Plant facts

Some fun stuff while you're gardening!

Blackthorn

Sloes

Hawthorn berries

Blackthorn

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Blackthorn and Hawthorn

Two that are sometimes confused, both are common in hedgerows locally. Blackthorn is the first to appear, often as early as February, on bare thorny stems. Later in the year it gives us sloes, horrible to eat but good for gin! Hawthorn follows later after the leaves appear, hence its other name of May blossom. Bringing it into the house was considered very unlucky. Read more fun facts about hawthorn here.

Quince

Ornamental quince

Quince

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Quinces

A very popular plant, ideal for a sunny wall, is the flowering or Japanese quince - Chaenomeles. The fruit is as hard as a rock and best made into jam or jelly, for which its high pectin content makes it perfect. But if you really want to enjoy quince fruit, the less-common Cydonia Oblonga is the true fruit tree, although even then you are best off cooking it. For more ideas of quince recipes, see the fun factsheet.

Dogwood flower

Dogwood stems

Dogwood flower

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Dogwood

Native dogwoods (Cornus) are another hedgerow plant, but there are many cultivated varieties. In this country, they are grown mainly for their dramatic stem colours that brighten up your winter garden. For suggestions of varieties, see the plant facts sheet. But there are other dogwoods too, notably the flowering or Chinese ones. Cornus kousa varieties have fab flowers and fruits - but be warned, they grow pretty large.

Dandelion clock

Dandelion seeding

Dandelion clock

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Dandelion

Love them or hate them, dandelions are an amazing plant. What else will thrive and spread so well in neglected ground? Down the centuries they've been used for medicinal purposes: while the leaves are good in salad their common names include pissabed and pissenlit (French), which tells you of their diuretic properties. Find out more here.

Himalayan balsam

And here's one that's a real menace. Wondered what the 'pretty pink flowers' are that are spreading rapidly along Clarken Coombe? Well, they may be pretty but they are a serious environmental menace, swamping out other plants and seeding everywhere. If you find it in your garden, pull it up! For more on the 'pretty pink menace' see this site.