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…
Category: Plant identification
Chicory / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Chicory is most commonly known for camp coffee 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, horseweed,…
Bistort / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Bistort is a common, herbaceous perennial member of the dock family. It loves damp environments and was traditionally used to make pudding in Lent. Common Names Bistort, Snake-root, Snakeweed, Easter-ledges, Common bistort, European bistort, Botanical Name Bistorta officinalis Scientific Classification Kingdom…
Ivy Leaved Toadflax / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible Ivy Leaved Toadflax is a small trailing plant with creeping stems. Native to the Mediterranean but naturalized across the whole of Europe. It is believed that it arrived in the UK with imported marble sculptures from Italy.…
YELLOW ARCHANGEL / SPRING / SUMMER / EDIBLE I always think the name Yellow Archangel sounds a little too sinister for this beautiful and edible wild plant. Common Names Yellow Archangel, Artillery plant, Aluminium plant, Yellow Weasel-snout, yellow dead-nettle Botanical Name Lamiastrium galeobdolon Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –…
Wild Turnip / Autumn / Winter / Spring / Edible Here we’re looking at the Wid Turnip, however there are several subspecies of Brassica rapa as it has been developed by humans into many types of vegetable and has returned to the wild many times as a feral plant. Cultivated…
Red Valarian / Spring / Summer / Edible Red Valerian is one of those plants you see growing out of walls and cracked pavements, it’s lovely to look at and is edible, although quite bitter. It’s not related to the valerian that’s used in sleepy tea though. Scientific Name: Centranthus…
Wild Parsnip / Spring / Summer / Winter  Wild Parsnip could look like quite a few of the umbelifer (carrot family) species and some are deadly toxic so great care should be taken. Common names Wild Parsnip Botanical Name Pastinaca sativa Meaning of Botanical Name The genus Pastinaca means…
Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage / All Year / Edible Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage is quite a mouthful, especially for such a small plant, often found in damp places it provides a surprising crunch to salads. Scientific Name: Chrysosplenium oppositifolium Family: Saxifragaceae Also known as: Creeping Jenny, buttered eggs Habitat: Europe, including Britain,…
Brooklime / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Brooklime is a succulent, perennial plant. Native to the Mediterranean but naturalised across the whole of Europe. It is believed that it arrived in the UK with imported marble sculptures from Italy. It has been used as a salad ingredient in…