our village bees. Long term data shows the average first flowering date of Ivy leaved toadflax was 35 days earlier in 1990 - 2000 compared with the previous four decades. A concerning sign of how our climate is changing