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Plants

Hemlock

Your lungs stop working whilst your mind stays clear. Hemlock doesn’t kill you like arsenic or cyanide. There’s no dramatic collapse, no frothing at … Continue

Arrowhead

Let’s talk about arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia (pics). Native to these Isles. Member of the Alismataceae family. You’ve probably never heard of it. Most of … Continue

Judas Tree

The Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is a member of the Fabaceae family. Naturalised in Britain since at least the sixteenth century, carries with it … Continue

Marshmallow

In the 9th century, Emperor Charlemagne ordered marshmallow cultivated in his monastery gardens. The confection we know today, made from starch, sugar, and gelatin, … Continue

Douglas fir

I walk through dense oak woods, prolific with acorns. The sound of them tumbling through trees is rhythmic as rain, echoing the season’s bounty. … Continue

Peach-leaved bellflower

Common name Peach-leaved Bellflower Scientific name Campanula persicifolia Family Campanulaceae (Bellflower family) Botanical description A perennial that grows up to 90 cm, spreading slowly … Continue

Alexanders

Contents — Introduction— Description— Habitat and distribution— Introduction Alexanders has a fascinating past, used as food and medicine since Roman times. Once called “parsley … Continue

Japanese Cherry

Common name Sakura cherry, Japanese cherry, Ornamental cherry Scientific name Prunus serrulata Lindl. Family Rosaceae Botanical description Sakura cherry is a deciduous tree that … Continue

Camellia

Common name Common camellia, Japanese camellia, tsubaki Scientific name Camellia japonica L. Family Theaceae Botanical description Camellia japonica is an evergreen shrub or small … Continue

Sweet Flag

Acorus calamus, commonly known as Sweet flag is a plant typically found in marginal water areas, wetlands, alongside ponds, and in marshy areas. It … Continue

Common amaranth

Introduction Amaranthus retroflexus, known as common amaranth, is in the Amaranthaceae family. There are numerous species of amaranth in the British Isles. The BSBI … Continue

Japanese Pagoda Tree

The Japanese Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) is grown as an ornamental in the United Kingdom. Most people grow this tree for its flowers. White cascades … Continue

Scots Pine

Despite its common name, writes Peter Wyse Jackson, Scots Pine is not only found in its native Scotland but across northern Europe and as … Continue

Rock Samphire

Rock Samphire has been regularly consumed as part of a traditional Mediterranean diet. It’s time to bring this delicious vegetable back into our kitchens … Continue

Hazel

“Hazel was one of the first trees to colonise the land after the end of the last Ice Age,” writes Gabrielle Hatfield, “and for … Continue

Sea Purslane

Sea Purslane is a slow-growing shrub belonging to the goosefoot family and found in salt marshes and muddy beaches. Its thick, succulent leaves have … Continue

Himalayan balsam

The transportation of seeds or whole plants is an offence under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 in England and Wales … Continue

Orpine

Introduction Orpine is from the Latin verb sedeo, which means to sit. A reference to how the plant squats on rocks etc. The species … Continue

Lady’s-smock (Cuckooflower)

As the cuckoo calls in late spring and early summer, so the cuckooflower’s conspicuous blooms start to appear. Cardamine pratensis was also known as ‘water … Continue

Black mustard

Introduction Black mustard is an intrepid plant that has trekked its way across the world and is now cultivated in many countries including England, … Continue

Oxeye Daisy

A familiar sight in fields, the Oxeye Daisy is found throughout Britain, Europe and Russian Asia. When it was introduced to North America, the … Continue

Hogweed

I no longer recommend this plant be served to the public. This plant is not for beginners. Never eat raw. Always wear gloves when … Continue

Sweet Violet

There are around 400 species of violet found in the world, many of which are economically important. With so many species to distinguish between … Continue

Red Campion

A recognisable flower of the hedgerows, the flowers of Red Campion (Silene dioica) were said to resemble buttons. The Latin name Silene comes from … Continue

Three-cornered Leek/Garlic

Under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1985 and amendments) it is an offence to deliberately or accidentally introduce this plant into … Continue

Wych elm

With around forty-five species of elm found in forests in the northern hemisphere to the tropical mountains of Asia, we’re spoilt for choice. Here, … Continue

Silver birch

Introduction The birch tree is the ‘lady of the forest’ with its silvery bark, elegant white boughs and delicate leaves. The Latin name for … Continue

