Elm / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible There are many species of Elm such as the English Elm (Ulmus procera), Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) and Field Elm (Ulmus minor). All were sadly affected by the fungal Dutch elm disease which came to the UK in the…
Category: Plant identification
Henbane / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Henbane is a poisonous plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) it is native to temperate Europe, and naturalised in Great Britain and Ireland. It’s a shrubby biennial that grows up to 1m tall. The whole plant is very hairy, very sticky…
Cowberry / Summer / Autumn / Edible Cowberry, also known as Lingonberry, is a brilliant little edible fruit that isn’t heavily harvested in the UK. However in the Nordic countries this one is commercially harvested from the wild and can be found in lots of products and menus, it’s lovely…
Forsythia / Spring / Summer / Edible / Toxic Forsythia is a beautiful plant that produces a beautiful vibrant yellow flower which is the only part I would advise for eating, it adds a vibrant pop of colour to salads and on top of dishes that you want to…
Monkshood / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Monkshood is an absolute delight to see through spring and it’s worth learning from a foraging perspective, not to enjoy in dinner but to be completely careful not to pick it for food when out foraging for other plants and species.…
Harebell / Spring / Summer / Edible Harebell produces one of my absolute favourite flowers, I like candying them and popping them on top of cakes I make. Although the leaves are also edible I don’t tend to eat them that often, possibly because I’m so drawn to the…
While foraging can encompass a wide range of edible plants, one particularly fascinating aspect is foraging for roots. Edible tubers, in particular, are nature’s hidden treasure trove of both health and flavor. In this article, I will delve into the world of foraging for roots, exploring the benefits, legal considerations,…
Laburnum / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Laburnum is a fairly common sight in parks and gardens especially in spring when they are in flower. Although it looks absolutely beautiful when it comes into flower all parts of this plant are toxic so it’s an important species for…
Lesser Stitchwort / Spring / Summer / Edible Lesser Stitchwort is a common, native wildflower. It belongs to the Carnation or Caryophyllaceae family and as this plant is one of the first to flower in the year; seeing it gets me excited about the coming warmer months. Common Names Lesser…
Salsify / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Salsify is a true culinary delight, it’s a root vegetable with quite distinctive characteristics and is known for its delicate oyster-like flavour. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a species that originated in the Mediterranean but it has historical…