Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Flower: The flowers of Trachystemon orientalis (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) are star-shaped and typically a vivid bluish-violet, appearing in dense clusters atop thick, fleshy stems in late winter to early spring (February to April in the UK). Each flower has five narrow, pointed petals that curve slightly ba... Fruit: The fruit of Trachystemon orientalis is a dry, nutlet-like structure, typical of many members of the borage family (Boraginaceae). After flowering, the ovary develops into four small, hard nutlets enclosed within the remains of the calyx. These nutlets are brown, wrinkled, and relatively inconspicuo... Leaves: The leaves of Trachystemon orientalis are one of its most distinctive features. They are very large, broadly ovate to heart-shaped, and can grow up to 40 cm across. The surface is rough and slightly hairy, with a somewhat coarse texture, and the margins are often wavy or irregularly toothed. When yo...

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Two-spined Acaena

Flower: The flowers of Acaena ovalifolia are small, greenish to reddish, and grouped in dense, rounded heads atop slender stalks. They are not especially showy and lack petals, but they are functional and bloom in summer. Each flower head can eventually produce barbed fruits, typical of the genus. Fruit: The plant produces dry, burr-like achenes with two prominent, barbed spines per fruit—hence the name “two-spined.” These hooks allow the fruit to cling to animals or clothing for dispersal. While not as aggressively barbed as some Acaena species, it’s still a hitchhiker and should be handled careful... Leaves: The foliage consists of pinnate leaves with rounded, oval leaflets—reflected in the species name ovalifolia. The leaves are usually dark green, with a slightly leathery texture, forming a low mat or spreading ground cover. The leaf arrangement is neat and regularly spaced.

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Spineless Acaena

Flower: The flowers of Acaena inermis are small, globular, and typically reddish or purplish, appearing in compact heads on wiry stems during summer. Unlike many other Acaena species, these flower heads lack showy spines or barbed appendages, giving rise to the species name inermis (meaning “unarmed” or “sp... Fruit: The fruit consists of small achenes, but unlike its relatives such as Acaena novae-zelandiae, A. inermis lacks the hooked spines that commonly aid in animal dispersal. This makes the seed heads less noticeable and less likely to cling to clothing or fur. Leaves: Acaena inermis has attractive, fern-like foliage, with pinnate, silvery-green to greyish-green leaflets. The plant grows as a low mat or ground cover, spreading along the ground to form dense carpets. Its foliage gives it ornamental appeal, especially in rock gardens and gravel beds.

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Winter Aconite

Flower: Cup-shaped flowers, up to 3cm wide. The flowers have large, deeply cut, leafy bracts at their bases. Fruit: Follicles which contain the seeds. Leaves: A perennial with deeply cut, glossy, hairless basal leaves. Throughout the British Isles, Winter Aconite is most common in the east of England and Scotland.

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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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Bastard Agrimony

Flower: Bastard Agrimony produces small, creamy-white flowers arranged in loose, branching clusters (panicles) that bloom from late spring to mid-summer. Each flower is composed of five petals, which are somewhat rounded and delicate, giving the plant a light, airy appearance. The flowers attract a variety ... Fruit: The fruit consists of small dry nuts (achenes) that mature during late summer to early autumn. These achenes are smooth and equipped with tiny hooked bristles that can cling to animal fur or clothing, aiding in seed dispersal. Unlike true agrimony species, which have spiny burrs, Bastard Agrimony’s ... Leaves: The leaves are pinnate and composed of several small, toothed leaflets arranged opposite each other along a central stem. They resemble those of true agrimony but are generally more delicate and lighter green. The foliage is relatively soft, with a slight sheen on the upper surface, and is arranged ...

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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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Alexanders

Flower: Alexanders blooms from April to June, producing large, rounded umbels of small yellow-green flowers. These flower heads are made up of many tiny, five-petalled flowers arranged in a characteristic umbrella shape, typical of members of the carrot family. The flowers are rich in nectar and attract num... Fruit: After flowering, Alexanders produces ridged, glossy black fruits that are almost cube-shaped. Each fruit contains two seeds and matures in summer. The fruits were once used as a pepper substitute and can be collected for culinary or propagation purposes. Their distinct shape and dark colour make the... Leaves: The leaves of Alexanders are a deep green and have a shiny, somewhat fleshy appearance. They are divided into three broad leaflets with toothed margins, giving them a bold and robust look. The leaves grow alternately along the thick, grooved stems, which can reach up to 1.5 metres tall. When bruised...

