Deadly Nightshade / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Deadly Nightshade – As the name suggests it can be deadly poisonous, it’s a member of the same family as tomatoes, potatoes and aubergines and it’s fairly common in the UK. Common Names Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna Botanical Name Atropa belladonna…
Category: Plant identification
Black Bryony / Summer / Toxic A toxic member of the Yam family, it’s quite a common sight in summer and autumn, all parts are poisonous. It’s a climber and can grow up to 4m each year. Common Names Black Bryony, Lady’s-seal or Black bindweed Botanical Name Dioscorea communis or…
Guelder Rose Other Common Names: Cramp bark tree, Crampbush Latin Name: Viburnum opulus Parts Used: Berries in food, bark in medicine. Physical Characteristics: A woody perennial shrub that can grow to 4m in height. Leaves The leaves, 5–10cm long, grow up the stem oppositely. They have three-lobes with serrated edges.…
Pheasant berry / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible A non-native member of the Honeysuckle family, it’s originally from China and the Himalaya’s and was introduced to the UK by the Victorians. The berries have a strong toffee like flavour. It’s a deciduous shrub-like plant. Common Names Pheasant berry,…
Wild Thyme / All Year Round / Edible Identification Guide for Wild Thyme  It’s a low lying member of the Mint family, it often grows in dense mats and can be used in place of cultivated Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). Common Names Wild Thyme, Creeping Thyme Botanical Name Thymus…
Spruce / All year round / Edible Spruce is a naturalised, fast-growing, evergreen tree. Common Names      UK spruce, Norway spruce Botanical Name Picea abies Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Pinales Family – Pinaceae Physical Characteristics for Spruce Leaves The needles are stiff and sharp and grow individually, around…
Hedge Bedstraw / Spring / Summer / Edible Hedge Bedstraw is a fairly common, hedgerow plant, it’s related to cleavers and coffee. Common Names Hedge bedstraw, False baby’s breath, Botanical Name Galium mollugo Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Gentianales Family – Rubiaceae Physical Characteristics for Hedge Bedstraw Stems…
Sweet Violet / Spring / Summer / Edible Sweet Violet is a sweet-scented woodland plant, the roots and seeds are toxic but the flowers are delicious. Common Names Sweet violet, Wood violet, Sweet violet, English violet, Common violet, Florist’s violet or Garden violet. Botanical Name Viola odorata Scientific Classification Kingdom…
Horse Chestnut / All year round / Toxic The ‘nuts’ or ‘conkers’ of Horse Chestnut are a common and familiar sight in autumn, the tree was introduced to the UK from Turkey in the 16th century. Common Names      Horse Chestnut, Conker tree, Buckeye. Botanical Name Aesculus hippocastanum Scientific Classification Kingdom…
Wild Strawberry / Spring / Summer / Edible A common sight in woodlands and parks. It’s a native perennial plant that’s really easy to identify. Common Names Wild Strawberry, Woodland Strawberry, Alpine strawberry, Carpathian strawberry, European strawberry. Botanical Name Fragaria vesca Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Rosales Family…