False Alkanet

Flower: False Alkanet produces bright sky-blue to violet-blue flowers, typically 8–12 mm in diameter, with a white eye at the centre. Flowers are five-petalled and flat-faced, borne in loose, coiled cymes (scorpioid inflorescences) typical of Boraginaceae. Blooming usually occurs in late spring to early sum... Fruit: The fruit consists of four nutlets, as is typical of the family, each covered with hooked or barbed tubercles that aid in animal dispersal. The nutlets are oblong and rough, turning dark brown or black when mature. These fruiting bodies are quite distinctive and useful in identifying the plant in la... Leaves: Leaves are alternate, lanceolate to ovate, and covered in stiff, rough bristly hairs, giving the plant a very coarse feel — hence the genus name Cynoglottis, meaning “dog’s tongue” (like Cynoglossum). Basal leaves form a rosette, while stem leaves are stalkless and often clasp the stem. The foliage ...

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Common Ash

Flower: Common Ash trees produce small, purplish-black flowers in early spring, usually between March and May, before the leaves emerge. These flowers grow in dense clusters and are wind-pollinated. Male and female flowers often occur on separate trees, although some trees may bear both. While not showy, th... Fruit: The fruit of the Common Ash is a winged seed known as a “key” or “samara.” These slender, one-winged seeds develop in hanging clusters through late spring and summer, ripening by autumn. Once mature, they are dispersed by the wind and may remain on the tree through winter, providing food for birds a... Leaves: Ash leaves are pinnately compound, usually consisting of 7–13 toothed leaflets arranged in opposite pairs along a central stalk. The leaves are a bright to mid-green and can grow quite large, contributing to the tree’s light, airy canopy. In autumn, they turn a clear yellow before falling. The bark ...

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Mountain Ash

Flower: The Mountain Ash, known for its stunning scarlet berries and delicate, creamy-white flowers, is a captivating sight in the British countryside. These elegant blossoms, often appearing in late spring to early summer, adorn the tree's branches with their soft, graceful petals. Their pristine beauty an... Fruit: The fruit of the Mountain Ash, distinguished by its vibrant red hue, is a distinctive feature of this iconic British tree. These glossy scarlet berries, often observed in abundance during the autumn season, create a striking contrast against the tree's green foliage. Their plump and inviting appeara... Leaves: The leaves of the Mountain Ash, commonly found in the United Kingdom, are characterized by their pinnate arrangement and finely serrated edges. Each leaflet is a lustrous dark green, imparting a rich, verdant canopy to the tree during the growing season. In the autumn, these leaves undergo a spectac...

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Bog Asphodel

Flower: Bog Asphodel displays striking star-shaped yellow flowers arranged in a dense, upright spike. Blooming from July to August, each flower has six pointed tepals with prominent orange stamens that give the inflorescence a fiery appearance. The flowers are highly visible in acidic bog habitats, standing... Fruit: The fruit of Bog Asphodel is a small, dry capsule that splits open when mature to release numerous fine seeds. These capsules form after flowering and persist into autumn, gradually turning brown as the plant completes its reproductive cycle. The seeds are light and adapted for wind dispersal across... Leaves: The leaves are narrow, grass-like, and arranged in a basal tuft. They are somewhat leathery with a channelled upper surface and may appear slightly bluish-green. A few smaller leaves may be found along the stem. The foliage is adapted to waterlogged, acidic soils and often grows among sphagnum mosse...

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Scottish Asphodel

Flower: Scottish Asphodel produces small, star-like, pale yellowish-white flowers in dense, upright spikes typically about 2–5 cm tall. Flowering occurs from June to August. Each flower has six pointed tepals, usually around 3–5 mm long, and is tipped with tiny yellowish anthers. The flower spikes arise on ... Fruit: The plant produces tiny capsules, each containing a few minute seeds. The capsules are oval and measure about 2–3 mm in length. Once mature (late summer), they split open to release the seeds, which are dispersed by wind or water, often settling into wet peaty soils or mossy hollows. The fruits are ... Leaves: Leaves are narrow, grass-like, and linear, forming a basal rosette. They are typically 5–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide, and have smooth margins with a faint midrib. The leaves are bright green to slightly bluish-green, and their tufted appearance helps identify the plant among mosses and sedges in its dam...

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Mountain Avens

Flower: Mountain Avens is known for its striking white flowers, each with eight large, rounded petals (though the number can vary), which surround a golden central cluster of stamens. Blooming from May to July, the flowers are about 2–4 cm across and resemble a simplified wild rose. They grow singly on shor... Fruit: After flowering, the plant produces distinctive feathery seed heads—spiral-shaped styles that persist and catch the wind, helping with seed dispersal. These silky plumes give the plant a decorative look well into late summer and autumn. The seeds themselves are small achenes. Leaves: The leaves are small, leathery, and dark green on the upper surface, with a distinctive white felt-like underside. They are oblong and strongly toothed, forming a dense mat that hugs the ground. The foliage is evergreen and helps the plant withstand harsh alpine and limestone conditions.

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Trailing Azalea

Flower: Trailing Azalea produces small, pale pink to white, star-shaped flowers arranged singly or in small clusters. The flowers have five pointed petals with a delicate, often speckled appearance, blooming in late spring to summer. Fruit: The fruit is a dry capsule, usually containing several small seeds. When mature, it splits open to release the seeds. Leaves: The leaves are small, evergreen, leathery, and scale-like, arranged oppositely or in whorls along trailing, creeping stems. They are dark green to reddish-brown, adapted to cold alpine and arctic environments.

