False Acacia

Flower: False Acacia, also known as Black Locust, produces hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer (typically May to June). The pea-like flowers are around 2 cm long, with a yellow blotch on the upper petal, and resemble those of other members of the pea family (Fabaceae). ... Fruit: The fruit of False Acacia appears after flowering and takes the form of flat, brown pods about 5–10 cm long. These papery pods contain several hard, bean-like seeds and remain on the tree well into winter. Though visually similar to edible legumes, the seeds are toxic to humans and many animals if i... Leaves: The leaves of False Acacia are pinnate and alternate along the branches. Each leaf typically contains 7–21 oval leaflets with smooth edges, arranged in opposite pairs along a central stalk. The leaflets are soft green above and slightly paler underneath. In autumn, the foliage turns a striking yello...

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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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Blue Anemone

Flower: The Blue Anemone produces delicate star-like flowers, usually in shades of pale to mid-blue, though occasionally white. Each flower typically has 10–15 narrow petal-like tepals surrounding a cluster of yellow stamens. Blooming from March to May, these solitary flowers are about 3–4 cm across and oft... Fruit: Following pollination, the plant develops small, dry achenes in a rounded head. Each achene contains a single seed, with a small hooked tip that may assist in limited dispersal, though spread is more effectively achieved through root division than by seed. Leaves: Blue Anemone has attractively divided basal leaves that appear beneath the flowers. Each leaf is deeply lobed and toothed, typically in groups of three, and has a soft, fresh green colour. These leaves persist until summer before the plant goes dormant for the year.

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Crab Apple

Flower: Crab Apple bears clusters of delicate, five-petalled flowers in shades of white to pale pink, typically blooming from April to May. The buds are often deeper pink, fading as they open. Each flower has a central cluster of yellow stamens and is highly attractive to pollinating insects, especially bee... Fruit: The small, rounded fruits of the Crab Apple are typically yellow-green, often flushed or mottled with red, and ripen in late summer to autumn. Unlike cultivated apples, they are usually no larger than 3–4 cm across and have a very sharp, sour taste. The fruits contain several brown seeds arranged in... Leaves: Leaves are ovate with a finely toothed margin and a rounded base, typically darker on the upper surface and paler and slightly hairy underneath. They grow alternately along the branches and can sometimes show reddish or purplish tints, especially in exposed areas. The tree itself is often gnarled wi...

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Cultivated Apple

Flower: The Cultivated Apple produces attractive, five-petalled flowers in shades of white to pale pink, often deepening to a stronger pink in bud. These appear in clusters during April and May, providing an important nectar source for pollinators such as bees. Each flower has numerous yellow-tipped stamens... Fruit: Its well-known fruit—the apple—is a rounded, fleshy pome that varies greatly in size, colour, flavour, and texture depending on the cultivar. Apples typically ripen from late summer to early autumn and can be green, red, yellow, or a mix of these colours. The fruit contains five seed chambers arrang... Leaves: The leaves of Cultivated Apple are oval with finely serrated edges and a pointed tip. They are a dull to mid-green colour, with a slightly hairy underside and often a wrinkled texture. Leaves grow alternately along the branches and typically appear slightly after the blossom, remaining until autumn....

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Globe Artichoke

Flower: The flower of a Globe Artichoke has a large, round, thistle-like head that can grow up to 6 inches in diameter. The outer leaves of the flower are dark green in color and are tightly layered around the base of the flower. The inner leaves are more purple in hue and are edible. The flower has a large... Fruit: The flower of the Globe Artichoke plant develops into an edible thistle-like head, which is the vegetable. The actual fruit of the plant is a small, dry, brown, spiny capsule containing numerous seeds. Leaves: The leaves of the Globe Artichoke are large, thick, and spiny. They are pale to dark green in color and can grow up to 8 inches in length. Each leaf is deeply lobed with a sharp point at the end and a thick, fleshy base. The leaves are covered in small prickles, which are edible but can be quite sha...

