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​Plants with a bee symbol are beneficial for bees or other pollinators.
Key: 
Annual: A plant that flowers, set seeds and dies within a single growing season.
Biennial: A plant that completes their life cycle over two seasons putting on leaf growth only in the first year and flowering and setting seed in the second year.
Perennial: A plant that will continue to grow for many seasons, possibly flowering each year. Some perennial plants will die back each winter with new growth appearing in the spring. Not all perennials are hardy and some will need protection or placing under cover during the winter.
Monocarpic: A plant that will die after flowering and setting seed but is not necessarily an annual or biennial and may live for more than one season before flowering.
NOTE: It is very important to consult a qualified medical herbalist before taking any herbs medicinally. Any information contained here is for information only and not as a guide to self-medication. The use of any information from this website is entirely at the reader's own risk. 

Alpine Strawberry

Fragaria vesca
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: 25 cm
  • Preferred position: Sun or shade, moist soil.
  • Care: Divide runners if they have become invasive.
  • Uses: Culinary (fruits)
  • A good ground cover plant, with little white flowers and very tasty small red fruits in summer.

Angelica
 Angelica archangelica
  • Type: Hardy Biennial / Monocarpic
  • Approximate height: Up to 1.8m
  • Preferred position: Moist rich soil, preferably in shade but tolerant of most conditions. Good for planting at the back of borders.
  • Care: Water well when dry or may go to seed early.
  • Uses: Culinary, Medicinal
  • A tall plant with  large greenish white umbels in early summer.  Will self seed readily. The young stems can be candied for decorating cakes / confectionary and the roots and seeds are used to flavour liqueurs.  The foliage is eaten as a vegetable in Greenland and Scandinavia.    
  • CAUTION: Take care when handling as contact with the leaves may increase skin photo-sensitivity.

Basil - Greek

Ocimum basilicum var. minimum
  • Type: Tender Annual
  • Approximate height: 15-30 cm.
  • Preferred position: Moist but well drained soil in a sunny sheltered position.
  • Care: Can be grown on a sunny windowsill. If planted outside do not plant out until all risk of frost is gone. Removing flower spikes will give more leaf growth.
  • Uses: Culinary
  • ​This may have small leaves but it's big on flavour. A very good basil for pots with tiny white flowers in summer.

BASIL - Purple

Ocimum basilicum 'purple'
  • ​​​Type: Tender Annual
  • Approximate height: 25 cm.
  • Preferred position: Moist but well drained soil in a sunny sheltered position.
  • Care: Can be grown on a sunny windowsill. If planted outside do not plant out until all risk of frost is gone. Removing flower spikes will give more leaf growth.
  • Uses: Culinary
  • Mauve flowers in summer.

Basil - Sweet 

Ocimum basilicum 
  • ​Type: Tender Annual​
  • Approximate height: 45 - 60 cm
  • Preferred position: Moist but well drained soil in a sunny sheltered position.
  • Care: Can be grown on a sunny windowsill. If planted outside do not plant out until all risk of frost is gone. Removing flower spikes will give more leaf growth.
  • Uses: Culinary, Medicinal
  • Bright aromatic green leaves with white flowers in summer. Used in Mediterranean cookery to flavour pesto, pizzas, ratatouille and pasta sauces.

Bay

 Laurus nobilis 
  • ​​Type: Evergreen shrub or tree
  • Approximate height: 3m - 10m
  • Preferred position: Rich well drained soil in a sunny sheltered position.
  • Care: Young plants may need some winter protection.
  • Uses: Culinary, Medicinal
  • Evergreen shrub or tree with grey bark. Dark green leaves with yellowish-white flowers in late spring to summer. Can be followed by dark purple berries on older specimens. Used in stews, casseroles and marinades etc. as it benefits from longer cooking. The fresh leaves are stronger than the dried.

Borage
Borago officinalis
  • Type: Hardy Annual
  • Approximate height: 60 cm
  • Preferred position: Light, well drained soil in a sunny position.
  • Care: Dead head regularly to ensure more flowers.
  • Uses: Culinary, Medicinal
  • Beautiful blue or white star shaped flowers from early summer to mid autumn. The hairy leaves and flowers have a mild cucumber flavour. Use both the young leaves and flowers in salads, fruit drinks, etc. Borage is said to bring happiness and drive away melancholy.

