Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

  North America -Flowers

Blue

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

Snakeroot Up to 35cm/14in, hairy stem, two kidney shaped leaves, creeping stockroot, brown/purple bell shaped flower that is white inside

Bilberry Deciduous shrub. Hairless twigs, height 20-50cm/8-12in. Leaves oval, slight toothed, very short stalked. Flowers solitary, drooping, green/pink April-June. Fruit – small, round, black July – September

Flag sweet Perennial, hairless up to 1.5m/5ft Leaves: grass like Stem: triangular Flowers: green/yellow May-June

Sorrel common Erect perennial 10-120cm/4-47in tall. Leaves oblong, arrow shaped and clasping the stem near the top of the plant Flowers spikes of small, red and green flowers on a smooth stem May – August

Bog myrtle Deciduous shrub 0.5-2m/1-6ft. Leaves grey/green, narrow toothed, leathery, lanceolate obovate 2-3cm long, 1cm wide. Shiny red twigs. Flowers red and orange (male and female) catkins on separate plants April – May before leaves

Pleurisy root Perennial fleshy rooted 30-45cm1-1 ½ ft Flowers yellow – deep orange September

Balm Herbaceous perennial. 90cm/3ft. Stem-hairy and square. Leaves-opposite, stalked, hairy, 3-4cm long, ovate, wrinkled, coarse serrate margin, rounded base and lemon scented. Flower-small yellow buds that turn into white or pink flowers June-August

Balm of Gilead Evergreen perennial shrub or small tree. Height 120cm/4ft. Leaves-toothed, oval, aromatic. Stem-square, ridged, prickly-woody after the 2ed year. Flowers-pink clusters late summer-early autumn

Bearberry Evergreen shrub. Up to 20cm/8in. Trailing stems and branches. Leaves-dark green , paler under surface, spatulate, ovate, leathery, 2cm long, 0.5-1cm wide, margins entire. Flowers-clusters, white, pinkish flowers bloom May-August. Bright red berries in autumn.

Bilberry Deciduous shrub. Hairless twigs, height 20-50cm/8-12in. Leaves oval, slight toothed, very short stalked. Flowers solitary, drooping, green/pink April-June. Fruit – small, round, black July – September

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

Cats foot Perennial low creeping Leaves: obovate, white, cottony on the under surface Flowers: White or pink flowers, sepal like bracts  May-August

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

Cranberry Small shrub. Flowers: pink Berries: shiny, red-black June-July

Dodder Leafless red twining stems. Flowers tiny pink July- October. Twines anticlockwise over gorse and heather. Parasitic suckers

Squaw vine - Evergreen. Stems: slender deep furrow on one side. Leaves:  opposite, dark green, round to ovate 2cm long, petiolate, veins prominent on upper surface. Flowers: in pairs, pinkish

Centaury  Annual or biennial Hairless Up to 60cm/2ft Root-woody and fibrous. Leaves –opposite, ovate. Pink/Red flowers July-September five petals. Flowers open early morning but close around noon

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

Calamintha Bushy perennial less then 1m/3ft high, soft oval, slightly serrated, stalked leaves, pale purple flowers

Echinacea Perennial, hairy up to 120cm/4ft unbranched stems flowers mauve-purple, solitary May-August

Gay feather Perennial up to 60cm/2ft. Grassy foliage Flowers: lilac-purple fluffy spikes July-September

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

Snakeroot Up to 35cm/14in, hairy stem, two kidney shaped leaves, creeping stockroot, brown/purple bell shaped flower that is white inside

Bergamot Hardy perennial.60-90cm/2-3ft. Leaves - oval, toothed, pointed. Stem-hard, ridged, square, slightly hairy tinged red near leaves joints. Flowers-tight clusters, tubular, shaggy scarlet blooms June-August

Bog myrtle Deciduous shrub 0.5-2m/1-6ft. Leaves grey/green, narrow toothed, leathery, lanceolate obovate 2-3cm long, 1cm wide. Shiny red twigs. Flowers red and orange (male and female) catkins on separate plants April – May before leaves

Pink root Perennial herb up to 45cm/18in. Flowers: bright red

Sorrel common Erect perennial 10-120cm/4-47in tall. Leaves oblong, arrow shaped and clasping the stem near the top of the plant Flowers spikes of small, red and green flowers on a smooth stem May – August

