
Herbs and Herbalism
Plant ID
Flowers
Violet
Bellflower clustered - Perennial, upright up to 30cm-60cm/1-2ft long stalks heart shaped leaves Flowers erect sessile violet/blue clusters June –October
Calamint Lesser - Perennial bushy 20-75cm
spread 60-90cm Leaves: peppermint scented Flowers lilac-white tubular in clusters
Cowslip - Perennial 30cm/1ft Flowers: yellow, red, orange, blue, violet April –May Fruit: oval enclosed within sepals. Sepals: pale green
Cranesbill meadow - Perennial clump forming up 90cm/3ft Flowers white, violet or blue saucer shape June-August Fruit has long bill hence the name
Crocus Saffron -Perennial 8-30cm tall. Leaves; erect or spreading, narrowly linear to 3mm wide, green with pale central stripe. Leaf margins and central keel on underside softly hairy.Flowers: solitary, enclosed by 2 bracts towards base. Corolla tube reaching down into corm. Pale violet with darker or paler reins. Yellow anthers. 6 lobes September-November
Flag purple - Perennial Flowers: blue
or violet June-August
Iris - Perennial up to 1.2m/4ft. Flowers
violet May-June
Liverleaf -About 15cm tall. Many basal
leaves. Leaf stems: long and hairy. Leaves glossy green above brownish/red to
violet below and 3-lobed. Flowers: singular on long hairy stems, 3 bracts. Flowers
2-3cm across with 5-10 violet or pink. March – April Fruits: hairy
Passion flower - Perennial climbing
plant up to 26ft Flowers: creamy/white – lavender with purple calyces
Periwinkle greater - Creeping, trailing
plant stems 30-90cm/1-3ft Leaves: dark green Flowers: solitary violet up to
5cm/2in across
Saffron - Small, bulbous perennial.
30-45cm/12-18in. Flower: violet September-November Mediterranean
Sage painted - Annual 3-45cm/1-1½ ft
with a 20-30cm spread Flower blue/violet midsummer to autumn
Sea Rocket - Up to 60cm/2ft. Leaves
fleshy, blue/green. Flowers: pink, violet, whitish and scented June –September
Violet -Low creeping perennial up to
15cm/½ft. 12cm/5in spread dark green heart shaped leaves, violet-blue flowers
March – May Sweet smell
Violet dog -8-20cm/3 ½ - 8in tall Leaves: long stalks, heart shaped, slightly toothed Flowers: No scent deep violet April-June
Honesty - Biennial 1m/3ft Flowers: violet four petals June-July followed by round seed pod
Dragon’s head - Annual. Stems branching, woody, erect Leaves grey/green Flowers: long spike violet blue July –September
Mint horse - Hairy. Grey foliage up to 1m tall. Stem: rectangular and branching Leaves opposite Flowers: lilac or white, dense spike
Agrimony yellow - Stout, fragrant leaves
Flowers pale yellow Britain
Alecost - A hardy herbaceous perennial,
which grows to 2-3ft tall. Dies back completely in winter. It has light brown
creeping roots and a ridged stem, which is woody near the base. The leaves are
oval and finely toothed, and long up to 1ft in length. The flowers appear in
late June in small clusters, and are button shaped and yellow. The plant has
a slight minty odour and taste.
Alexanders - Bushy solid stemmed, hairless
biennial. 60cm-120cm/2-4ft Leaves dark green glossy, toothed, groups of three.
Flowers umbels yellow/green April-June Fruit: black and sharply rigged Mediterranean
Ambrette Seed - An evergreen shrub
–around 1.5m/5ft tall, yellow flowers with a purple centre India
Asafoetida –2-3m/6-10 ft Fleshy root
with bristly fibres. Long, slim leaves. Green-yellow flowers. Flat reddish-brown
fruit Afghanistan
Barberry - Perennial Flowers: yellow May-June Fruit: purple berries
Bird’s Foot trefoil - Perennial legume deep rooted, short lived, fine stem Leaves: five oval leaflets, lowest leaflet pair close to the stem away from the other three Flower: bright yellow in heads of 3-8 May –September
Birthwort - Perennial plant. 30-90cm/1-3ft un-branched stems Heart shaped finely toothed leaves. Flowers in clusters in leaf axis yellow-May/June. Fruit: a hanging capsule Attracts flies
Broom Spanish - Shrub up to 3m/10ft
high, woody branches, bright green leaves, large yellow flowers
Buttercup celery leaved - Hairless up to 1m tall. Leaves 3 lobed, toothed Flowers: yellow June-November
Calamus - Reed like aquatic plant 1m/3ft
tall, sword shaped leaves, green/yellow flowers India
Calendula - Hardy annual herb. 30cm-50cm/12-
20 inches Spindly root, angular, hairy stems. Leaves ovals or lanced shaped,
mid green Orange or Yellow many petalled flowers. Flowers June -October. Seeds
curved and rough. Europe, Asia
Cardamom - Perennial reed like herb
up to 4m/13ft tall, long blade shaped leaves, yellowish flowers with purple
tips, red/brown seeds Asia
Cassie - Bushy, thorny shrub, up to
10m tall. Fluffy yellow flowers West Indies
Celandine lesser - Perennial plant.
