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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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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Goldilocks Aster

Flower: Goldilocks Aster produces bright yellow, button-like flower heads composed entirely of tubular disc florets, with no ray florets. These compact heads appear in dense terminal clusters and bloom from July to September. Despite lacking the typical "daisy" look, the rich golden colour and late flowerin... Fruit: The plant forms small, dry achenes topped with a short pappus of fine hairs, allowing for limited wind dispersal. These seeds are lightweight and generally remain close to the parent plant unless aided by animals or strong breezes. Seed production is modest, and in the wild, the plant often spreads ... Leaves: Leaves are narrow, linear to lanceolate, and resemble those of grasses or rosemary, giving the plant a neat, upright appearance. They are arranged alternately along the stem and are smooth-edged with a tough, leathery texture. Their evergreen-like quality helps the plant retain moisture and survive ...

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Sea Aster

Flower: The Sea Aster graces the coastal landscapes of the United Kingdom with its stunning flowers, showcasing a kaleidoscope of hues, including soft pinks, purples, and lavenders. Blooming from late summer through early autumn, these vibrant flowers contribute to the picturesque beauty of shorelines. The ... Fruit: The Sea Aster produces small, inconspicuous fruits that follow the blooming period. These fruits, often referred to as achenes, possess a subtle yet essential role in the plant's reproductive cycle. Enclosed within the dried flower head, the achenes are dispersed through various mechanisms, aiding i... Leaves: The Sea Aster boasts leaves that exhibit a diversity of shapes, ranging from lanceolate to elliptical, contributing to its overall visual allure. These resilient leaves, with their distinctive green hues, form a dense foliage that plays a vital role in stabilizing coastal soils and preventing erosio...

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Sea Beet

Flower: Sea Beet bears small, inconspicuous greenish flowers. These flowers are typically modest in size and bloom from late spring to early summer. The plant's flowering stems emerge from the glossy foliage, adding a subtle touch to its coastal habitat. While not known for flamboyant blossoms, Sea Beet's f... Fruit: The fruit of Sea Beet consists of small, rounded seed clusters encapsulated within fleshy, triangular structures known as bracts. These bracts often have a papery texture and can take on a reddish or purplish hue. The seeds are contained within these protective structures, and as the plant matures, ... Leaves: Sea Beet is characterized by its large, fleshy leaves, which have a glossy surface. The leaves are typically green but may display a red or purplish tinge, particularly on the stems. These leaves are edible, and when young, they are often harvested for culinary purposes, offering a taste reminiscent...

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Adria Bellflower

Flower: Many violet blue, bell-shaped flowers, each is 2cm in diameter. Adria Bellflower looks quite similar to Trailing Bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana) but is darker in colour. The flowers of Adria Bellflower also form a deeper bell. Pollinated by insects. Fruit: The fruit of Adria Bellflower typically consists of a dry, spherical capsule that contains tiny seeds. This capsule, when mature, will split open to release the seeds, allowing them to disperse and propagate the plant. Leaves: The leaves of Adria Bellflower are typically lance-shaped or elliptical, with a smooth, dark green appearance. They have a simple, alternate arrangement along the stem and may feature a slightly serrated or wavy edge. The leaves are typically medium-sized and are often covered in fine hairs, giving ...

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Clustered Bellflower

Flower: Clustered Bellflower is named for its dense, rounded clusters of violet-purple, bell-shaped flowers that typically form at the top of the stem and sometimes in the leaf axils. Each flower measures about 2–3 cm long and has five shallowly lobed petals fused into a bell or funnel shape. Blooming from ... Fruit: The fruit is a small, upright capsule that splits open through basal pores when mature, releasing many fine seeds. These capsules appear shortly after flowering and persist into autumn. Seed is the primary method of reproduction, although some cultivated forms can also spread by rhizomes. Leaves: The basal leaves of Campanula glomerata are oval to heart-shaped with long stalks and toothed edges. Higher up the stem, the leaves become narrower and stalkless, often clasping the stem. All leaves are rough to the touch, slightly hairy, and arranged alternately. The sturdy, upright stems and dense...

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Sea Bindweed

Flower: The flowers of Sea Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella) are striking and distinctive, typically funnel-shaped and measuring 3-5 cm in diameter. They exhibit a delicate pink to purple hue with prominent white stripes running along the petals, creating a visually appealing contrast. Blooming from late spr... Fruit: The fruit of Sea Bindweed is a small, round capsule that develops after the plant's distinctive flowers have been pollinated. These capsules contain several seeds, which are black, smooth, and shiny. The seeds are dispersed primarily by wind and water, allowing the plant to colonize new areas along ... Leaves: The leaves of Sea Bindweed are notable for their unique shape and adaptation to coastal environments. They are kidney-shaped to rounded, often described as fleshy and waxy, which helps to reduce water loss in the sandy, saline habitats where the plant thrives. The leaves are arranged alternately alo...

