In this blog I’d like to highlight what to forage in an urban environment, looking at a few common species of edible plants and fungi that you might find in any urban or built up areas in the UK. There are actually a huge variety to look for, from the…
Category: Plant identification
Blackthorn / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Blackthorn is a fairly common member of the Prunus family, it is normally found as a shrub but it can grow as a tree up to 6m tall. Common Names Blackthorn, sloe Botanical Name Prunus spinosa   Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae…
Honeysuckle / Summer / Edible Honeysuckle is one of those plants we’ve seen a thousand times in gardens and parks but did you know it’s edible? Through this piece we’ll be taking a deep dive into identification and edibility. Common Names Honeysuckle, Common Honeysuckle, European Honeysuckle, Woodbine Botanical Name Lonicera…
White Melilot / Spring / Summer / Edible White Melilot can often be found growing on disturbed ground and can have a flavour somewhere between peas and vanilla. Common Names Sweet Clover, Hart’s Tree, Kings Clover, Lucerne. Botanical Name Melilotus albus Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Fabales Family…
Grand Fir / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Grand fir is one of the most flavour-packed conifers I’ve ever come across it’s almost like a clementine bubble gum. Common Name  Grand Fir Botanical Name Abies grandis Scientific Classification Kingdom: Plantae Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Physical…
Juniper / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Common Name Juniper Botanical Name Juniperus communis Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Cupressales Family – Cupressaceae Physical Characteristics of Juniper A small evergreen tree or shrub varying from tall, columnar trees, 20-40 metres tall or low-spreading shrubs with long…
Stonecrop / Spring / Sumer / Autumn / Edible Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as Stonecrop. The genus contains 400-500 species and the leaves of most are edible. About 54 species are native to Europe but here…
Noble Fir / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Common Name Noble Fir Botanical Name Abies procera Scientific Classification Kingdom: Plantae Order: Pinales Family: Pinaceae Physical Characteristics for Noble Fir A large tree growing up to 45-90 m in height with a conical crown. Leaves  Upswept bluish-grey…
Bamboo / Spring / Edible Surprisingly bamboo can be found naturalised in the UK, it won’t grow as large as other bamboos due to our climate but can still be used. Common Name Broad-leaved or Arrow leaved bamboos are the two most frequently found naturalised in the UK. Many other…
Chicory / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Chicory is most commonly known for Camp coffee essence or Chicory root coffee which is used in making cakes. It has the most beautiful edible flowers. Common Names Chicory/Common Chicory, blue daisy, blue dandelion, blue sailors, blue weed, bunk, coffeeweed, cornflower, hendibeh,…