Hairless short fleshy stems 5-25cm/2-10 in Leaves heart shaped often with blotches
or spots Bright yellow flowers star like March-May (early as mid January in
South England when it is mild)
Chamomile Dryers - Perennial up to 90cm/3ft Flowers: bright yellow
Chamomile German - Evergreen perennial Maximum height 60cm/2ft Single flower head-white with yellow centre like a daisy May-September. Hairless stem
Chamomile Maroc n -90-125cm tall, hairy
leaves, yellow flowers surrounded by white ligulets Africa
Chamomile Roman - Small stocky perennial
herb up to 30cm/1ft, hairy stem, creeping, daisy like yellow/white flowers June-September
Coltsfoot -Perennial Stems: fleshy, stocky, purplish scales. 10-25cm/4-10in tall. Leaves: appear after flowering, basal, rounded and long stalked with heart shaped base appear end of April. Flowers: Bright golden daisy like, petals narrow and many February – April. Flowers appear before the leaves. Seeds make a dandelion clock
Cowslip - Perennial 30cm/1ft Flowers: yellow, red, orange, blue, violet April –May Fruit: oval enclosed within sepals. Sepals: pale green
Cow wheat -15-30cm/6-12in tall Flowers: All face the same way Yellow-white grow in pairs May-September. Are semi-parasitic plants
Daisy - Hardy perennial. 7-15cm/3-6in.
Flowers yellow and white March – October
Damiana - Small shrub. Leaves ovate,
pale green. Flowers yellow and aromatic
Dandelion -Hardy perennial. Up to 30cm/1ft
hollow stems exudes a milk juice when cut Leaves-lanced shaped, roughly toothed
growing from base of plant. . Flowers-large, yellow, numerous petals March-November
followed by fluffy seed heads
Dill - Annual or biennial herb.1m/2-5
ft Long thin spindly root, Stems hollow blue/green. Tiny yellow flowers, on
flat umbels July-September, Flat small seeds Mediterranean, Asia
Elecampane -Large, hardy herbaceous
perennial. Up to 240cm/8ft. Roots - thick, dark brown. Stems-hairy and filled
with spongy pith. Leaves coarse, thick and toothed. Green on top, grey underneath.
Yellow flowers June-October Europe
Evening Primrose - Biennial Erect un-branched
60-100cm/2-3ft. Leaves oval, lance shaped often toothed. Flowers: saucer shaped
bright yellow and large usually falling after a day’s blooming
Feverfew - Perennial plant. Up to 60cm/2ft.