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Cut-leaved Blackberry

Flower: Rubus laciniatus produces striking, pale pink to whitish flowers, typically 2–3 cm across, blooming from June to August. Each flower has five petals that can appear slightly crinkled or wavy at the edges. The blooms are arranged in loose clusters and are highly attractive to bees and other pollinato... Fruit: The fruit is a classic blackberry-type drupelet cluster, glossy and black when ripe, usually in late summer. R. laciniatus often produces slightly elongated berries, and the flavour is excellent—juicy, sweet, and rich, making them highly desirable for foraging. Cultivated forms exist and are often u... Leaves: This species stands out for its deeply lobed, fern-like leaves, which give it a highly distinctive and ornamental appearance. The leaflets are finely dissected or "cut," hence the common name. Typically, there are five palmate leaflets per leaf, with a dark green upper surface and paler, softly hair...

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Blackthorn

Flower: The flowers of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) are dainty and delicate. Each flower consists of five white petals with a slightly rounded tip. These petals form a small, star-shaped blossom that measures around 1 to 1.5 centimetres (0.4 to 0.6 inches) in diameter. The petals may have a faint hint of... Fruit: The fruit of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), known as "sloes," are small and dark purple-black in colour. They have a round or oval shape and measure approximately 1 to 1.5 centimetres (0.4 to 0.6 inches) in diameter. Sloes have a distinct, waxy coating that gives them a slightly dusty appearance. ... Leaves: The leaves of the Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) are oval in shape with finely serrated edges. They are glossy and vibrant green during the spring and summer, providing a lush backdrop for the plant's white blossoms. These leaves, arranged alternately along the branches, are around 2 to 4 centimeters l...

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Virgin's Bower

Flower: Virgin's Bower produces abundant, star-shaped white flowers with four narrow petal-like sepals and many prominent yellow stamens. Flowers are typically 1.5–2.5 cm across and bloom in large clusters (panicles) from June to September. The overall appearance is frothy and airy, making it highly attract... Fruit: After flowering, Clematis flammula forms feathery, plume-like achenes with long silky styles. These are silvery and fluffy, aiding in wind dispersal and giving a striking display into autumn. Leaves: The leaves are pinnate with 5 to 9 ovate leaflets, each being glossy green and somewhat pointed. They are opposite, deciduous, and have a slightly toothed or entire margin. The plant is a climbing shrub, often using leaf stalks to twine around supports.

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Brookweed

Flower: Brookweed bears delicate, star-like white to very pale pink flowers, each around 3–5 mm across, with five rounded petals and a greenish centre. The flowers are arranged loosely along one side of a slender, leafless flowering stem (a one-sided raceme). Blooming from June to September, they open gradu... Fruit: After flowering, Brookweed forms small, globular capsules that split open to release tiny seeds. These mature through late summer and into autumn. The seeds are dispersed mainly by water and gravity, helping the plant spread along wetland margins. Its preference for damp, peaty or muddy conditions m... Leaves: The leaves of Samolus valerandi are smooth, oval to spoon-shaped, and fleshy, with a slightly glossy surface. They form a basal rosette and may also appear alternately along the lower part of the flowering stem. Their succulent nature helps the plant cope with fluctuating water levels and occasional...

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Spanish Broom

Flower: Spanish Broom produces large, bright yellow, pea-like flowers in early to mid-summer (typically June to August). The flowers are borne in loose terminal racemes, and each has the classic Fabaceae structure with a prominent banner petal. The flowers are fragrant and highly attractive to bees and butt... Fruit: The fruit is a narrow, flattened pod, around 5–8 cm long, maturing to dark brown or black. Like many legumes, the pod twists open explosively when dry, dispersing its hard, dark seeds. The seeds contain toxic alkaloids, including cytisine, and are not edible. Pods are often persistent on the shrub t... Leaves: The leaves are very small, narrow-lanceolate, and sparse, quickly falling off early in the season. The plant’s green, rush-like stems perform photosynthesis, giving it a unique look among brooms. This leaflessness helps it conserve water in hot climates and is a key identifying feature.

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Butcher's Broom

Flower: The flowers of Butcher’s Broom are small, greenish to purplish, and grow unusually in the centre of the cladodes (the spiny, leaf-like structures). Blooming occurs from February to April, though the flowers are easily overlooked due to their size and subtle colouration. Despite their inconspicuous a... Fruit: Fertilized female plants produce striking bright red berries, about 1 cm in diameter, which appear in autumn and persist through winter. These berries stand out against the evergreen background and are a useful identification feature. Though visually attractive, the berries are not edible and may ca... Leaves: What appear to be leaves are actually flattened stems called cladodes, which are stiff, dark green, and sharply pointed. True leaves are tiny and scale-like, barely noticeable at the base of each cladode. The spiny tips help deter grazing animals, making the plant well-suited to woodland edges and h...

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Bedstraw Broomrape

Flower: Bedstraw Broomrape produces an upright spike of tubular, two-lipped flowers, usually pale yellow-brown to pinkish-buff, often tinged with violet or purplish veins, especially on the lips. Flowers are about 1.5–2 cm long, covered in glandular hairs, and surrounded by narrow, toothed calyx lobes. Flow... Fruit: The fruit is a small capsule, around 5 mm long, containing thousands of minute, dust-like seeds. These seeds are dispersed by wind or rain splash, but germinate only when in close proximity to a suitable host. Leaves: Like other broomrapes, this species is entirely parasitic and lacks chlorophyll, so it doesn’t have true leaves. Instead, it bears brownish or yellowish scale-like bracts along the flowering stem.

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