Alexanders

Flower: Yellow-green umbel. Fruit: Globular, ridged, turning black on ripening. Leaves: Yellowish-green bluntly toothed, divided and glossy.

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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: Loose, erect clusters of bright golden yellow flowers. They measure no larger than 1.8cm across. The yellow stigmas are prominent. Very late flowering. Fruit: The fruit is an achene. An achene is a type of dry, one-seeded fruit. Leaves: Numerous, linear, lance-shaped leaves. Unlike the similar looking Golden Samphire (Inula crithmoides), the leaves are not fleshy.

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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: A compact clustered flowerhead of violet-blue, unstalked, bell-shaped or star-shaped flowers. The petals are blunt-tipped and curve outwards. A faint dark violet vein runs through the centre of each petal. Flowers are occasionally solitary where they are sometimes mistaken for a Gentian, however Gen... Fruit: The fruit is a many-seeded capsule. Leaves: Dark green, narrow, lance-shaped leaves (or slightly heart-shaped), half clasping the stem. The leaves alternate along the stems on both sides. The lower leaves are triangular and stalked. Occasionally seen as a garden escape species. Perennial and clump-forming.

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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: Flower spikes (racemes). Each flower has an inward bending long stalk and is about 2 to 4mm across. The bend in the stalk has a tiny, pointed bract. Triangular but blunt-pointed sepals. Orange heart-shaped anthers. Yellow pollen. Fruit: Green globular fruit capsules containing many reddish-brown seeds. The seeds ripen from July to August. Leaves: A hairless, normally unbranched flower with pale green, fleshy, upright, spoon-shaped leaves. The oval leaves remain close to the stems. The basal leaves are the largest. The stem leaves are alternately positioned going up the stem. Deciduous, short-lived perennial. Most frequently found near the se...

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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: Pale yellow or green flowers, up to 5mm across. Sometimes purple-spotted around the edges. The flowers grow out from the centre of the cladodes (see the section on leaf details). 3 petals and 3 sepals. Fruit: A red berry. The seeds are distributed by birds and ripen from August to March. Leaves: Butcher's Broom has no leaves. The leaf-like structures are actually flattened stems. These structures are called 'cladodes'. This plant is a low-growing evergreen shrub with oval cladodes that end in a sharp spiny point. Throughout the British Isles, Butcher's Broom is the most common in the south ...

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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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