Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

Stems

Angular, hairy
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

Clingy, hairy
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

Creeping
Bindweed sea- Creeping stems Leaves: small, rounded Flowers: Pink large trumpet like June- August

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

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

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

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

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

Great willowherb -80-180cm/32-72in tall. Hairy stout. Leaves toothed, mostly opposite. Flowers: Bright purple/pink July- August

Herb Robert - Annual. 10-45cm/4-20in Hairy stems that are green tinged with red. Fern shaped leaves pink flowers April- November Seeds: long beaked Strong smell

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

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

Red campion -50-100cm/20-40in tall stems branched, hairy, erect. Leaves untoothed, oblong-oval, lower leaves are stalked. Flowers unscented five petals 1.5-2cm/½-1in across deep pink flowers May -November

Thrift - Tufted perennial 10-20cm/4-8in Leaves grass like rosettes. Stems hairy without leaves and single pink flower head April -June Seeds papery

Hairless
Chamomile German - Evergreen perennial Maximum height 60cm/2ft Single flower head-white with yellow centre like a daisy May-September. Hairless stem

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

Hollow
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

Jo-pye weed- Perennial herb up 3.5m/12ft. Sturdy, hollow purple stems. Leaves whorls up to 30cm/1ft across crushed leaves smell of apples

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

Marigold marsh - Perennial 1.5m/5ft stout, hollow stems Leaves dark green, kidney shaped Flowers: yellow sepals but no petals 5cm wide March -June Claw like seed pods

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

Hollow, prickly
Borage- Hardy annual plant. 30-60cm/1-2 ft Sturdy, hollow, prickly stem. Leaves-dark green, pointed, oval, hairy. Flowers: May-September. Five petalled star, pink then turn blue

Knotted
Golden rod - Perennial herb knotty stem, upright 90-180cm/35-70in Flower: Yellow June-September

Purple
Belladonna - Perennial plant. Thick, whitish root, purplish stem. Height 60-150cm/2-5ft. Leaves-dark green, long pointed oval. Drooping, bell shaped purple flowers, bloom June-August. Black berries-August-November. Foul smell if plant is crushed.

Jo-pye weed- Perennial herb up 3.5m/12ft. Sturdy, hollow purple stems. Leaves whorls up to 30cm/1ft across crushed leaves smell of apples

Mugwort - Perennial herb up to 1.5m/5ft, purplish stems, dark green divided leaves, which are white underneath. Small red/brown flowers July -September

Summer savoury - Annual herb up to 45cm/1½ ft, slender erect slightly hairy purple stems, small pale lilac flowers

Red
Dead nettle henbit Hairy annual up to 30cm/12in high with square green/red stem. Leaves rounded bluntly toothed top leaves partly clasping stem. Flowers pink/purple in whorls March - October

Round
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

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

Basil wild - Perennial Square stems 40-75cm/16-30in tall. Slight aromatic, covered in hairs. Leaves opposite, mostly oval. Flowers pink-purple dense whorls at base of upper leaves July- September

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

Dead nettle henbit Hairy annual up to 30cm/12in high with square green/red stem. Leaves rounded bluntly toothed top leaves partly clasping stem. Flowers pink/purple in whorls 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

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

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

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

Marjoram wild - Perennial 75cm/30in Stems: square Leaves: oval pointed Flowers: purple, 2 lipped August - October. Aromatic

Self heal -Perennial 15-30cm/6-12in tall covered in tiny hairs. Stem square Leaves slightly stalked oval to diamond shaped toothed or untoothed Flowers purplish clustered in dense oblong shaped heads June- November Pair of leaves directly under flower head

Vervain - Herbaceous perennial. Bushy. Stiff, square stems Height 60-90cm/2-3ft.Leaves: grey/green spear shaped Flowers: 2 lipped lilac small June-October

Square and hairy
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.

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

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

Hedge woundwort -60-100cm/24-40in tall. Stems: square, erect, soft hair. Leaves: paired, short stalks, toothed, heart shaped and pointed (similar to nettle leaves), basal leaves long stalked. Flowers in spikes, dull red/purple whorls forming at the base of upper leaves June -September

Trailing
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.

Twining
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

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

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

White
Wormwood - Perennial, deciduous herb. 1.5m/2-4ft.whitish stem, silver/grey leaves, pale yellow flowers July - August

Woody
Centaury - Annual or biennial Up to 60cm/2ft Root-woody and fibrous. Spoon shaped leaves. Pink/Red flowers July-September five petals. Flowers open early morning but close around noon

Thyme common - Evergreen perennial shrub Maximum growing height 38cm/15in. Stems: woody Green/grey leaves tiny whorls of lilac flowers July - August

Thyme wild - Semi shrub or herb Creeping plant with woody stems and runners 5-10cm/2-4in tall. Leaves very small oval and arranged in opposing pairs. Flowers pink/purple June-August

Verbena Lemon - Deciduous perennial bushy shrub up to 150cm/5ft, woody stem, small pale purple flowers in clusters South America, Mediterranean

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