Common Agrimony

Flower: The flowers of Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) found in the UK are small and yellow, arranged in elongated spikes on slender stems. Each individual flower consists of five petals and has a delicate, cup-shaped appearance. The flowers bloom in clusters and are known for their bright, cheerful y... Fruit: The fruit of Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) found in the UK is composed of small, burr-like structures containing seeds. These fruits typically develop after the flowering period. They have a rough or prickly exterior, designed with hooks that easily attach to fur or clothing, aiding in the d... Leaves: The leaves of Common Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) found in the UK are compound and alternately arranged along the stem. Each leaf is composed of smaller leaflets arranged in a feather-like or pinnate pattern. The leaflets are serrated along the edges, providing a distinctive appearance. The surfac...

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Grey Alder

Flower: Grey Alder produces unisexual catkins—the male catkins are long, pendulous, and yellowish-green, appearing before or with the leaves in early spring, while the female catkins are smaller, upright, and initially green, later turning brown as they mature. The flowers lack petals and rely on wind polli... Fruit: The female catkins mature into small, woody, cone-like structures called strobiles, about 2–3 cm long, which open to release tiny winged seeds in late autumn or winter. These “cones” persist on the tree through winter. Leaves: The leaves are oval to lance-shaped, with a rounded or slightly heart-shaped base, and have a finely serrated margin. They are a pale green above and lighter below, often with fine hairs on the underside.

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Alkanet

Flower: Alkanet produces striking, vivid blue to violet flowers, each around 8–12 mm in diameter, with five rounded petals and a white central throat. These flowers grow in coiled spikes (scorpioid cymes), gradually unrolling as they bloom from May to August. Their intense colour and nectar-rich tubes make ... Fruit: After flowering, Alkanet forms four small nutlets per flower, which are rough and dark brown when mature. These nutlets are slightly wrinkled and dispersed passively — falling close to the parent plant. Although not particularly ornamental, the fruit plays a key role in the plant’s annual regenerati... Leaves: The leaves are lance-shaped to narrowly oval, and covered with coarse, bristly hairs. They grow alternately along the stem and have a rough, scratchy texture — an identifying feature. The basal leaves are stalked, while upper ones clasp the stem. The entire plant tends to be hairy and somewhat untid...

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Sweet Alyssum

Flower: Sweet Alyssum is a charming and petite flowering plant with delicate blooms. The flowers, shaped like small clusters, come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, purple, and lavender. Each flower consists of four petals, creating a dainty and intricate appearance. The fragrance of these blo... Fruit: Sweet Alyssum is not typically grown for its fruit, as it is primarily cultivated for its attractive and fragrant flowers. The plant produces small, inconspicuous fruits that are not commonly a focal point in gardening discussions. The main ornamental appeal of Sweet Alyssum lies in its profusion of... Leaves: Sweet Alyssum features small, lance-shaped leaves that contribute to its overall compact and neat appearance. The leaves are typically green in colour and form a dense carpet of foliage beneath the delicate clusters of flowers. These leaves are relatively small in size, adding to the fine texture of...

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Grape-leaf Anemone

Flower: The flowers of Eriocapitella vitifolia are small and pink or white, with five petals and a yellow center. The flowers have a sweet aroma and are usually seen in clusters. They have a long flowering season, typically from late spring to early fall. Fruit: The fruit of Eriocapitella vitifolia is a small, round, yellow berry with a thin skin. The flesh is sweet and juicy, and the flavor is similar to a grapefruit. The fruit is usually about 1 inch in diameter and ripens in late summer. Leaves: The leaves of Eriocapitella vitifolia are bright green, glossy, and pointed. They are oval-shaped and grow in clusters of three. The leaves are approximately 2-3 inches long, and they have a slightly waxy texture. The leaves are tough and leathery, with a distinct vein pattern along the edges. They ...

