The Ornamental Garden Plant That Eases Insect Stings on Contact – And Nobody’s Talking About It
I remember the first time I met Cotton Lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus). I had moved to Exeter in Devon. As I walked past the hospital, … Continue
Plants
The Wild Rose That Was Worth a Cow
Down here in Devon, dog rose – Rosa canina – is coming into full bloom, and I adore the pink and white blush of … Continue
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
What Persian Cooks, Cajun Cooks, and Native American Foragers All Knew About the Spear Thistle
I’ve walked past spear thistles (Cirsium vulgare) for decades. I cursed them when they put a spine through my trousers. Most farmers and gardeners … Continue
The Weed That Seasoned Prehistoric Soup
Eight thousand years ago, someone was seasoning their stew with a weed you walk past every day. In 2013, researchers discovered phytoliths — tiny … Continue
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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
The Traditional and Modern Uses of Traveller’s-joy, Old Man’s Beard
Traveller’s-joy, Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba) is a climbing plant. It adorns hedgerows and shrubs across Europe. Many admire its white flowers and feathery … Continue
The Traditional and Modern Uses of 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