Salad Burnet

Salad Burnet is one of the few wild species which supplies edible greenery for most of the year. During the winter and spring months, … Continue

Staghorn Sumac

Scientific name Rhus typhina Family Anacardiaceae Botanical description Habit: Small tree, typically forming a low, spreading dome to 7m in height, often with multiple … Continue

Wild Service (Chequers Tree)

The wild service tree has earned its name from the Latin cervisia, because people used its small fruit in ancient times to make a fermented, … Continue

Crab apple

Introduction Crab apple is the awkward cousin of the cultivated apple and is often overlooked in food and medicine. However, the tree produces small, … Continue

Gorse

Gorse is a pretty, fragrant shrub of the pea family. The native species to the British Isles is considered to be U. gallii, although U. europaeus is … Continue

Wood Avens (Herb Bennet)

Wood Avens, or herb bennet, is a woodland member of the rose family (Rosaceae). Curiously, the plant’s Latin name urbanum means ‘city dweller’ which … Continue

Sea Buckthorn

Sea buckthorn is an ancient crop with modern virtues, say many researchers of ethnobotany. Its Latin name Hippophae is from the Greek ‘hippo’, meaning … Continue

Cow parsley

Introduction Cow parsley displays characteristic rows of ‘white lace’ along roadside verges in spring and was once used in food and medicine. However, a … Continue

Flowering currant

Ribes sanguineum is a versatile and attractive shrub that offers ornamental and culinary value in the British Isles. Its vibrant flowers, fragrant foliage, and … Continue

Ground Ivy

Ground ivy is one of Britain’s commonest plants. It flourishes from sunny banks to shady wastelands. A perennial plant with trailing dark-green, kidney-shaped leaves … Continue

Sea Beet

Sea beet is the wild ancestor to common vegetables such as beetroot, swiss chard and spinach beet. We can even thank the rugged coastal … Continue

Navelwort (Pennywort)

There is a tendency to overlook the navelwort in favour of the house-leek (Sempervivum tectorum) in folk medicine. David Allen and Gabrielle Hatfield consider … Continue

Smooth Sowthistle

The hollow stem yields a white, milky juice said to be eaten by sows to increase the flow of their milk. The Latin name … Continue

Horseradish

Horseradish has been cultivated since ancient times and is a familiar culinary herb of many kitchens. Its distinctive taste is used to flavour many … Continue

Sweet Chestnut

There are few customs more autumnal than collecting chestnuts and roasting them over a fire. Chestnuts, from the sweet chestnut tree (Castanea sativa), are … Continue

Sea Aster

Scientific name Tripolium pannonicum Family Asteraceae. Botanical description The plant yields blue-purple, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow stamens among a sea of long, slender … Continue

Lime (Linden)

Common Lime (Tilia x europaea) is a sweet-scented blossoming tree that brings a generous crop of nectar for bees and lime-flavoured honey for beekeepers … Continue

Primrose

This humble little plant that often pops up unexpectedly in a corner of the garden after a long winter is a gentle herbal soother … Continue

White Dead Nettle

While children once sucked the sweet nectar from White Dead Nettle flowers, today’s wild food enthusiasts may enjoy the plant in many other ways. … Continue

Brooklime

Introduction Brooklime is a delicate blue flower of ponds and streams and often grows with watercress. It was used for centuries as a salad … Continue

Fat hen

Chenopodium comes from the Greek chen, meaning goose, podus or foot. Fat hen was considered important enough in Anglo-Saxon times to have places named … Continue

Ground Elder

Medieval monks cultivated ground elder as a medicinal plant, but it later earned a reputation of a nuisance weed thanks to its rapid growth. … Continue

Oak

Oak is arguably Britain’s most beloved tree and can live up to 800 years. The fruit it bears – the acorn – has been … Continue

Guelder Rose (Crampbark)

Guelder rose berries have fed and healed people in many cultures. They have become part of European and Native American cuisines. They appear in … Continue

Selfheal

Selfheal is a forgotten healer that has made a recent comeback as a modern-day heal-all with promising potential for use in food and medicine. … Continue

Yarrow

Yarrow is the herb of a million flowers, thanks to its prolific foliage. This wild edible has been used in food and medicine since … Continue

Rowan (Mountain Ash)

Rowan or Mountain Ash is an ancient tree used since ancient times. The berries provide a variety of wild edible delights and offer a … Continue

