Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

Flowers 

White

Amyris - Small bushy tree with white flowers South America

Anemone wood -5-30cm/2-12in tall. Leaves whorls of 3, 3 deep lobes. Flowers nod in slightest breeze white sometime pink March-May

Anise - An annul herb. Height 30-60cm/1-2 ft. Mild green lacy leaves, rounded stem. Small clusters of white flowers July-August. Asia

Asparagus - Perennial, Flowers: white/green May-June

Balm - Herbaceous perennial. Height-90cm/3ft. Stem-hairy and square. Leaves-hairy and lemon scented. Flower-small yellow buds that turn into white or pink flowers June-August

Basil - Annual Average growing height 45 cm/18 in. Stem-square and hairy. Leaves-pointed ovals, aromatic. Flowers-white/cream in July and August.

Bearberry - Evergreen shrub. Up to 8 inches. Trailing stems and branches. Leaves-dark green, ovate, leathery. Flowers-clusters, white, pinkish flowers bloom May/June. Bright red berries in autumn.

Bindweed Greater -3m/10ft tall Hairless plant. Stems twining, climbing Leaves arrow shaped, untoothed, alternate leaves. Flowers large white trumpets with yellow centres July – September North America

Blackthorn - Deciduous Thorny shrub or small tree up to 6m/20ft. Slate grey/black bark. Leaves appear in April after the flower -small & oval, alternate. Sharp spines, orange wood. White flowers - February to April 5 white petals Green berries in June Dark-blue berries around August. Ripe in October-November. Called sloes

Bogbean - Aquatic plant Leaves: trefoil Flowers: pink outside, white inside fringed with long white hair May-June Fruit: globular

Bugle - Creeping biennial or perennial 10-30cm/4-12in tall with a square-ish stem. Flowers: little, blue, pink or white April-July Leaves oval and shiny Europe

Calamint Lesser - Perennial bushy 20-75cm spread 60-90cm Leaves: peppermint scented Flowers lilac-white tubular in clusters

Campion bladder - Perennial 20-60cm/8-24in Flowers: white July- August

Candytuft - Annual up to 30cm/1ft tall. Flowers: white or mauve clusters

Carrot Seed -Annual or biennial or perennial herb. Tough white root, hairy fern-like leaves, stems erect and often branched white lacy flowers outer florets larger than inner ones, cushion shaped June – September 50-100cm/20-40in tall.3 forked or pinnate bracts around flower head

Catnip - Herbaceous perennial. Maximum growing height 1m/3 ft Flowers-small white, pinkish July-September

Cat’s foot - Perennial Flowers: White or pink flowers May-August

Cayenne - Annual or biennial. Flowers: White Fruit: Red

Chamomile Roman - Small stocky perennial herb up to 30cm/1ft, hairy stem, creeping, daisy like yellow/white flowers June-September

Chicory -Perennial herb. 90-150cm/3-5 ft Thick yellow taproot, milky when broken. Lower leaves-long arrow shaped, toothed and hairy underneath. Upper leaves smaller, stalkless. Clear blue, white or pink daisy like lowers in clusters July-September which close in the evening and open in the morning Europe

Clover white -Small, hairless perennial with creeping and rooting stems. Leaves: finely toothed leaflets with pale band across Flowers: white or pink or purple

Comfrey -Perennial height 90cm/3ft Thick black tap root up to 3m/10ft deep. Stem-rough, hairy and square. Leaves dark green, hairy pointed ovals. Blue-mauve Flowers May-October droop in paired clusters white, cream, pink or mauve bellflowers

Coriander Annual. Maximum 60cm/2 ft Leaves broad, oval, fern like and toothed. Clusters white. Pale mauve Flowers between June and august. Seeds -small round and light brown. South Euro

Cowberry - Small evergreen shrub 40cm/16in high. Leaves leathery, oval untoothed. Flowers pink or white open in clusters May – July. Fruits red, spherical

Cow wheat -15-30cm/6-12in tall Flowers: All face the same way Yellow-white grow in pairs May-September. Are semi-parasitic plants

