Green Alkanet, Pentaglottis sempervirens.
This plant belongs to the Borage family, the blue flowers are edible and can be used in salads or dried for tea infusions. The leaves can be toxic if consumed in large quantities but they do have medicinal properties. You can find this growing on wasteland, and dirt paths where it prefers shady conditions.
Wild Garlic, Allium ursinum.
Wild garlic generally grows in deciduous woodlands although it has been seen growing along roadsides and in hedgerow. This has a distinctive strong smell of garlic hence the name and can be identified by the star like flowers with six petals. All parts of this plant are edible and can be used a replacement to basil in pesto.
Try out my new recipe for a savoury cake including this culinary herb.
Nettles, Urtica dioica.
Stinging nettles are vast in their spread cropping up along roadsides, waste grounds, hedgerows, urban and sub-urban areas. Nettles are very beneficial to our bodies as they can help reduce allergies, lower blood pressure, relieve pain, kill germs and so much more. This is most known by herbalists as it is used in herbal medicine but can also be incorporated into food.
Gorse, Ulex europaeus.
Gorse can be found on open plains and are adapted to growing in dry conditions. Their leaves mature to small spines allowing this plant to functionally photosynthesise during the warm season producing showy yellow flowers.
Gorse is very beneficial for animals as it contains high amounts of protein essential in winter months.
The small yellow flowers of this plant have been used in preparation of natural remedies and alternative medicines.
Gorse flowers have a distinctive
coconut-like scent, which can be used in the kitchen to make teas, alcohol and cordials.
Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale.
Dandelions grow anywhere and everywhere as their seeds can spread far with the ability to travel in the wind for over 200 metres. The leaves of this plant tend to be serrated like a blade with a single stem flower cropping up from the centre. They are known for being a prolific weed growing throughout the UK. But all parts of this plant have edible and medicinal uses, the root can be collected in late autumn, roasted, and made into coffee. Whereas the leaves and flowers can add a great addition to a salad.
Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata.
You can find this cropping up along watercourses, foot paths and woodlands. The Plant grows in clusters, the leaves are rounded with slight serrations and when pinched have a slight garlicky smell. They are quite peppery in taste and can be eaten raw or used as a base for pesto, it is known to have medicinal uses as to relieve bug bites by crushing a leaf and rubbing it on the affected area.
Find out some useful information with plants
I have encountered and grow myself like the common weed 'Dandelion'
Spring has arrived once again, winter planting of bulbs are starting to emerge from the cold ground. Bright yellow daffodils, purple crocus and white snow drops are scattered about giving a sense of new life and new beginnings.
Here you will find recipes showcasing plants and fruits that grow all throughout the UK, Have a browse, see something you like, why not give it a try.
As well as searching through the UK for wild plants I am aiming to travel to a few countries of interest to document their wild landscapes so that i can gain knowledge and to be inspired with new recipes and growing techniques.
Click below to see my first mini adventure.
keep up with updates on my progress in creating a sustainable growing habitat in this new section.