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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Common Alder

Flower: Common Alder produces both male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious). The male catkins are long, drooping, and yellowish-brown, typically appearing in late winter to early spring (February–March), before the leaves emerge. Female flowers are small, upright, and reddish-purple, maturing o... Fruit: By late summer, the fertilised female flowers develop into small, cone-like structures called strobiles. These woody fruits are green at first and mature to a dark brown, releasing small winged seeds that are dispersed by wind and water. The "cones" often persist on the tree through winter. Leaves: Alder leaves are rounded or oval with a distinctive notched (emarginate) tip and a serrated margin. They are a rich green and slightly sticky (glutinous) when young — hence the species name glutinosa. In autumn, they typically fall while still green, rather than turning bright colours.

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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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Sweet Alyssum

Flower: Sweet Alyssum is a charming and petite flowering plant with delicate blooms. The flowers, shaped like small clusters, come in a variety of colours, including white, pink, purple, and lavender. Each flower consists of four petals, creating a dainty and intricate appearance. The fragrance of these blo... Fruit: Sweet Alyssum is not typically grown for its fruit, as it is primarily cultivated for its attractive and fragrant flowers. The plant produces small, inconspicuous fruits that are not commonly a focal point in gardening discussions. The main ornamental appeal of Sweet Alyssum lies in its profusion of... Leaves: Sweet Alyssum features small, lance-shaped leaves that contribute to its overall compact and neat appearance. The leaves are typically green in colour and form a dense carpet of foliage beneath the delicate clusters of flowers. These leaves are relatively small in size, adding to the fine texture of...

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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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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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Marsh Arrowgrass

Flower: Marsh Arrowgrass produces delicate, star-like flowers arranged along a slender, upright spike that can reach 10–30 cm in height. Each flower has six narrow pinkish-purple or greenish tepals (not true petals or sepals), and yellow-tipped stamens, creating a subtle but attractive display from June to ... Fruit: The fruit is a narrow, cylindrical capsule that splits into six longitudinal segments when mature. These fruits are green at first but turn brown as they dry out. Each segment contains a single seed, and the fruits persist into late summer or early autumn, gradually releasing their contents to assis... Leaves: The leaves of Marsh Arrowgrass are long, slender, and grass-like, arising from the base of the plant. They are linear, fleshy, and grooved, typically 10–30 cm long, with a blunt tip and no visible midrib. Unlike true grasses, they are hairless and often emit a slightly aromatic or salty scent when c...

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Dragon Arum

Flower: Dragon Arum produces a striking and unusual inflorescence consisting of a large, dark purple to almost black spathe that curves around a tall, erect spadix. The spathe can be 30–40 cm long and has a glossy, sometimes mottled appearance. Flowering typically occurs in late spring to early summer. The ... Fruit: The fruit develops as a cluster of bright red berries following pollination. These berries are visually striking but toxic if ingested. They are about 1–2 cm in diameter and mature by late summer. Leaves: The leaves are large, deeply lobed and glossy green, often emerging after the flower. They can be up to 50 cm across, with a distinctive arrowhead or palmate shape and smooth texture.

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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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Two-rowed Barley

Flower: Two-rowed Barley produces small, inconspicuous flowers arranged in dense spikes called ears or inflorescences. The flowers are wind-pollinated and lack petals, typical of many cereal grasses. Blooming occurs in late spring to early summer, with flowers releasing pollen that is carried by the wind ra... Fruit: The fruit of Two-rowed Barley is the barley grain, a dry, single-seeded caryopsis typical of cereals. The grains develop in two neat rows along each side of the spike, hence the name “two-rowed.” These grains are harvested as a staple food crop and used in brewing, animal feed, and various food prod... Leaves: Leaves are long, narrow, and flat with parallel veins, characteristic of grasses. They have a rough texture along the edges due to tiny silica bodies called phytoliths. The leaf blades grow alternately along the erect stems and can reach up to 40 cm in length, giving the plant a lush green appearanc...

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Six-rowed Barley

Flower: Six-rowed Barley (Hordeum vulgare) produces compact, upright flower spikes (inflorescences) known as ears or heads, which consist of three spikelets at each node of the central axis (rachis). In H. vulgare, all three spikelets are fertile, which distinguishes it from its close relative, Two-rowed Ba... Fruit: The fruit of Hordeum vulgare is a caryopsis — a dry, one-seeded grain typical of grasses, where the seed coat is fused to the fruit wall. In six-rowed barley, the fertile spikelets in all three rows develop into grain, making the ear appear fuller and more robust than in two-rowed forms. This result... Leaves: The leaves of Six-rowed Barley are linear, flat, and arranged alternately along the stem (culm). Each leaf consists of a sheath that wraps around the stem and a long, narrow blade with parallel venation. A notable feature is the presence of two auricles — small, claw-like appendages that curve aroun...

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Broad Bean

Flower: Broad Bean plants produce large, striking flowers that are typically pale creamy white with distinctive black or dark purple markings on the wings and keel petals. These flowers bloom from late spring into early summer and attract a variety of pollinators, especially bumblebees, which are well adapt... Fruit: The fruit of Broad Bean is a sizable, thick pod that can grow up to 15 cm long. These pods develop after flowering and contain several large, flat seeds known as broad beans or fava beans. When mature, the pods turn green to yellowish and eventually dry out. Broad beans are edible when fresh or drie... Leaves: The leaves of Broad Bean are compound, with typically three to six pairs of oval leaflets plus a terminal tendril that can help the plant climb. The leaflets are broad, smooth, and dark green, providing a lush appearance. The plant’s sturdy, upright stems support the flowers and pods, making it dist...

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