Flowers: white or yellow July –September Short lived
Flag sweet - Perennial Flowers: green/yellow
May-June
Fox and cubs - Perennial up to 30cm/1ft
Flowers: yellow, orange or red
Gentian great yellow - Perennial. Flowers:
yellow august
Ginger - Perennial, up to 1m/3ft, narrow
spear shaped leaves, white or yellow flowers Asia
Golden rod - Perennial herb knotty
stem, upright 90-180cm/35-70in Flower: Yellow June-September
Gooseberry - Low many branched shrub
1.2m/4ft tall. Leaves 3 or 4 lobed blunt toothed. Flowers drooping red tinged,
green/yellow. April Fruit green/yellow or purple, egg shaped and usually hairy
from July
Gorse - Up to 2.5m/8ft Spiny, woody
shrub Dark green spines Bright yellow flowers all times of year although April
– June at its peak Europe
Gorse Western - Smaller than common
gorse up to 60cm/2ft. Spiny Flowers golden yellow all year around but especially
July- September
Hedge mustard - Perennial Flowers:
yellow April-November
Henbane - Annual or biennial bushy,
tall. Sticky, smelly foliage. Up to 80cm Leaves: alternate, ovate or oblong,
toothed Lower leaves: stalked Flowers yellow/brown purple veined June - October
Hollyhock - Tall, leafy biennial or
perennial herb. Up to 3m/10ft. Flowers: pink, crimson, yellow, white July –
September
Honeysuckle - Woody climbing perennial
up to 6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped
followed by orange or red berries
Honeysuckle wild- Deciduous twining,
climbing shrub 6m/20ft tall. Leaves: opposite, oval to oblong dark green Flowers
creamy/yellow often flushed with purple. June- October Fruit red berry
Hops - Perennial deciduous climbing
plant. Up to 8m/23ft. Stems: clinging, hairy Bears male and females flowers
on different plants June-September. Dark green leaves and green/yellow cone
like flowers. Fruit early September. Twines in a clockwise direction
Kidney vetch - Low growing typical vetch leaves in opposites along the stem with a single leaf at the end. Flowers pale yellow-orange-red May-August
Lady’s bedstraw - Perennial spreading
up to 40cm/16in Leaves: whorls Flowers yellow and white which smell of honey
June -September
Lady’s mantle - Perennial herb. Up
to 50cm/20in densely hairy stems Leaves-blue/green kidney shaped, finely toothed.
Clusters of flowers greenish-yellow petal-less yellow stamens May –September
Madder - Perennial climbing plant.
60-90cm/2-3ft. Leaves: oblong with prickly underside Flowers yellow star shaped
June-August
Melilotus - Bushy perennial herb up
to 1m3ft, smooth erect stems, oval leaves, white or yellow flowers June - September.
Hairless brown seedpods
Moneywort - Perennial Flowers: yellow
July-September
Mouse weed hawkweed - Perennial Flowers:
yellow October
Mustard -Erect green/grey annual up
to 3m/10ft. Spear shaped upper leaves, smooth flat pods, and bright yellow flowers
June – August. Seedpods against stems
Pansy wild - Annual/perennial Flowers
yellow – purple 15mm/½in across. May – September
Parsley - Biennial. Maximum 38cm-60cm/15in.
Bright green foliage. Re-sow every 2 years. Green/yellow flowers July - September,
small brown seeds
Pleurisy root - Perennial fleshy rooted
30-45cm1-1 ½ ft Flowers yellow – deep orange September
Primrose - Herbaceous perennial. Height
5-12cm/2-4in inches. Stems slender, soft hair Leaves: bright green, oblong,
form rosettes at base of plant Flowers: pale yellow January- May
Purslane - Trailing annual herb. 10-30cm/4-12in.
Round, smooth stem. Leaves dark green, thick and stalked. Flowers yellow June-July
however they only open around noon
Ragwort - Perennial 120cm/4ft tall
Rosette of large divided leaves. Flowers bright yellow June- October. Almost
hairless
Roseroot - Perennial alpine or rock
plant up to 30cm/1ft Leaves: egg shaped silver/green Flowers star shaped yellow
Rue - Evergreen perennial shrub. Up
to 60cm/2ft. Blue-green foliage. Yellow flowers June-July. Woody stem.
Safflower - Annual up to 90cm/3ft Flower
Yellow thistle like set in spiny bracts June Asia
Sage wood - Perennial Upright, woody
stems with spikes of green/yellow flowers, prominent stamens. Up to 30cm/1ft
Leaves toothed opposite July –September
Southernwood- Woody, perennial semi-evergreen
shrub. Height up to 1m/3ft Greyish/green leaves Tiny yellow flowers July-October
Stonecrop yellow -5-10cm/2-4in Short
stems Flowers: bright yellow June- July
Sunflower - Annual. Concentric circles
of seeds in flower heads Flowers: yellow
Tansy - Hardy perennial almost hairless.
Up to 1m/3ft Clusters of yellow, button shaped, petalless flowers July-October.
Creeping roots, dark ferny leaves. Very aromatic
Tarragon - Perennial herb. Up to 60cm/2ft.
Long, narrow, undivided leaves. Small yellow/green flowers July-October. Long,
fibrous roots
Toadflax - Perennial Leaves: grey/yellow
Flowers: yellow, 2 lipped June-October
Turmeric - Perennial herb up to 1m/3ft,
thick rhizome herb, dull yellow flowers Asia
Witch hazel - Perennial deciduous shrub
up to 5m/15ft Leaves: yellow in autumn Flowers clustered, scented between autumn
–spring
Woad - Biennial up to 120cm/4ft with a spread of 60cm/2ft. Flowers: bright yellow early spring and summer
Wormseed - Perennial wayside herb up
to 1m/3ft, stout erect stem, green/yellow flowers South America
Wormwood - Perennial, deciduous herb.
