Heather / All Year / Edible Common Names Heather/Ling Heather/Scotch Heather Latin Name: Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix, E. caerulea – Ericaceae Harvest Season: Best to collect fresh, young (not too woody) flowering tops (leaves and flowers) when the flowers have just bloomed – usually July – October, depending on the…
Category: Plants
Mallow / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible A common hedgerow plant. It can be found in many areas of the world. It’s non-native to the UK and was most likely introduced by the Romans. Common Names Mallow, Round Dock, Common Mallow, High Mallow, Cheeses, Custard cheeses, Fairy cheeses,…
Lily of the Valley / Spring / Summer / Toxic A sweetly scented woodland plant. All parts are highly poisonous to humans. It’s not too common in the wild and is mostly found planted in parks and gardens Common Names Lily of the Valley, May bells, Mary’s tears, Our Ladies…
Buttercups / All Year round / Toxic There are many types of Buttercups, three species are very common in the UK. They can all be thought of as the same from a foraging point of view as they are all toxic. Common Names Buttercups, Creeping crazy, Devil’s guts, Lantern leaves,…
Fools Parsley / Spring / Summer / Toxic A toxic member of the carrot family, it’s closely related to Hemlock (Conium maculatum) but is not as poisonous. Common Names Fools Parsley, Fool’s Cicely, or Poison Parsley Botanical Name      Aethusa cynapium Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Apiales Family –…
Water Mint / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible A fairly common, perennial member of the mentha family, it can be found near water or in damp woodlands. Common Names Water Mint Botanical Name Mentha aquatica Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Lamiales Family – Lamiaceae Physical Characteristics…
Lesser Celandine / Spring / Summer / Edible A very common, woodland plant, one of the first plants to flower in spring. Common Names Lesser Celandine, Spring Messenger, Pilewort Botanical Name      Ficaria verna formally Ranunculus ficaria Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Ranunculales Family – Ranunculaceae Physical Characteristics for…
Wild Fennel / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Latin Name: Foeniculum vulgare Physical Characteristics:Â A tall umbellifer that can grow to 1.5-2m tall in favourable conditions. Leaves The leaves, which begin sheathed, are very finely branched and appear feathery. They have a strong aniseed smell when crushed Flowers…
Sea Plantain / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Coastal Plantain, Plantain by the Sea, Goose tongue Botanical Name Plantago maritima subsp. maritima (there are several subspecies, differentiated by their geographical distributions). Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Lamiales Family – Plantaginaceae Physical Characteristics Looking a bit…
Lilac / Spring / Summer / Edible Common Names Lilac flower, sweet lilac Botanical Name Syringa vulgaris and other species Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Lamiales Family – Oleaceae Physical Characteristics This is a deciduous shrub that blooms in spring with cones of wonderfully fragrant flowers. It can grow…