Salsify / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Salsify is a true culinary delight, it’s a root vegetable with quite distinctive characteristics and is known for its delicate oyster-like flavour. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a species that originated in the Mediterranean but it has historical…
Tag: Asteraceae
Tansy / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Tansy is an aromatic, perennial member of the Daisy family. It’s a very common plant in the UK with a long history of use. It’s native to Europe and Asia but can now be found almost worldwide. Common Names Tansy, Bitter…
Creeping Thistle / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible A native, biannual member of the daisy family.  It’s the most common thistle found in the UK and the stems and roots can be eaten raw or cooked. Common Names Creeping Thistle, Canada Thistle, Field Thistle Botanical Name Cirsium arvense…
German Chamomile / Spring / Summer / Edible German Chamomile is A non-native annual member of the daisy family, it can be used in the same way as the less common English Chamomile. Common Names Chamomile, Camomile, chamomile, German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, Wild chamomile, Blue chamomile, or Scented mayweed Botanical…
English Chamomile / Spring / Summer / Edible Chamomile A once common plant but due to habitat loss it is classed as vulnerable on the Vascular Plant Red Data List for Great Britain. We would therefore not recommend harvesting it in the wild. Common Names Chamomile, Camomile, Roman Chamomile, English…
Milk Thistle / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Identification Guide for Milk Thistle Milk Thistle is an aggressive-looking plant, but with a pair of thick gloves and a little effort you can get plenty of fantastic edible stems & centres from this plant. Common Names Holy Thistle, Zebra…
Spear Thistle / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Spear Thistle is a native, biannual member of the daisy family.  It’s massively common and the stems can be used as a celery substitute. Common Names Spear Thistle, Bull Thistle, Scotch Thistle Botanical Name Cirsium vulgare Scientific Classification Kingdom –…
Ragwort / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Toxic Ragworts (Senecio species) are very common throughout the UK, the most common variety in the UK is Jacobaea vulgaris but they are all toxic. Common Names Ragwort, Common ragwort, Stinking Willy, Tansy ragwort, St. James-wort, Stinking nanny, Staggerwort, Cankerwort, Stammerwort. Botanical…
Ox Eye Daisy / Spring / Summer / Edible A fairly common and easy to identify plant with edible leaves and flowers. Common Names Ox Eye Daisy, Dog daisy, Marguerite. Botanical Name Leucanthemum vulgare Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order – Asterales Family – Asteraceae Physical Characteristics for Ox Eye…
Yarrow / spring / summer / autumn / winter / edible How to Identify Yarrow Scientific Name Achillea millefolium Family Asteraceae Also known as Yarrow or common yarrow Traditional names arrowroot, bad man’s plaything, bloodwort, carpenter’s weed, death flower, devil’s nettle, eerie, field hops, gearwe, hundred leaved grass, knight’s…