1.5m/2-4ft.whitish stem, silver/grey leaves, pale yellow flowers July – August
Yellow archangel -30-60cm/12-24in tall. Strong smelling, hairy. Leaves paired oval, toothed. Flowers. Bright yellow in tight whorls up the stem April – July
Yellow wort - Stem leaves grow in pairs joined around stem grey/green Leaves: joined at base. Flowers: bright yellow June-October
Celandine greater - Perennial up to 1m tall. Upright, branching stems, bristly hair, and bright orange milky sap. Leaves: alternate green above, blue/green beneath pinnate with oval toothed lobes Flowers yellow 2-3cm, 4 petals May-October Fruit 2-5cm capsule
Tormentil - Perennial Low growing plant up to 10cm Leaves: 3 toothed leaflets with two basal leaves like stipules giving a 5-fingered effect. Flowers: 4 sepals and petals yellow May-September
Agrimony -grows up to 250-100cm/20-40in
high. Hairy, erect stems mid green leaves with serrated edges and grow in alternate
large and small pairs along dark green slender stem. Small bright yellow five
petalled flowers on a tapering spike and are apricot scented. June – September
British Isles
Aloe - Evergreen perennial 30cm/1ft.
The root in very fibrous, strong and light brown in colour. The leaves are long,
tapering and fleshy. In each leaf is a clear gelatinous sap. Yellow or orange
flowers Africa, Caribbean, America
Avens- Perennial 30-60cm/1-2 ft. Leaves
in groups of 3 Flowers: yellow, 5 petals May-July
Cinquefoil creeping - Long creeping runners Leaves: 3-5 fingered Flowers: yellow 5 petals June – September
Creeping Jenny - Hairless perennial up to 5cm tall, creeping stems up to 50cm long, Leaves opposite, round to ovate, stalked Flowers: solitary 5 petals yellow May-July
Nasturtium - Annual Climbing, hairless plant 30cm-1m/1ft-3ft. Leaves: round Red, yellow and gold bell shaped flowers, 5 petals June-September
Silverweed - Hairy silvery creeping
perennial 10-30cm/4-12in Leaves a basal rosette coarsely toothed Flowers yellow
five petalled May – September
St John’s wort - Perennial 40-80cm/16-32in
tall Hairless stiff, erect branched stems. Leaves untoothed, un-stalked opposite
and oval. Flowers yellow, 5 petals, black dots many stamens, no nectar May -
September
Fat hen -Spreading branched annual
stiff upright stems 20-150cm/8-60in tall. Leaves thick diamond shaped grey/green.
Flowers tiny pale green/yellow and bunched in spikes June – October. Fruit tiny
each containing one black seed
Good King Henry - Perennial often reddish.
Up to 60cm/2ft wide spread Leaves triangular spear shaped almost untoothed Flowers
yellow in spikes May – August
Mullein great -Biennial/Perennial 1-2m/3-6ft.
Leaves downy leaves Flowers yellow clusters in long spikes 30-45cm long June-
August. Whole plant covered in white/grey soft hair
Vanilla grass - Perennial up to 20-25cm/8-10in.
Tufted grass, short narrow leaves Flowers: yellowish spikes up to 1in
Wallflower wild - Perennial climber 20-50cm Flowers: yellow spikes April - May. Small flat seeds in long slender pods
Angelica -Hairy biennial with large lobed bright green ferny leaves, which are serrated and divided into 3. Flowers July - August tiny and yellowish/white, grouped into large umbels Between 120cm/300cm4ft-10ft. Stout stems and hollow Europe
Fennel -Herbaceous perennial or biennial.
2m/7 ft. Feathery, segmented leaves and bright golden flowers that bloom in
large flat umbels in July-October. Strong smelling, solid stems
Seeds are oval and ribbed and should be dried
before use Europe
Lovage - Herbaceous perennial. Maximum
growing Height 2.1m/7ft Thick, fleshly grey root. Thick, hollow stems. Segmented
leaves. Flowers June/-August umbels of green/yellow flowers Seeds: oblong, brown
Samphire rock - Squat, bushy plant up to 30cm/1ft tall. Stems hairless and solid Leaves fleshy grey/green in narrow untoothed leaflets. Flowers yellow umbels July – October
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