Service Tree, Sorb Apple | Sorbus domestica
A delicious fruit for the autumn. Sorbus domestica is a deciduous tree growing to 15m (50ft) at a medium rate with a trunk up to 1m (3′ 4″) in diameter. On exposed sites it may only grow to be a…
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Tropical | Cashew | Anacardium occidentale
A favourite nut growing on large evergreen trees, Cashew (Anacardium occidentale), grows up to 10-12m tall with a short and usually irregularly-shaped trunk. The dwarf version growing to 6m is preferred for commercial crops. It has spreading branches and a…
Edible Weeds | Urtica dioica | Stinging Nettle
Stinging Nettle is a fantastic underused weed with excellent edible, medicinal and other uses. The Young leaves are cooked as a potherb and added to soups etc. They can also be dried for winter use. Nettles are a very valuable…
Apple Serviceberry, Juneberry | Amelanchier lamarckii
Serviceberry is a small deciduous tree or large shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 4 m (13ft). It is in flower in April, and the seeds ripen from Jun to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and…
Sheepberry | Viburnum lentago
Sheepberry is a small to medium sized deciduous tree with edible and medicinal uses. It grows to 9m (30ft) by 5m (16ft) with a short trunk up to 25cm (10″) in diameter. It is one of the largest of the…
Sweet Violet | Viola odorata
A hardy herbaceous flowering perennial with excellent edible and medicinal uses. Young leaves and flower buds are eaten raw or cooked. Usually available all through the winter. The leaves have a very mild flavour, though they soon become quite tough…
Valentine’s Plants | Peonies
A gorgeous plant in the garden but do you know they also have medicinal and edible uses? A lovely Valentine’s plant, peony flowers are reported to have a number of meanings including prosperity, romance, compassion, and bashfulness. In Greek myth…
Tropical | Bael Tree | Aegle marmelos
Aegle marmelos – Bael Tree, Golden Apple or Bengal Quince – is a mid-size, slow-growing deciduous tree native to India growing up to 18m in the right conditions. The fruits, leaves, twigs and root of the Bael tree are used…
Valentine’s Plants | Alstroemeria Lilies
Alstroemeria lilies, native to South America, are suitable for cut flowers. Often given on Valentine’s Day they have long lasting attractive flowers that represent friendship and devotion. Commonly called the Peruvian lily or lily of the Incas, the root can…
Reseda luteola and The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van eyck
We watched a fascinating TV programme recently where a team of historical costume makers were tasked with making a high status gown as shown in a 15th century painting by Jan Van Eyck called the Arnolfini portrait . They used material…