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Marsh Arrowgrass

Flower: Marsh Arrowgrass produces delicate, star-like flowers arranged along a slender, upright spike that can reach 10–30 cm in height. Each flower has six narrow pinkish-purple or greenish tepals (not true petals or sepals), and yellow-tipped stamens, creating a subtle but attractive display from June to ... Fruit: The fruit is a narrow, cylindrical capsule that splits into six longitudinal segments when mature. These fruits are green at first but turn brown as they dry out. Each segment contains a single seed, and the fruits persist into late summer or early autumn, gradually releasing their contents to assis... Leaves: The leaves of Marsh Arrowgrass are long, slender, and grass-like, arising from the base of the plant. They are linear, fleshy, and grooved, typically 10–30 cm long, with a blunt tip and no visible midrib. Unlike true grasses, they are hairless and often emit a slightly aromatic or salty scent when c...

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Water Avens

Flower: The flowers of Water Avens are characterized by their nodding, reddish-purple petals. These blooms add a touch of elegance to the plant and typically appear in late spring to mid-summer. Fruit: The fruit of Water Avens consists of small, dry achenes. These one-seeded fruits develop after the flowering period and contribute to the plant's reproductive cycle. Leaves: The basal leaves of Water Avens are pinnate and possess a slightly hairy texture. These toothed leaves contribute to the overall appearance of the plant, forming a lush and green foliage.

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Yellow Azalea

Flower: Yellow Azalea bears clusters of bright yellow, funnel-shaped flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer, usually in May or June. Each flower has five spreading petals and prominent stamens that protrude beyond the petals, giving them a star-like appearance. The blooms are gathered in terminal... Fruit: The fruit is a narrow, oblong capsule around 2 cm long that matures in late summer to early autumn. When ripe, it splits open to release numerous small, brown seeds. While not showy, these seed capsules persist for a time on the shrub before dispersing their contents. Yellow Azalea does not typicall... Leaves: The leaves of Rhododendron luteum are oblong to narrowly oval, 5–10 cm long, and arranged alternately along the stems. They are medium green above and paler below, with a smooth texture and entire or slightly wavy margins. In autumn, the foliage often turns a striking orange, red, or yellow, giving ...

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Touch-me-not Balsam

Flower: Touch-me-not Balsam showcases delicate, pale yellow to orange flowers with vivid red or purple spots, creating a charming spectacle in the British countryside. These blossoms, adorned with their distinct markings, gently sway in the breeze, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies during the... Fruit: The fruit of Touch-me-not Balsam is comprised of elongated seed pods that develop following the flowering period. These pods, known as capsules, are characteristically slender and cylindrical, gradually maturing to a pale green or brown hue. Upon reaching maturity, the pods exhibit a remarkable mech... Leaves: The leaves of Touch-me-not Balsam are broadly oval in shape and feature serrated edges, imparting a distinctive appearance to this native British plant. These verdant foliage adornments are arranged alternately along the stems, creating a lush canopy of greenery in shaded woodlands, damp meadows, an...

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Small Balsam

Flower: Small Balsam features delicate pale yellow blossoms with a distinctive spurred shape. These flowers, native to the UK, thrive in damp woodland areas, showcasing their charming allure along riverbanks and streamsides. 5 stamens. Pollinated by insects. Fruit: The fruit of Small Balsam, native to the UK, is a small, elongated capsule that bursts open when touched, dispersing its seeds. This capsule is typically green in color and contains numerous seeds, contributing to the plant's prolific spread in woodland habitats across the country. Leaves: The leaves of Small Balsam, native to the UK, are ovate to lanceolate in shape, with serrated edges. They are typically a vibrant green colour and have a slightly glossy appearance. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem and often have a reddish tint on the undersides.