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Garden Asparagus

Flower: Garden Asparagus produces small, bell-shaped flowers, pale greenish-white to yellowish in colour, typically appearing in early summer (May to June). The flowers are dioecious—individual plants are either male or female. Male flowers are more numerous and showier, while females are fewer but produce ... Fruit: Only female plants bear fruit: round, red berries, about 6–10 mm across, ripening by late summer. These berries are toxic to humans, containing sapogenins that can cause gastrointestinal upset. Birds, however, often eat them and disperse the seeds. Leaves: The “leaves” are actually needle-like cladodes—modified stems that function like leaves. These cladodes are slender, green, and feathery, typically arranged in tufts along the wiry, erect stems. True leaves are reduced to tiny scales at the base of each cladode cluster. Mature plants can reach up to...

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Wild Asparagus

Flower: Asparagus prostratus produces small, bell-shaped flowers that are yellowish-green, around 4–6 mm in length. Each flower has six tepals and hangs singly or in pairs on short stalks from the leaf axils. Blooming occurs in late spring to early summer. While inconspicuous, the flowers are delicate and n... Fruit: After flowering, the plant produces small, spherical red berries, each about 5–8 mm across. These fruits are visually striking against the wiry stems but are mildly toxic to humans and not consumed. They contain a few black seeds and are eaten by birds, which help disperse them. Leaves: What appear to be “leaves” are actually phylloclades — modified flattened stems that look like slender, pointed needles. True leaves are tiny and scale-like. The phylloclades are arranged in tufts along the thin, wiry stems and are typically green, spine-tipped, and less than 2 cm long. Stems often ...

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Bog Asphodel

Flower: Deep yellow spike of flowers, often tinged orange. Flowers are star-like with 6 petals and orange anthers. Fruit: Egg-shaped and bright orange. Leaves: Long and slender, grass-like.

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Wood Avens

Flower: The long stalked, star-shaped flowers appear in loose clusters and are up to 2 cm across in diameter. The sepals turn downwards as the fruit forms. The flowers are similar in appearance to those of Strawberry but are yellow rather than white. The flowers have numerous yellow anthers. Fruit: Hooked fruit forming a bur-like head, bronze-tipped. Leaves: The leaves are unstalked. The lower ones are pinnate with the terminal leaflet being much the largest. Stem leaves are smaller and trefoil.

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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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Yellow Bartsia

Flower: Yellow Bartsia bears bright yellow, tubular flowers about 10–15 mm long, each with a two-lipped corolla. The upper lip is two-lobed and hooded, while the lower lip has three spreading lobes, often with reddish markings at the throat. The flowers are arranged in spikes or loose clusters and appear fr... Fruit: The fruit is a small ovoid capsule, enclosed by a sticky calyx, which contains numerous tiny seeds. These seeds are lightweight and numerous, allowing for easy dispersal by wind, animals, or even humans via their sticky outer layer. The capsules are visible later in summer and autumn, replacing the ... Leaves: Leaves are lance-shaped, opposite, and heavily toothed, covered in sticky glandular hairs that give the plant a viscous, greasy feel (hence viscosa). Both the leaves and stems often have a dull green or slightly yellow-green hue, and can appear greasy or shiny in bright light. The sticky nature help...

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Wild Basil

Flower: The flowers bloom in exquisite shades of purples and pinks, adding a touch of natural elegance to the British countryside. Delicately arranged in clusters, these dainty blossoms possess a sweet, aromatic fragrance that wafts through the air, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. The peta... Fruit: Wild Basil, native to the picturesque landscapes of the UK, bears small, round fruits that develop after the flowering season in late summer. These diminutive fruits are typically a deep shade of brown or black, resembling tiny nutlets. They're inconspicuous compared to the plant's vibrant flowers b... Leaves: The leaves of Wild Basil, flourishing in the UK's idyllic countryside, are a distinctive feature of this herbaceous plant. They are typically lance-shaped or oval and are adorned with a fine layer of tiny hairs, giving them a slightly fuzzy appearance. These leaves are aromatic, emitting a fragrance...

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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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