Herbs and Herbalism

Plant ID

Trees

Black/Dark grey bark
Alder - over 90 ft
Black or dark grey bark that is very wrinkled.
The leaves open in April and are rounded and inverted heart shape with the broadest part furthest away from the stem. With a toothed edge and blunt tip. They are light green when they 1st open but gradually get darker before falling in November. The leaf bud is enclosed in a brown/yellow pair of bud scales which peel back as the leaf opens The leaves are sticky when young as a gum is produced to ward off moisture. Alternate
The male flowers are arranged in catkins and are visible in winter as brown oval buds. In march they form into lambs tails. The female ones are a cluster of small flowers, which develop, into woody cones with small winged nutlets. The cones are green at 1st but become hard and woody. It matures aged 30 and can live up to 150 years. Many tiny roots Europe, Asia, Africa

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

Brown Bark
Cascarilla Bark - Large shrub or small tree up to 12m/40ft. Ovate silver/bronze leaves. Pale yellow/brown bark and small white flowers South America

Wild Cherry - Tall tree 30m/100ft, shiny red/brown bark, leaves oval, alternate, sharply toothed. Turn yellow in autumn Flowers five white petals in clusters of 2-6 April - May. Small dark red cherries

Elder -Large deciduous bush or tree up to 10m/33ft. with a corky bark. Buds set on alternative twigs. Leaves-5 to 7 leaflets large dark green with toothed margins. Flowers-white umbels of numerous flowers May and June. Bark-pale yellow/brown. Berry bunches -clusters of small purple-black fruit end of summer. Straight growing branches

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

Lime -Tall deciduous tree up to 45m/150ft. Dark brown trunk. Leaves large heart shaped smooth above paler with a few tufts of fine white hair below. Flowers drooping clusters of heavily scented yellow blossom July

Mimosa - Tree up to 12m/39ft, grey/brown bark, yellow flowers

Myrtle - Evergreen shrub or tree Maximum growing height 3m/10ft. Brown/red bark. Small leafs, White flowers, small black berries

Nutmeg - Evergreen tree up to 20m/66ft. Grey/brown bark. Dull yellow flowers

Pine scotch - Tall evergreen tree up to 40m/131ft, red/brown bark, long stiff needles, pointed brown cones

Sandalwood - Evergreen parasitic tree up to 9m/30ft, brown/grey trunk, pink/purple flowers

Sassafras - Deciduous tree up to 40m/132ft. Orange/brown bark. Yellow/Green flowers

Yew - Red/brown bark Leaves, needles type flowers early spring male and female on separate trees fruit red

Grey/Silver bark
Ash -Ash grey bark. Height up to 148 ft girth of 22 ft Lives up to 150 years. Black buds Tall, long slender branches. Silvery-grey bark, matt black buds & ash keys.
Mature 4-50 years old. Grow up to 130 ft.
Leaves made up of 9 or 13 leaflets. One of the last to come into leaf in spring and the 1st to drop in autumn. The leaflets have a conduit for water to run down their centre stem
Flowers in April or May. Purple headed stamens no petals.
Seeds green bottled shaped
When the flower drops lime green keys are left (also known as spinners due to the way they spin when thrown)
Deeply rooted and tend to exhaust the soil to little grows under it Europe

Aspen -Deciduous. Up to 25m/80ft Lives 50-60 years. Thin green/grey bark. Shiny brown, sticky, pointed buds. Egg shaped leaves. Catkins 2-3 inches long like furry caterpillars. Male catkins contain bunches of furry stamen with purple/red heads surrounded by fluffy grey down. Female have no stamen. Flowers: April Europe

Birch Silver - Deciduous tree. Soft wood. Silver trunk. Leaves ace of spades shape, small; and pointed double toothed edged light green
Male and female flowers on the same tree April-May Europe

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

Butternut - Up to 12 edible fruit on each catkin America

Clove - Evergreen tree, grey bark, up to 12m/40ft Bright green leaves in pairs. Flowers: yellow Indonesia

Eucalyptus lemon scented - Tall evergreen tree, smooth dimpled grey/cream/pink bark. Young leaves oval, mature leaves barrow and tapering Asia

Eucalyptus broad-leaved peppermint - Medium sized eucalyptus tree. Grey bark. Young leaves blue heart shaped, mature leafs thick and tapering Australia

Fir silver - Coniferous tree up to 55m/180ft Age up to 500 years. Bark-silvery grey. Needles. Male flowers are yellow, female green form cones in September Europe