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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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Bastard Balm

Flower: Bastard Balm bears showy, two-lipped flowers that are typically pale pink or white with a prominent magenta or deep pink patch on the lower lip. Blooming between May and July, each flower is around 2.5–3.5 cm long and appears in the upper leaf axils. The flowers resemble those of dead-nettles or oth... Fruit: After flowering, Bastard Balm develops small, brown nutlets, typical of the mint family (Lamiaceae). These four-parted fruits are found at the base of the calyx and are relatively inconspicuous. Each nutlet contains one seed, and dispersal is generally passive—falling near the parent plant unless ca... Leaves: The leaves of Bastard Balm are ovate to heart-shaped, with toothed margins and a softly hairy surface. They are mid-green and can grow up to 10 cm long. Arranged in opposite pairs along square stems (a characteristic trait of mint family members), the leaves have a noticeably lemon-balm-like scent w...

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Common Barberry

Flower: Berberis vulgaris produces bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers with six petals, grouped in drooping racemes of 10–20 blossoms. These appear in April to June, each flower measuring around 5–7 mm across. The blooms are nectar-rich and attract bees, hoverflies, and other pollinators. The yellow flowers a... Fruit: The plant produces clusters of small, elongated red berries about 1 cm long, ripening from late summer into autumn (August–October). These berries are edible when fully ripe, though very sour and astringent. They were traditionally used for jams, jellies, and even as a souring agent in some Middle E... Leaves: Leaves are small (2–5 cm), oval to oblong, with toothed margins, and are arranged in whorls or clusters along the stems. They are green in summer, often turning red or purple in autumn. Each leaf cluster arises near a three-pronged thorn, a typical feature of barberries. The leaves are deciduous, fa...

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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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Arctic Bearberry

Flower: Arctic Bearberry produces small, bell-shaped flowers in late spring to early summer, usually from May to June. The blooms are white to pale pink, sometimes flushed with red, and have five fused petals forming a narrow, nodding urn shape. Though modest in size (typically under 5 mm), the flowers are ... Fruit: The fruit is a glossy black berry, around 5–8 mm in diameter, ripening in late summer. Unlike the red berries of its relative Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Common Bearberry), A. alpinus produces black berries, which are edible but rather bland or slightly mealy in taste. The berries are an important food... Leaves: Leaves are small, leathery, and oval-shaped, with a glossy green upper surface and paler underside. They are finely toothed, unlike the smooth-edged leaves of Common Bearberry. Deciduous in most areas, the leaves may turn reddish in autumn before falling, particularly in colder climates.

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Bearberry

Flower: Bearberry produces delicate, urn-shaped flowers that bloom from April to June. These small, pale pink to white flowers hang in short clusters and are typical of the heather family (Ericaceae). Their waxy, bell-like form closely resembles miniature versions of blueberry or lingonberry flowers. They a... Fruit: By late summer to early autumn, Bearberry develops bright red, glossy berries about the size of peas. These fruits persist into winter and are edible, though mealy and bland in taste. They are an important winter food source for birds and mammals, particularly bears—hence the common name. Though saf... Leaves: The evergreen leaves are leathery, dark green, and oval with smooth edges and a slightly notched tip. They are alternately arranged and have a shiny upper surface with a lighter, paler underside. The leaves remain throughout the year, giving Bearberry a consistently neat, low-growing appearance. The...

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Northern Bedstraw

Flower: Northern Bedstraw bears attractive, star-like white flowers with four narrow, pointed petals. Blooming from June to August, the flowers are arranged in dense, branching terminal clusters known as cymes. Each flower is around 3–5 mm across and creates a frothy, snow-like effect when in full bloom. Th... Fruit: The fruit is a dry schizocarp, dividing into two one-seeded nutlets after flowering. These nutlets are smooth and hairless or only very faintly roughened—unlike some other Galium species whose fruits are bristly and adapted for clinging to animal fur. Seed dispersal for Northern Bedstraw is more pas... Leaves: Leaves are narrow, linear to lanceolate, and arranged in whorls of four around the stem—fewer than many other Galium species. Each leaf is smooth-edged, with a slightly rough surface, especially on the margins. The stems are square in cross-section and typically upright or sprawling. The foliage is ...

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Ivy-leaved Bellflower

Flower: Ivy-leaved Bellflower bears delicate, pale bluish-lilac, starry bell-shaped flowers with five shallow lobes and a slight twist to each petal. The flowers are around 8–10 mm across and sit singly on long, slender stalks that rise above the foliage. Blooming from June to September, the flowers have a ... Fruit: The fruit is a small, ovoid capsule that develops after flowering and contains numerous minute seeds. These are released through pores or by capsule splitting as they dry. Though modest in size, the plant can spread efficiently in damp, mossy environments where its seeds readily take hold. Leaves: The leaves are small, rounded to heart-shaped with three to five lobes, resembling miniature ivy leaves—hence the species name hederacea. They are soft, thin, and toothed, growing alternately along creeping, wiry stems. These stems often root at the nodes, forming a spreading mat close to the ground...

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