Caraway

 Carum carvi ​
  • Type: Biennial
  • Approximate height: 45 cm - 60 cm
  • Preferred position: Well drained soil in full sun.
  • Uses: Culinary, Medicinal
  • White flowers mid to late summer in second year. Dry seeds by cutting off a complete umbel just as individual seeds start to fall, (late summer to late autumn). Place in paper bag, tie bag around the stem and hang in a dry airy place.  Caraway seed has been found among food remains from 5000 year old sites and is said to have been used by the early Egyptians.

Cardoon
Cynara cardunculus​
  • Type: Perennial 
  • Approximate height: 2m 
  • Preferred position: Well drained soil in a sunny spot 
  • Care: In very cold winters cover with straw.
  • Uses: Medicinal and culinary.
  • Very impressive tall plant with large purple thistle type flowers.

Catnep
Nepeta cataria ​
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: 30 cm to 1m
  • Preferred position: Well drained soil in sun.
  • Care: After flowering, cut back hard to keep in shape.
  • Uses: Pot-Pourri, Cat treats
  • White, purple marked, flowers from summer to mid autumn. Loved by most cats, (there's always one), the leaves can be dried and used to stuff cat toys.​

Chamomile - Dyers

Anthemis tinctoria
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: Up to 1m 
  • Preferred position: Well drained soil in a sunny spot.
  • Care: Divide plants every 2 to 3 years.
  • Uses: Dye Plant
  • Yellow daisy-like flowers in summer.

Chamomile - Lawn - 'Treneague'

Chamomile nobile 'Treneague'
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: 15 cm
  • Preferred position: Light sandy soil in sun.
  • Care: Keep well weeded and watered.
  • Uses: Aromatic ground cover plant.
  • This non-flowering variety is the best one for a chamomile lawn.

Chamomile - Roman

 Chamaemelum nobile ​
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: Foliage 15 cm, flowers 30 cm
  • Preferred position: Light sandy soil in sun.
  • Care: Cut back frequently to encourage new bushy growth.
  • Uses: Culinary, Medicinal, Cosmetic
  • White daisy like flowers in mid to late summer. The flowers can be used to make a soothing tea or used in an infusion to lighten fair hair.

Chervil

Anthriscus cerefolium ​
  • Type: Hardy Annual
  • Approximate height: 30cm - 60cm
  • Preferred position: Light soil with some moisture retention, in semi shade.
  • Care: Cut leaves frequently to prevent flowering.
  • Uses: Culinary
  • Sweet smelling plant with pale green delicate leaves and umbels of white flowers in early summer. Good herb to use in omelettes, soups and vegetable dishes.

Chicory
Cichorium intybus
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: 1 - 1.5 m
  • Preferred position: Rich but well drained soil in sun.
  • Care: Best grown close to a fence or trellis as may need support.
  • Uses: Culinary
  • A tall plant with numerous beautiful blue flowers which close by midday. Fresh young leaves and the flowers can be added to salads.

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum ​
  • Type: Hardy Perennial
  • Approximate height: 30 cm
  • Preferred position: Prefers rich moist soil in sun by will tolerate most soils and conditions.
  • Care: The flower buds can be cut off to encourage leaf growth.
  • Uses: Culinary
  • Mild onion flavoured leaves with very pretty purplish pink globe flowers. Fresh chopped leaves can be added to salads, sauces, omelettes etc., whenever a mild onion flavour is required.

Clary Sage
 Salvia sclarea ​
  • Type: Hardy Biennial
  • Approximate height: 60 cm - 90 cm
  • Preferred position: Plant in a sunny position in light well-drained soil.
  • Care: Clary Sage will often self-seed and the seedlings can be transplanted if necessary.
  • Uses: Medicinal
  • Very decorative plant with large aromatic leaves and colourful flower bracts of white, pink and lavender in its second year.

Coriander

Coriandrum sativum
  • Type: Hardy Annual
  • Approximate height: 60 cm
  • Preferred position: Well drained fertile soil in a sunny position.
  • Care: Regular watering helps to prevent premature running to seed.
  • Uses: Culinary
  • Coriander has small flat umbels of white or reddish flowers from mid-summer to early autumn. It has been cultivated for over 3000 years and the leaves and seeds are still widely used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine.​

Cotton Lavender

Santolina chamaecyparissus
  • Type: Evergreen Perennial​
  • Approximate height: 20 - 50 cm
  • Preferred position: Well drained soil in full sun. 
  • Care: Can be clipped in mid-spring to keep in shape.
  •  Insect repellent
  • An evergreen shrub with grey-green leaves and bright yellow flowers from mid to late summer.