Cranesbill meadow - Perennial clump forming up 90cm/3ft Flowers white, violet or blue saucer shape June-August Fruit has long bill hence the name

Cuckoo flower - Perennial. Flowers start lilac turn white Spring- early summer Britain

Daisy - Hardy perennial. 7-15cm/3-6in. Flowers yellow and white March – October

Dead nettle white - Hairy patch forming perennial with square stem up to 60cm/24in. Leaves in pairs, triangular, pointed, coarsely toothed. Flowers creamy/white whorls March – November

Enchanter’s nightshade - Slender stems with opposite leaves that are stalked and oval with a heart shaped base and pointed top 30-60cm/12-24in tall. Flowers white or pink tiny June – August

Eyebright - Annual 5-20cm/2-8in. Leaves lanced shaped, hairy. Numerous white or lilac flowers June-September. Semi-parasitic Europe

Fenugreek - Annual. 60cm/2ft. Taproot, hollow and hairy. Leaves- finely toothed three leaflets. Flowers creamy white or pink June - August. Followed by seeds pods contain sixteen yellow brown pebble shaped seeds Africa, Asia, South Europe

Feverfew - Perennial plant. Up to 60cm/2ft. Flowers: white or yellow July –September Short lived

Forget me not - 30cm/1ft. Pale blue or white flowers April-June Oblong leaves.

Garlic - Perennial herb up to 1m/3ft Long, narrow, flat leaves like grass. Whitish flowers June- August. Bulb of 5-15 cloves in papery skin

Ginger - Perennial, up to 1m/3ft, narrow spear shaped leaves, white or yellow flowers Asia

Gipsy wort - Perennial Flowers: White July – September occur at base of leaves

Goosegrass -Straggling bristly annual 50-180cm/20-70in high with square stems. Leaves narrow, pointed inn whorls of 6-8 covered with tiny turned down prickles. Flowers inconspicuous green/white May – June. Its small fruit sticks to clothing

Ground Ivy - Perennial 10-30cm/4-12in Flowers: blue, purple, pink or white April – September

Hawthorn - Shrub or small tree 8m/26ft tall Bark-purplish/brown. Twigs-black sharp thorns. Leaves green, oval, lobed 5-19cm long White with pink centres flowers in May. Red fruit around October. Deciduous can live over 400 years

Heather - Short, evergreen shrub up to 1m/3ft tall. Branched stems Leaves numerous in opposite rows, smooth or hairy. Flowers purple, pink or white and bell shaped in spikes July – September

Hebe - Hardy evergreen, spreading 50cm/19in Flowers: white July

Hemlock - Biennial up to 30cm/1ft stems: purple spotted fowl smelling when crushed Flowers small white June – August Fruit, tiny, rounded

Honeysuckle - Woody climbing perennial up to 6m/20ft. Oval leaves. Flowers yellow/white, pink tinged. Tubular shaped followed by orange or red berries

Horehound white - Hairy perennial Height 45cm/18inches. Heart shaped toothed leaves. Downy white all over Flowers white, tiny June – September

Horseradish- Hardy perennial.50cm/2-3ft. Leaves dark green grow directly from ground large, slightly toothed crinkly. White flowers May - September. White tapering root

Hyssop - Semi-Evergreen bushy perennial. Up to 60cm/4ft, square stem, linear leaves. Red, blue and white flowers in whorls June – October

Jack in the hedge - Annual or biennial up to 70cm/28in tall hairy, slender stems. Leaves green, slightly toothed, alternate, heart shaped, stalked smell of garlic when crushed. Flowers small, white clustered April –June

Jasmine - Perennial evergreen shrub up to 10m/33ft, bright green leaves, star shaped white/pink flowers followed by black berries

Knotgrass - Annual Flowers: white June-October

Labdanum - Small sticky shrub up to 3m/10ft tall, lanced shaped leaves which are white are furry on the underneath, white flowers

Lady’s Bedstraw - Perennial spreading up to 40cm/16in Leaves: whorls Flowers yellow and white which smell of honey June -September

Lilac - Perennial Flowers: white, pink/mauve or purple in summer

Lily of the valley - Perennial 23-30cm/9-12in Leaves: pale green and in pairs Flowers: white bell shaped May-June. Fruit: red berry Sweet scent

Madonna lily - Bulbous perennial. 90cm-150cm/3-5ft. Lance shaped leaves. White, strong scented flowers June-July.