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Green Alkanet

Flower: The flowers of Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) are an intense, vivid blue in color, shaped like a star, and they typically bloom in clusters. These flowers are notably attractive to pollinators such as bees and butterflies due to their nectar-rich nature. Each individual flower consists of... Fruit: The fruit of Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) is typically small and nut-like, known as a nutlet. These nutlets develop after the flowering period and contain seeds. They are often dark in colour and quite small, each containing the potential to produce a new plant if they find suitable con... Leaves: The leaves of Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens) are elongated and rough in texture, often hairy and lance-shaped. They have pronounced veins and are arranged alternately along the stems. The leaves resemble those of the forget-me-not, having a coarse texture and covered in tiny, stiff hairs,...

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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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Four-leaved Allseed

Flower: Four-leaved Allseed produces tiny, greenish-white to pinkish flowers in loose clusters. Each flower has five petals, but they are often so short that they are hidden by the long, pointed sepals. The flowers bloom from June to September and are usually self-pollinated or pollinated by small insects. Fruit: The fruit is a small, ovoid capsule that splits open into three valves when mature, releasing several tiny brown seeds. These seeds are dispersed by gravity or wind, often in disturbed, sandy soils. Leaves: Leaves are oval, smooth-edged, and arranged in opposite pairs that appear in groups of four due to short internodes, giving rise to the name "four-leaved." The plant forms spreading mats with slender, reddish stems and low-growing foliage.

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Green Amaranth

Flower: Green Amaranth produces dense, greenish flower spikes, typically located in the upper leaf axils and at the tips of stems. The tiny flowers are inconspicuous, lacking petals, and are monoecious, meaning male and female flowers are found on the same plant. Flowering usually occurs from July to Octobe... Fruit: The fruit is a tiny capsule that splits open to release small, shiny, black seeds. These seeds are often abundant and can be harvested in late summer or early autumn. Like other amaranths, A. hybridus is a prolific seed producer, contributing to its reputation as both a hardy edible and an agricultu... Leaves: The leaves are oval to lance-shaped, with prominent veins and smooth or slightly wavy edges. They are arranged alternately along the stem and can reach up to 15 cm in length. The foliage is bright to dull green, sometimes with a reddish tinge in the stem, and the leaf surface may appear slightly rou...

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Common Amaranth

Flower: Common Amaranth produces small, greenish flowers tightly clustered in dense, bristly spikes at the top of the plant and in leaf axils. The flowers are inconspicuous individually, lacking petals, and are either male, female, or mixed. The flower spikes are often stiff and upright, with a rough, brist... Fruit: The fruit is a tiny capsule (utricle), usually around 1.5 mm long, that splits open transversely (like a lid) to release a single, smooth, glossy black seed. These seeds are very small—about 1 mm across—and prolific. A single plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds, allowing rapid spread and co... Leaves: The leaves are oval to diamond-shaped, with a blunt or slightly notched tip and prominent veins. They are typically dull green, hairy, and arranged alternately on the stem. The lower leaves have long petioles (leaf stalks), while upper leaves are smaller and more sessile. The midrib on the underside...

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Garden Anchusa

Flower: Anchusa azurea produces brilliant deep blue to violet-blue flowers with a conspicuous white centre or eye. Each flower is about 1–2 cm across, five-petalled, and tubular, forming in coiled cymes that unfurl as the plant blooms — a hallmark of the borage family. Flowering typically occurs from May to... Fruit: After flowering, the plant forms the typical Boraginaceae fruit of four nutlets, each rough and dark brown when mature. The nutlets are small and bristly, enabling some dispersal by animals. While not showy, these fruit are useful for plant ID later in the season. Leaves: The leaves are long, lanceolate to oblong, grey-green, and covered in fine white bristles, giving them a rough texture. Lower leaves are stalked, while upper leaves clasp the hairy stems. The plant can grow up to 1.5 metres tall, especially in fertile garden soils. In a wildflower context, it appear...

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Garden Angelica

Flower: Yellowish-green flowers, appearing in rounded umbels measuring 5 to 7cm across. 5 stamens per flower. Pollinated by insects. Fruit: Oval, flattened fruits with corky wings, measuring 6 to 8mm long. The seeds ripen in August and September. Leaves: An erect perennial with 2 to 3-pinnate leaves. Each leaf measure up to 60cm (24 inches) in length. Hollow, green stems (occasionally purple). Biennial.

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