Gay feather Perennial up to 60cm/2ft. Grassy foliage Flowers: lilac-purple fluffy spikes July-September

Nightshade black Erect annual herb up to 45cm. Leaves: ovate, lanceolate, acute apex. Flowers: small, violet. Berries: purple/black

Balm Herbaceous perennial. 90cm/3ft. Stem-hairy and square. Leaves-opposite, stalked, hairy, 3-4cm long, ovate, wrinkled, coarse serrate margin, rounded base and lemon scented. Flower-small yellow buds that turn into white or pink flowers June-August

Bearberry Evergreen shrub. Up to 20cm/8in. Trailing stems and branches. Leaves-dark green , paler under surface, spatulate, ovate, leathery, 2cm long, 0.5-1cm wide, margins entire. Flowers-clusters, white, pinkish flowers bloom May-August. 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

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

Cats foot Perennial low creeping Leaves: obovate, white, cottony on the under surface Flowers: White or pink flowers, sepal like bracts  May-August

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

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

Lady’s bedstraw Perennial spreading up to 40cm/16in Four angled slender stem Leaves: whorls of 8-12, downy underneath revolute margins. Flowers small numerous yellow and white which smell of honey June –September

Passion flower Perennial climbing plant up to 8m/26ft Leaves: ovate, cordate, palmately three lobed Flowers: creamy/white – lavender with purple calyces

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

Centaury  Annual or biennial Hairless Up to 60cm/2ft Root-woody and fibrous. Leaves –opposite, ovate. Pink/Red flowers July-September five petals. Flowers open early morning but close around noon

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

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

Agrimony -Perennial that 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

Celandine lesser Perennial plant. Hairless short fleshy creeping stems 5-25cm/2-10 in Leaves dark green, heart shaped, long stalks often with blotches or spots Bright yellow flowers star like 8-12 petals March-May (early as mid January in South England when it is mild)

Damiana Small shrub. Leaves ovate, pale green, 1-2.5cm long, 6mm broad, shortly stalked, serrated, recurved margin. Flowers yellow and aromatic

Flag sweet Perennial, hairless up to 1.5m/5ft Leaves: grass like Stem: triangular Flowers: green/yellow May-June

Groundsel Low annual. Leaves: pinnately lobed. Flowers: yellow, 6mm long, 3mm broad, loose clusters Bracts: black tipped

Ladys bedstraw Perennial spreading up to 40cm/16in Four angled slender stem Leaves: whorls of 8-12, downy underneath revolute margins. Flowers small numerous yellow and white which smell of honey June –September

Mint horse American Leaves: opposite, lanceolate, smooth. Flowers: yellow corolla with purple spots. Two stamens. Yellow and purple sessile bracts

Mountain grape Up to 2m tall. Leaves: bright green, spiny, leathery leaves Flowers: small, yellow

Mouse ear hawkweed Perennial, creeping up to 30cm/1ft Leaves: lanceolate, 3cm long white underneath and sparsely hair above, basal rosette  Flowers: single stalked yellow, composite, 2-3cm diameter May-October

Pleurisy root Perennial fleshy rooted 30-45cm1-1 ½ ft Flowers yellow – deep orange September

Heather Bell Evergreen shrub up to 60cm/2ft. Leaves smooth in whorls of three with a short shoot in the leaf. Flowers: bell shaped corolla tube with stamens hidden inside purple June – September

Bilberry Deciduous shrub. Hairless twigs, height 20-50cm/8-12in. Leaves oval, slight toothed, very short stalked. Flowers solitary, drooping, green/pink April-June. Fruit – small, round, black July – September

Cranberry Small shrub. Flowers: pink Berries: shiny, red-black June-July

Nightshade black Erect annual herb up to 45cm. Leaves: ovate, lanceolate, acute apex. Flowers: small, violet. Berries: purple/black

Nightshade black Erect annual herb up to 45cm. Leaves: ovate, lanceolate, acute apex. Flowers: small, violet. Berries: purple/black

Bearberry Evergreen shrub. Up to 20cm/8in. Trailing stems and branches. Leaves-dark green , paler under surface, spatulate, ovate, leathery, 2cm long, 0.5-1cm wide, margins entire. Flowers-clusters, white, pinkish flowers bloom May-August. Bright red berries in autumn.

Cranberry Small shrub. Flowers: pink Berries: shiny, red-black June-July

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

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