Mimosa - Tree up to 12m/39ft, grey/brown bark, yellow flowers

Nutmeg - Evergreen tree up to 20m/66ft. Grey/brown bark. Dull yellow flowers

Orange bitter - Evergreen tree up to10m/33ft. Dark green glossy leaves, grey trunk, white flowers

Pecan - Tree Leaflets, long pointed often curve back 11-15. Slender yellow bud. Bark flaky grey

Rowan - Small tree up to 20m/66ft tall with smooth grey bark Leaves alternate, toothed, leaflets in 5-10pairs Flowers small, white in umbel May, five petals, five sepals. Red berry clusters. August - November

Sandalwood - Evergreen parasitic tree up to 9m/30ft, brown/grey trunk, pink/purple flowers

Styrax levant - Deciduous tree up to 15m/50ft, purple/grey bark. Leaves in five 3-lobed sections

Red Bark
Birch Sweet - Tree up to 25m/82ft high, bright green leaves, dark red bark

Cedar - Coniferous tree/shrub up to 20m/65ft tall slow growing. Bark reddish/brown peeling Green needles North America

Wild Cherry - Tall tree 30m/100ft, shiny red/brown bark, leaves oval, alternate, sharply toothed. Turn yellow in autumn Flowers five white petals in clusters of 2-6 April - May. Small dark red cherries

Myrtle - Evergreen shrub or tree Maximum growing height 3m/10ft. Brown/red bark. Small leafs, White flowers, small black berries

Pine scotch - Tall evergreen tree up to 40m/131ft, red/brown bark, long stiff needles, pointed brown cones

Rosewood - Evergreen tree, reddish bark, yellow flowers
Yew - Red/brown bark Leaves, needles type flowers early spring male and female on separate trees fruit red
White Bark
Anise star - Evergreen tree up to 12 metres tall. Slender white trunk. Its fruit contain 5-13 seed bearing follicles attached to the central axis in the shape of a star Asia

Cajeput Evergreen tree up to 30m, white leaves and flowers, white bark Asia

Yellow Bark
Cascarilla Bark - Large shrub or small tree up to 12m/40ft. Ovate silver/bronze leaves. Pale yellow/brown bark and small white flowers South America

Elder -Large deciduous bush or tree up to 10m/33ft. with a corky bark. Buds set on alternative twigs. Leaves-5 to 7 leaflets large dark green with toothed margins. Flowers-white umbels of numerous flowers May and June. Bark-pale yellow/brown. Berry bunches -clusters of small purple-black fruit end of summer. Straight growing branches

Cones
Fir silver - Coniferous tree up to 55m/180ft Age up to 500 years. Bark-silvery grey. Needles. Male flowers are yellow, female green form cones in September Europe

Pine scotch - Tall evergreen tree up to 40m/131ft, red/brown bark, long stiff needles, pointed brown cones

Spruce hemlock - Evergreen tree up to 50m/164ft, small brown cones

Flowers Green
Sassafras - Deciduous tree up to 40m/132ft. Orange/brown bark. Yellow/Green flowers

Flowers Pink
Sandalwood - Evergreen parasitic tree up to 9m/30ft, brown/grey trunk, pink/purple flowers

Flowers Purple
Sandalwood - Evergreen parasitic tree up to 9m/30ft, brown/grey trunk, pink/purple flowers

Tea Tree - Small evergreen perennial tree or shrub up to 15-43m/50-140ft with needle like leaves, yellow/purple flowers

Flowers Red
Holly - Evergreen tree. Up to 21mm/70ft. Lower leaves-spiky, dark green. Higher leaves-oval/ Red blossoms followed by red berries November/December. Bark smooth grey. Small white flowers in May/June

Pomegranate - Small tree. Dark green shiny leaves, red flowers

Sausage Tree - Large dome shaped tree, maroon flowers with sausage shape fruit Africa

Flowers -white
Apple - Deciduous Grows up to 9m/30ft with a girth of 3m/10ft.
Oval leaves with wedge shaped base. Bright green on top, pale underneath. Purplish buds with white hair White flowers (wild), pink tinged flowers & thorn-less (domestic) open April - May Britain

Cascarilla Bark - Large shrub or small tree up to 12m/40ft. Ovate silver/bronze leaves. Pale yellow/brown bark and small white flowers South America

Cassia - Evergreen green up to 20m tall. Small white flowers China

Eucalyptus blue gum - Tall evergreen tree up to 90m/295ft. Blue/green oval leaves, mature trees yellowish leaves. Creamy-white flowers Australia

Horse Chestnut - Deciduous tree. Large leaves, white flowers tinged with yellow or pink at the base May-June. The seeds (conkers) are grown and grown in a green prickly shell.

