Broom / Spring / Summer/ Edible Broom is the less aggressive little brother to Gorse, the two look similar and both have some nice edible and medicinal parts. Common Names Broom, common broom, Scotch broom Botanical Name Cytius scoparius/Sarothamnus scoparius Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Fabales Family – Fabaceae…
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Sea Holly / All Year Round / Edible Sea Holly is one of those plants that from looking at it and touching it you wouldn’t imagine it was edible one bit, it has sharps spikes on it but once you get past them there are some tasty bits to enjoy.…
Calamint / Spring /Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Calamint Botanical Name Clinopodium ascendens Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Lamiales Family – Lamiaceae Physical Characteristics of Calamint An upright perennial herb, 30 – 60cm tall. Leaves Leaf stalks green, 1cm long, leaves are greyish green, oval with blunt…
Through this piece we’re going to be taking a look at the 5 of the most toxic berries found in the UK (or at least from our experience foraging over the years). In summer and autumn time the hedgerows and woods of the UK really come alive with colour, and…
Redcurrant / Summer / Edible Redcurrant is an easy to identify member of the Gooseberry family with deliciously tart edible fruits. Common Names Redcurrant, Red currant Botanical Name Ribes rubrum Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Saxifragales Family – Grossulariaceae Physical Characteristics for Redcurrant Leaves The leaves are palmate,…
Spindle / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Spindle is a fairly common shrub or small tree in the South of the UK, and one of the indictors of an ancient woodland. In the North it is rarer and usually only occurs where it has been planted by humans. It looks…
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…
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 / Summer / Autumn / Edible Common Names Cramp bark tree, Crampbush Botantical Name Viburnum opulus Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Dipsacales Family – Adoxaceae Physical Characteristics of Guelder Rose A woody perennial shrub that can grow to 4m in height. Leaves The leaves, 5–10cm long, grow…
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,…