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Meadow Barley

Flower: Meadow Barley produces narrow, upright flower spikes 5–10 cm long, composed of closely packed spikelets with long, slender awns that give the plant a soft, bristly appearance. Flowering from June to August, each spikelet typically contains a single fertile floret with two sterile side florets. The f... Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry grain (caryopsis), like other grasses, which develops at the base of the fertile floret. When mature, the seed drops to the ground, often with parts of the bristle-like awns still attached, aiding in dispersal. Leaves: Leaves are flat, narrow, and tapering, usually 10–30 cm long. The sheaths and blades are often softly hairy. Leaf blades may have a bluish-green tint, and ligules are short and membranous.

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Alpine Bartsia

Flower: Alpine Bartsia produces striking dark purple to violet flowers, about 15–20 mm long, arranged in dense terminal spikes. Each flower is two-lipped, with a hooded upper lip and a three-lobed lower lip, typical of the figwort family (Orobanchaceae). The flowers appear from June to August, providing a b... Fruit: After flowering, the plant develops small, oblong capsules, each containing numerous tiny seeds. These capsules remain enclosed by the persistent calyx. Seeds are dispersed by wind and gravity, often falling near the parent plant — contributing to its patchy and restricted distribution in upland hab... Leaves: Leaves are opposite, dark green to purplish, and coarsely toothed, with a slightly glossy surface. They are ovate to lance-shaped and often have a reddish tinge, especially in upland light conditions. The lower leaves are stalked, while upper ones are often sessile (without stalks) and can sometimes...

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Bearsbreech

Flower: The Bearsbreech produces striking and elegant flowers that exhibit a unique beauty. The blooms are characterized by tall spikes, each adorned with tubular white flowers that emerge from distinctive, spiky purple bracts. These floral spikes, rising above the large, glossy green leaves, create a visua... Fruit: The Bearsbreech does not produce conspicuous or notable fruits in the traditional sense. Instead, its primary method of reproduction is through seeds. The plant develops seed capsules that contain the seeds, but these capsules are not typically showy or ornamentally significant. The focus of aesthet... Leaves: The Bearsbreech is recognized for its large, glossy green leaves that contribute to its distinctive appearance. These leaves are deeply lobed and feature a lush, vibrant green hue. Each leaf has pronounced, spiky edges, adding to the overall textural interest of the plant. The foliage forms an attra...

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Spiny Bearsbreech

Flower: Spiny Bearsbreech is known for its striking, architectural flowers. The blossoms are characterized by their tall, spiky inflorescences, which feature hood-like bracts with spiky tips. The individual flowers are tubular and emerge from these bracts, forming a dense, elongated spike. The color of the ... Fruit: Spiny Bearsbreech does not produce typical fleshy fruits. Instead, it reproduces through seeds. After the flowering period, the plant forms seed capsules that contain the seeds. These capsules are dry and split open when mature, releasing the seeds. The seeds are small and are often dispersed by win... Leaves: The leaves of Spiny Bearsbreech are large, deeply lobed, and glossy green in colour. Each leaf typically has several sharply toothed segments that give them a distinctive, spiky appearance. The lobes are deeply cut and have spiny tips, contributing to the plant's name. The overall leaf structure is ...

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Slender Marsh Bedstraw

Flower: Galium constrictum, or Slender Marsh Bedstraw, produces small, star-like white flowers that typically bloom from June to August. Each flower has four narrow petals and is borne in loose clusters at the tips of the stems or in the leaf axils. Though tiny—usually only a few millimetres across—the flow... Fruit: The fruit consists of paired, rounded nutlets, often slightly rough or hairy to the touch. These nutlets are very small and inconspicuous, maturing in late summer. As with many Galium species, seed dispersal is aided by their hooked or bristly surfaces, which can occasionally cling to animal fur or ... Leaves: The leaves of Slender Marsh Bedstraw are narrow and linear, arranged in whorls of 4 to 6 around the stem. Each leaf is short and pointed, with a smooth or slightly rough margin. The stems are weak and sprawling, often forming low, tangled mats in damp or wet habitats. Despite its name, it is not con...

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