Myrrh - Shrub or tree up to 10m/33ft Knotted branches, small white flowers

Myrtle - Evergreen shrub or tree Maximum growing height 3m/10ft. Brown/red bark. Small leafs, White flowers, small black berries

Orange bitter - Evergreen tree up to10m/33ft. Dark green glossy leaves, grey trunk, white flowers

Orange blossom - Evergreen tree up to 10m/33ft with glossy dark green leaves, and white flowers

Service tree - Deciduous tree up to 25m/80ft Leaves are alternate, deeply toothed in pairs. Flowers are white branched clusters May - June Fruit is brown and speckled 12-18mm

Flowers white 5 petals
Wild Cherry - Tall tree 30m/100ft, shiny red/brown bark, leaves oval, alternate, sharply toothed. Turn yellow in autumn Flowers five white petals in clusters of 2-6 April - May. Small dark red cherries

Rowan - Small tree up to 20m/66ft tall with smooth grey bark Leaves alternate, toothed, leaflets in 5-10pairs Flowers small, white in umbel May, five petals, five sepals. Red berry clusters. August - November

Flowers yellow
Bay Laurel - Evergreen tree. Maximum 7m/23ft. Stem-solid, round, purple - brown at 1st then becoming more woody. Leaves-pointed, oval, aromatic. Flowers-small yellow flowers early spring followed by purplish/black berries.

Clove - Evergreen tree, grey bark, up to 12m/40ft Bright green leaves in pairs. Flowers: yellow Indonesia

Nutmeg - Evergreen tree up to 20m/66ft. Grey/brown bark. Dull yellow flowers

Rosewood - Evergreen tree, reddish bark, yellow flowers

Sassafras - Deciduous tree up to 40m/132ft. Orange/brown bark. Yellow/Green flowers

Tea Tree - Small evergreen perennial tree or shrub up to 15-43m/50-140ft with needle like leaves, yellow/purple flowers

Fruit black
Elder -Large deciduous bush or tree up to 10m/33ft. with a corky bark. Buds set on alternative twigs. Leaves-5 to 7 leaflets large dark green with toothed margins. Flowers-white umbels of numerous flowers May and June. Bark-pale yellow/brown. Berry bunches -clusters of small purple-black fruit end of summer. Straight growing branches

Fruit Brown
Horse Chestnut - Deciduous tree. Large leaves, white flowers tinged with yellow or pink at the base May-June. The seeds (conkers) are grown and grown in a green prickly shell.

Service tree - Deciduous tree up to 25m/80ft Leaves are alternate, deeply toothed in pairs. Flowers are white branched clusters May - June Fruit is brown and speckled 12-18mm

Fruit -Green
Horse Chestnut - Deciduous tree. Large leaves, white flowers tinged with yellow or pink at the base May-June. The seeds (conkers) are grown and grown in a green prickly shell.

Fruit -Red
Wild Cherry - Tall tree 30m/100ft, shiny red/brown bark, leaves oval, alternate, sharply toothed. Turn yellow in autumn Flowers five white petals in clusters of 2-6 April - May. Small dark red cherries

Yew - Red/brown bark Leaves, needles type flowers early spring male and female on separate trees fruit red

Fruit Yellow
Grapefruit - Tree up to 10m/33ft, glossy leaves, yellow fruit Asia

Schinus Molle - Evergreen tree up to 20m/66ft, drooping foliage, yellow flowers South America

Fruit black berries
Myrtle - Evergreen shrub or tree Maximum growing height 3m/10ft. Brown/red bark. Small leafs, White flowers, small black berries

Fruit - blue berries
Cinnamon - Evergreen tree 6-10m/20-30ft Thick bark, stocky branches. Shiny, leathery leaves, small white flowers, blue/white berries Asia

Fruit -Red Berries
Camphor - Evergreen tree up to 30m/98ft tall. Small white flowers in clusters, red berries Asia

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

Holly - Evergreen tree. Up to 21mm/70ft. Lower leaves-spiky, dark green. Higher leaves-oval/ Red blossoms followed by red berries November/December. Bark smooth grey. Small white flowers in May/June

Rowan - Small tree up to 20m/66ft tall with smooth grey bark Leaves alternate, toothed, leaflets in 5-10pairs Flowers small, white in umbel May, five petals, five sepals. Red berry clusters. August - November

