Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

North America -Leaves

Acute Apex

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

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

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

Labrador tea Leaves: linear –lanceolate, revolute margin, alternate up to 5cm long 0.5cm wide. Upper surface is dark green and smooth, undersurface coated with red-brown hairs

Lobelia Leaves: pale green, yellowish, sessile, alternate, ovate-lanceolate 3-8cm long, toothed margin

Arrow shaped

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

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

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

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.

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)

Deerstongue Herbaceous perennial, fleshy dark green leaves, obovate, lanceolate.

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

Labrador tea Leaves: linear –lanceolate, revolute margin, alternate up to 5cm long 0.5cm wide. Upper surface is dark green and smooth, undersurface coated with red-brown hairs

Liverwort America Leaves: long stalk, leathery, smooth, dark green, rounded with three broad angular lobes

Feverbush Leaves: elliptical up to 8cm, entire margin, apex point

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.

Feverbush Leaves: elliptical up to 8cm, entire margin, apex point

Maidenhair fern Fern, creeping rhizome, fan shaped leaflets Leaves pale green Spores: June-September

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

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

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

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)

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

Bayberry Evergreen shrub or tree up to 2.5m/8ft. Leaves-lanced shaped

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

Boneset Perennial herb Leaves: opposite, 10-15cm long, lanceolate, tapering

Deerstongue Herbaceous perennial, fleshy dark green leaves, obovate, lanceolate.

Labrador tea Leaves: linear –lanceolate, revolute margin, alternate up to 5cm long 0.5cm wide. Upper surface is dark green and smooth, undersurface coated with red-brown hairs

Laurel mountain Evergreen shrub. Leaves: lanceolate, leathery up to 6cm long, 3cm wide

Lobelia Leaves: pale green, yellowish, sessile, alternate, ovate-lanceolate 3-8cm long, toothed margin

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

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

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

Orache spear leaved Trailing or erect annual Leaves triangular or speared shaped usually toothed Upper leaves lanceolate Flowers small June – September

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

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

Liverwort America Leaves: long stalk, leathery, smooth, dark green, rounded with three broad angular lobes

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

Balmony Leaves: opposite, oblong-lanceolate, short stalked. Seeds: circular, winged dark centre

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

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

Deerstongue Herbaceous perennial, fleshy dark green leaves, obovate, lanceolate.

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

Balmony Leaves: opposite, oblong-lanceeolate, short stalked. Seeds: circular, winged dark centre

Boneset Perennial herb Leaves: opposite, 10-15cm long, lanceolate, tapering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Jewel Weed Leaves: grey/green, thin, ovate Flowers: solitary, slipper shaped

Lobelia Leaves: pale green, yellowish, sessile, alternate, ovate-lanceolate 3-8cm long, toothed margin

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

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

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.

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

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

Liverwort America Leaves: long stalk, leathery, smooth, dark green, rounded with three broad angular lobes

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

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

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

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

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

Lobelia Leaves: pale green, yellowish, sessile, alternate, ovate-lanceolate 3-8cm long, toothed margin

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.

Orache spear leaved Trailing or erect annual Leaves triangular or speared shaped usually toothed Upper leaves lanceolate Flowers small June – 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

Balmony Leaves: opposite, oblong-lanceeolate, short stalked. Seeds: circular, winged dark centre

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

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

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

Liverwort America Leaves: long stalk, leathery, smooth, dark green, rounded with three broad angular lobes

Nettle small Annual up to 60cm/2ft Leaves long stalked Flowers in clusters at leaf axils May - November

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

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

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

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

Orache spear leaved Trailing or erect annual Leaves triangular or speared shaped usually toothed Upper leaves lanceolate Flowers small June – September

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

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