Mandrake - Perennial herb 30cm/1ft. Dark green leaves. Whitish flowers March-April. Apple like fruit

Marjoram pot - Herbaceous perennial 60cm/2ft. Square branched stems Leaves hairy, small. Flowers White or pink July – October

Marjoram sweet - Bushy perennial up to 60cm/2ft, hairy stem, dark green oval leaves, grey/white flowers in clusters or knots

Marshmallow - Perennial 90cm/3ft. Grey-green leaves, White root Tall erect stems. Flowers June-September single pale pink or white.

Meadowsweet - Aromatic perennial. 60-120cm/2-4ft. Pinnate leaves with 2-5 pairs of leaflets silvery below Flowers: creamy white June – October Fragrant

Melilotus - Bushy perennial herb up to 1m3ft, smooth erect stems, oval leaves, white or yellow flowers June - September. Hairless brown seedpods

Onion- Perennial or biennial herb up to 1.2m/4ft, hollow leaves, globelike fleshy bulb Flowers: white/green June -August

Oregano Spanish - Perennial creeping herb, woody stem, small dark green leaves, pink or white flowers in clusters

Passion flower - Perennial climbing plant up to 26ft Flowers: creamy/white – lavender with purple calyces

Patchouli - Perennial bushy herb up to 1m/3ft, hairy stem, white flowers tinged with purple

Pelagonium prince of orange - Perennial 35cm/14in with a 30cm/1ft spread Flowers white with a hint of pink, Leaves: orange scented

Pepper black - Perennial woody vine up to 5m/16ft, heart shaped leaves, small white flowers, berries

Pepper jalapeno - Annual or short-lived perennial up to 1.5m/5ft Flowers white –green bell shaped. Fruits up to 15cm/6in long

Plantain greater - Perennial Flowers: white April-November

Poppy opium - Annual Flower: white with purple base and streaks

Rose dog -Deciduous shrub. 3m/10ft hooked prickles Oval toothed leaves 5-7 leaflets that are paired except the one at end. Flowers June-July-5 petalled, pink or white, small clusters June/July followed by bright red hips August –November

Rue goats - Perennial bushy up to 90cm/3ft. Flowers: purple, blue or white midsummer – mid autumn followed by long pods

Sea Rocket - Up to 60cm/2ft. Leaves fleshy, blue/green. Flowers: pink, violet, whitish and scented June –September

Shepherd’s purse - Annual or biennial Flowers: white throughout summer

Statice - Flowers: papery white

Traveller’s joy - Deciduous twists around other plants. Flowers white/green July – September

Tuberose - Perennial up to 50cm/20in tall, long slender leaves, tuberous root, white flowers America

Valerian red -Perennial Stout, fleshy plant thick erect stems up to 50-80cm/20-32in tall. Leaves grey/green of blue/green paired and mostly untoothed. Stem leaves un-stalked, oval to spear shaped broad bases that clasp around stem. Flowers red, pink or white star shaped in dense fluffy heads June- august

Vanilla - Perennial herbaceous creeping vine up to 25m/82ft green stems, large white flowers, green fruit Central America

Wallflower pennywort - Perennial 15-40cm/6-16in tall. Leaves round and fleshy Flowers: small, bell shaped, cream/pale white June-august

Watercress - Hardy hairless perennial. Shiny, rounded leaves on fleshy stems. 30-60cm/1-2ft. Tiny white flowers followed by long seedpods May – October

Wintergreen - Evergreen, creeping herb up to 15cm, drooping white flowers July- August. Fruit: red berry

Woodruff white - Perennial Leaves in whorls Flowers: white, forming loose heads April – June Fruit covered in hooked bristles