Fruit -white berries
Cinnamon - Evergreen tree 6-10m/20-30ft Thick bark, stocky branches. Shiny, leathery leaves, small white flowers, blue/white berries Asia

Fruit Sausage shaped
Sausage Tree - Large dome shaped tree, maroon flowers with sausage shape fruit Africa

Leaves -Ace of spades
Birch Silver - Deciduous tree. Soft wood. Silver trunk. Leaves ace of spades shape, small; and pointed double toothed edged light green
Male and female flowers on the same tree April-May Europe

Leaves -heart shaped
Alder -Tree which grows over 90 ft
Black or dark grey bark that is very wrinkled.
The leaves open in April and are rounded and inverted heart shape with the broadest part furthest away from the stem. With a toothed edge and blunt tip. They are light green when they 1st open but gradually get darker before falling in November. The leaf bud is enclosed in a brown/yellow pair of bud scales which peel back as the leaf opens The leaves are sticky when young as a gum is produced to ward off moisture. Alternate
The male flowers are arranged in catkins and are visible in winter as brown oval buds. In march they form into lambs tails. The female ones are a cluster of small flowers, which develop, into woody cones with small winged nutlets. The cones are green at 1st but become hard and woody. It matures aged 30 and can live up to 150 years. Many tiny roots

Eucalyptus broad-leaved peppermint - Medium sized eucalyptus tree. Grey bark. Young leaves blue heart shaped, mature leafs thick and tapering Australia

Lime -Tall deciduous tree up to 45m/150ft. Dark brown trunk. Leaves large heart shaped smooth above paler with a few tufts of fine white hair below. Flowers drooping clusters of heavily scented yellow blossom July

Linden - Tall tree up to 30m/98ft, smooth bark, and bright green heart shaped leaves. Yellow/white flowers in clusters

Leaves lanced shaped
Bay laurel - 2.5m/8ft. Leaves-lanced shaped North America

Leaves long narrow
Willow white- Tall, deciduous tree. Up to 60ft tall. Silver-grey foliage Long narrow leaves green/grey on top underside ivory white. Flower and leaf in May. Male and female flowers on separate trees catkin type flowers

Leaves -oblong, rounded
Carob - Evergreen tree. Leaves dark green divided into pairs of oblong rounded leaflets, lighter on underside Flowers: green late summer Africa

Leaves -Oval
Apple - Deciduous Grows up to 9m/30ft with a girth of 3m/10ft.
Oval leaves with wedge shaped base. Bright green on top, pale underneath. Purplish buds with white hair White flowers (wild), pink tinged flowers & thorn-less (domestic) open April - May Britain

Beech -36m/120ft Silver-grey trunk. Pointed buds. Leaves bright green, oval, alternate, turn bronze in autumn. Flowers male dropping stalked heads, female in pairs. Fruit four inside prickly brown husk September-October deciduous tree

Bergamot -Tree with height up to 4.5m/15ft, smooth oval leaves, small round yellow/green fruit Asia
Cascarilla Bark - Large shrub or small tree up to 12m/40ft. Ovate silver/bronze leaves. Pale yellow/brown bark and small white flowers South America

Eucalyptus blue gum - Tall evergreen tree up to 90m/295ft. Blue/green oval leaves, mature trees yellowish leaves. Creamy-white flowers Australia

Eucalyptus lemon scented - Tall evergreen tree, smooth dimpled grey/cream/pink bark. Young leaves oval, mature leaves barrow and tapering Asia

Lime - Evergreen tree. Light wood. Stiff sharp spines, smooth ovate leaves, white flowers. Fruit -pale green

Leaves oval lobed
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

Leaves Oval pointed
Bay Laurel - Evergreen tree. Maximum 7m/23ft. Stem-solid, round, purple - brown at 1st then becoming more woody. Leaves-pointed, oval, aromatic. Flowers-small yellow flowers early spring followed by purplish/black berries.