Broad-leaved dock

Docks have grown in Britain since three ice ages ago, and remains of dock have been found in places where people once farmed, such … Continue

Daisy

Introduction Daisy, a humble little flower that is widespread in many parts of the world. A children’s favourite for making ‘daisy chains’ or ‘fairy … Continue

Meadowsweet

Sweetly scented meadowsweet was famous as a strewing herb and as a flavouring for mead. It later gained recognition as one of the plants that … Continue

Sorrel

As a medicinal and garden herb, common sorrel has been used since the ancient days of Greece’s Dioscorides and Rome’s Pliny the Elder in … Continue

Plantain

Plantain belongs to a big family of plants called Plantaginaceae. Greater and lesser plantain is also known as common plantain and ribwort plantain respectively. … Continue

Garlic mustard

Garlic mustard is a common wild herb in Britain and Ireland. Its leaves exude a garlicky smell when bruised or chopped, although the plant … Continue

Cleavers (goosegrass)

Introduction Cleavers earned its name thanks to the sticky plant’s tendency to ‘cleave’ to human clothing or animal fur. However, this common weed is … Continue

Rosehip (Dog Rose)

Dog Rose (also known as Rosehip), is a climbing wild rose with white-pink flowers and a soft subtle scent. Its deep orange-red fruit, the … Continue

Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle is a surprisingly helpful plant in food and medicine despite its stinging hairs, as seen below. Scientific Name Urtica dioica Family Urticaceae … Continue

Elder

Elder is a valuable wild edible tree or shrub. Its berries have a cornucopia of uses. Scientific name Sambucus nigra Family Adoxaceae Botanical description … Continue

Chickweed

Introduction Chickweed is a familiar garden weed recognisable by its tiny white flowers. The seeds were once fed to birds, which is how the … Continue

Sloe (Blackthorn)

Sloe also known as Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a thorny hedgerow plant with dark purple berries often sought after in autumn to make warming … Continue

Water Pepper

As I write this, I am sitting on a bench. Opposite me is a large patch of water pepper. I write with an ancient, primitive … Continue

Laver

Laver seaweed has traditionally been harvested in Scotland, Wales and Ireland to make laverbread, and cultivated in countries such as Japan, Hawaii and the … Continue

Purple Loosestrife

Purple loosestrife can be used as food and medicine. Below you’ll learn the parts used, harvest time, nutrition and other ways humans use this … Continue

Bramble (blackberry)

Introduction A popular bramble fruit, blackberries are often picked in late summer to autumn to make jams, jellies and pies. Bramble is one of … Continue

Wild Garlic (Ramsons)

The leaves of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) harvested before flowering have a delicious, sweet and pungent taste. Excellent raw in salads and as pesto. … Continue

Lesser celandine

Lesser celandine belongs to the buttercup family. The bright yellow flowers appear briefly in early spring. The plant has a long history as a … Continue

Hawthorn

Common hawthorn in blossom is a familiar sight along hedgerows, woodlands and scrubs in spring. It was famously known as the May-Tree or may-blossom … Continue

Beech

Introduction The Beech belongs to the same family as the oak and chestnut – Fagaceae. Its species name Fagus sylvatica refers to the tree’s … Continue

Ash

Introduction One of the principal uses of ash (Fraxinus excelsior) has been as a timber tree. The wood is renowned for its strength and … Continue

Wild Angelica

Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) has often been regarded as the poor man’s substitute for garden angelica (Angelica archangelica). However, the uses of this wild … Continue

Alexanders

Introduction Alexanders has a fascinating past, used as food and medicine since Roman times. Once called “parsley of Alexandria,” people grew this herb in … Continue

Mugwort

Mugwort is one of our commonest weeds, with around 250-300 species in northern Europe, including wormwood, southernwood and the common mugwort. As a group … Continue

Dandelion

Introduction Dandelion grows abundantly in many parks and gardens. This easily recognisable weed was once a cure-all of herbal medicine and is still popular … Continue

Mallow

Common Mallow is an attractive species that has been used throughout history in food and medicine. In traditional folk medicine, common mallow was often … Continue

Lesser burdock

Introduction The common name for burdock that we are familiar with today, the English ‘bur’, originated from the French bourre, meaning ‘woolly’. Grieve attributes the … Continue

Field bindweed

Scientific name Convolvulus arvensis Family Convolvulaceae Photo identification Reliable resources for accurate botanical photo identification of field bindweed. Habitat and distribution Cultivated land, dunes, … Continue