Yarrow - Perennial ferny herb Rough, angular stem. Dark green feathery leaves. Large flat topped clusters of white or pale lilac flowers that bloom June-December. Height 60cm/2ft aromatic

Scurvy grass - Low growing plant. Leaves: fleshy heart shaped, upper ones un-stalked Flowers four white petals and smooth May – August

Sea Kale - Perennial big grey/green leaves very fleshy and glaucous. Flowers white and four petalled growing in broad cluster July - August

Blackberry -1m width 3-4m Leaves prickly, toothed, red/purple in autumn. Flowers five petals pink or white May. Fruit comprises of drupelets turning green to red to black August-October

Bryony white - Perennial. Root: like a turnip yellow/grey on the outside, white on the inside Flowers: green/white star shaped with five petals. Fruit: red berries

Buchu - Small shrub with wrinkled leaves. Five petalled white flowers South Africa

Chickweed -A common annual weed. Numerous, branching weak stems up to 45cm/18in. Stems-pale green, fine hair, juicy. Leaves egg shaped in pairs, green, soft. Small, numerous white star like five divided petals. Flowers March-September Europe

Cloudberry - Low creeping shrub up to 20cm/8in. Leaves rounded, lobed. Flowers five white petals solitary June-August. Fruit round, red at first orange when ripe

Sorrell wood - Low creeping plant 5-15cm/2-6in tall. Leaves shamrock shaped and lime green when young. Flowers solitary bell shaped five white petals April – May

Stichwort greater - Perennial 30-60cm/12-24in tall. Branched, spreading, straggling, stems. Leaves narrow, grass like untoothed, opposite. Flowers 5 deeply notched white petals 2-3cm across April – June

Stonecrop English - Small perennial erect flower stems creeping non-flowering stems with fleshy hairless leaves. Flowers: white often pink tinged almost un-stalked. 5 sepals, petals and carpals and 10 stamens June – August

Wild Strawberry -Perennial Low creeping plant with hairy runners and slender, erect branched stems 5-30cm/2-12in tall Leaves stalked, in groups of three leaflets, toothed shiny green above and silky grey beneath. Flowers white and five petalled. Yellow centre April – July Fruit small drooping red berries with seeds protruding late June - September

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

Caraway - Annual/Biennial. Average growing height 60 cm/24 in Smooth, furrowed stems. Finely cut leaves and large umbels of white flowers May- June

Celery Seed - Biennial up to 30-60cms1-2ft, fleshy erect stalk, umbels of white flowers July-November

Chervil - Annual.30cm18 inches. Root thin, whitish. Wiry, bright green fern like leaves. Umbels of tiny white flowers May-June Europe, Asia

Cow parsley -Erect leafy-branched perennial 1m/3ft tall. Hollow green furrowed stems, hairy near base. Leaves grass green divided, alternate ferny, erect. Flowers umbels tiny white flowers, small clusters of flowers form larger, loosely circular flower heads April – June

Ground elder- Hairless perennial forming large patches 30-100cm/12-40in tall. Leaves finely toothed in groups of three at the end of each stem. Flowers white umbels June –August

Pignut -Slender single stemmed perennial. 20-80cm/8-32in tall. Leaves feathery/fern like alternate and divided with narrow lobes. Flowers white dense flat heads Umbels have 6-12 main spokes May – July Fruit ridged egg shaped

Ramsons - Bulbous perennial up to 50cm/20in tall hairless, strong smelling Leaves broad and spear like, Basal leaves broad, fleshy. Flowers white and star like in a rounded umbel April – June

Sneezewort - Perennial Root: long slender fibrous Stems woolly, upright up to 60cm/2ft Leaves: long, narrow finely serrated, undivided Flowers: midsummer white umbels

Sweet cicely - Aromatic branched perennial 1-1.5m/4-5ft tall. Stem: hollow, grooved Leaves fine cut leathery aniseed scented when crushed. Flowers tiny white umbels May – July Fruit green or black, ribbed, long

Mint horse - Hairy. Grey foliage up to 1m tall. Stem: rectangular and branching Leaves opposite Flowers: lilac or white, dense spike

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