Leaves Oval toothed
Wild Cherry - Tall tree 30m/100ft, shiny red/brown bark, leaves oval, alternate, sharply toothed. Turn yellow in autumn Flowers five white petals in clusters of 2-6 April - May. Small dark red cherries

Lemon - Evergreen tree up to 6m/20ft, serrated oval leaves, thorns

Needles
Cedar - Coniferous tree/shrub up to 20m/65ft tall slow growing. Bark reddish/brown peeling Green needles North America

Cedarwood Texas - Evergreen tree up to 7m/23ft tall, green needles. Tends to be crooked or twisted

Fir silver - Coniferous tree up to 55m/180ft Age up to 500 years. Bark-silvery grey. Needles. Male flowers are yellow, female green form cones in September Europe

Juniper - Evergreen conifer. Up to 1.5-3.5m/4-12ft. Leaves prickly needles in whorls of three Flowers small yellow at base of leaves May - June Fruit green berry like cone in June ripens to dark purple berries September or October

Pine dwarf-Shrub or small tree up to12m/40ft, black bark, stiff needles in clusters and brown cones

Pine longleaf - Evergreen tree, long needles

Pine scotch - Tall evergreen tree up to 40m/131ft, red/brown bark, long stiff needles, pointed brown cones

Tea Tree - Small evergreen perennial tree or shrub up to 15-43m/50-140ft with needle like leaves, yellow/purple flowers

Yew - Red/brown bark Leaves, needles type flowers early spring male and female on separate trees fruit red

Green Flower
Carob - Evergreen tree. Leaves dark green divided into pairs of oblong rounded leaflets, lighter on underside Flowers: green late summer Africa

Fir silver - Coniferous tree up to 55m/180ft Age up to 500 years. Bark-silvery grey. Needles. Male flowers are yellow, female green form cones in September Europe

Pink Flower
Almond bitter - Tree that grows over 7m/23ft with pinky-white blossom Asia, Africa

Ylang ylang - Tall tree up to 20m/66ft pink, mauve or yellow flowers Asia

Purple flower
Ylang ylang - Tall tree up to 20m/66ft pink, mauve or yellow flowers Asia

Red flower
Larch European- Deciduous conifer. Can live up to 700 years old. Female flowers bright red, male flowers - yellow

Violet Flower
Tonka - Tree. Violet flowers which bear a black bean

White flower
Cajeput Evergreen tree up to 30m, white leaves and flowers, white bark Asia

Camphor - Evergreen tree up to 30m/98ft tall. Small white flowers in clusters, red berries Asia

Cinnamon - Evergreen tree 6-10m/20-30ft Thick bark, stocky branches. Shiny, leathery leaves, small white flowers, blue/white berries Asia

Elder -Large deciduous bush or tree up to 10m/33ft. with a corky bark. Buds set on alternative twigs. Leaves-5 to 7 leaflets large dark green with toothed margins. Flowers-white umbels of numerous flowers May and June. Bark-pale yellow/brown. Berry bunches -clusters of small purple-black fruit end of summer. Straight growing branches

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

Linden - Tall tree up to 30m/98ft, smooth bark, and bright green heart shaped leaves. Yellow/white flowers in clusters

White 5 petals
Medlar -Deciduous tree up to 6m/20ft tall. Leaves alternate crinkled white hairs beneath, Flowers solitary five white petals with longer green sepals May - June. Fruit resembles a giant brown rosehip with the five-tailed calyx protruding from the head of the fruit like a crown

Yellow flower
Cananga Tall tree up to 30m/98ft yellow flowers Asia

Catechu black - Deciduous tree.25m/80 ft with yellow flowers Asia

Fir silver - Coniferous tree up to 55m/180ft Age up to 500 years. Bark-silvery grey. Needles. Male flowers are yellow, female green form cones in September Europe

Juniper - Evergreen conifer. Up to 1.5-3.5m/4-12ft. Leaves prickly needles in whorls of three Flowers small yellow at base of leaves May - June Fruit green berry like cone in June ripens to dark purple berries September or October

Larch European- Deciduous conifer. Can live up to 700 years old. Female flowers bright red, male flowers - yellow

Lime -Tall deciduous tree up to 45m/150ft. Dark brown trunk. Leaves large heart shaped smooth above paler with a few tufts of fine white hair below. Flowers drooping clusters of heavily scented yellow blossom July

Linden - Tall tree up to 30m/98ft, smooth bark, and bright green heart shaped leaves. Yellow/white flowers in clusters

Mimosa - Tree up to 12m/39ft, grey/brown bark, yellow flowers

Ylang ylang - Tall tree up to 20m/66ft pink, mauve or yellow flowers Asia

Black fruit
Allspice - Evergreen tree which can grow up to 10ft and produces brown fruit from its third year onwards. Each fruit contains two kidney shape green seeds that turn black when ripe Central America West Indies

Tonka - Tree. Violet flowers which bear a black bean

Green Fruit
Lime - Evergreen tree. Light wood. Stiff sharp spines, smooth ovate leaves, white flowers. Fruit -pale green

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