Botanical Name to Common Name
Important! Inclusion in this list does not imply safety. Read the full description of the plant in the plant list, as well as information on the safety page.
The purpose of this list is to cross-reference plants referred to in other sources, including non-English ones, or where the botanical name of a plant is known.
Common names can vary, and the only safe way to identify a plant is through its botanical name, which is largely standardised across borders. The common names in this guide follow the names approved by the Botanical Society and are also found in the Collins Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers of Britain and Northern Europe.
Example: if you identified a plant as Allium triquetrum, you will see from the list below that it will appear in the main plant list of this guide as "Leek, Three-cornered". On this current page you can also see that there are several close relatives of the Allium genus (onions), e.g. Allium ursinum - Ramson. This may be helpful in finding similar plants which may be more common than the one you were hoping to find for a given purpose. Maybe you've read that Chenopodium album, Fat Hen, makes a good pot herb, but you can't find any. However, next to Chenopodium album on the list you find Chenopodium bonus-henricus, Good King Henry, which is similar to Fat Hen, and you know it grows in your area.
The Botanical Family Translator at the end of this page will help to locate the family on the safety page where families are listed with their English name. In that list you will find information (where available) which should be considered for making a safe choice.
Species List
A
Acer spp. - Maple
Achillea millefolium - Yarrow
Acorus calamus - Sweet Flag
Adiantum capillus-veneris - Maidenhair Fern
Aegopodium podagraria - Ground Elder
Aesculus hippocastanum - Chestnut, Horse
Aethusa cynapium - Parsley, Fool's
Agrimonia eupatoria - Agrimony
Ajuga reptans - Bugle
Alaria esculenta - Dabberlocks
Alcea rosea - Hollyhock
Alchemilla vulgaris - Lady's Mantle
Alisma plantago-aquatica - Plantain, Common Water
Alliaria petiolata - Mustard, Garlic
Allium ampeloprasum - Leek, Wild
Allium macropetalum - Largeflower Wild Onion
Allium schoenoprasum - Chives
Allium scorodoprasum - Leek, Sand
Allium triquetrum - Leek, Three-cornered
Allium ursinum - Ramson
Althaea officinalis - Mallow, Marsh
Amelanchier lamarckii - Juneberry
Amelanchier intermedia (syn.) - Juneberry
Anacamptis pyramidalis X - Orchid, Pyramidal
Anagallis arvensis - Pimpernel, Scarlet
Angelica archangelica - Angelica
Angelica sylvestris - Angelica, Wild
Anthemis arvensis - Chamomile, Corn
Anthemis cotula - Chamomile, Stinking
Anthriscus sylvestris - Parsley, Cow
Anthyllis vulneraria - Vetch, Kidney
Apergula arvensis - Spurrey, Corn
Aphanes arvensis - Parsley Piert
Apium graveolens - Celery, Wild
Arbutus unedo - Strawberry Tree
Arctium lappa - Burdock, Great
Arctium minus - Burdock, Lesser
Argentina anserina - Silverweed
Armeria maritima - Thrift
Armoracia rusticana - Horseradish
Artemisia vulgaris - Mugwort
Arum maculatum - Lords and Ladies
Asparagus officinalis - Asparagus
Aster tripolium (syn.) - Aster, Sea
Astragalus glycyphyllos - Liquorice, Wild
Atriplex prostrata - Orache, Spear-leaved
Atriplex patula - Orache, Common
Atriplex portulacoides - Purslane, Sea
B
Bellis perennis - Daisy
Berberis vulgaris - Barberry
Beta vulgaris maritima - Beet, Sea
Betula pendula - Birch, Silver
Betula pubescens - Birch, Downy
Bidens tripartita - Bur Marigold, Trifid
Borago officinalis - Borage
Brassica napus - Rape
Brassica nigra - Mustard, Black
Brassica oleracea - Cabbage, Wild
Brassica rapa - Turnip, Wild
Butomus umbellatus - Rush, Flowering
C
Calla palustris - Arum, Bog
Calluna vulgaris - Heather
Caltha palustris - Marigold, Marsh
Calystegia sepium - Bindweed, Hedge
Campanula latifolia - Bellflower, Giant
Campanula rapunculoides - Bellflower, Creeping
Campanula rapunculus - Bellflower, Rampion
Campanula rotundifolia - Harebell
Capsella bursa-pastoris - Shepherd's Purse
Cardamine hirsuta - Bittercress, Hairy
Cardamine pratensis - Cuckoo Flower
Cardaria draba (syn.) - Cress, Hoary
Carex pendula - Sedge, Pendulous
Carpobrotus edulis - Fig, Hottentot
Castanea sativa - Chestnut, Sweet
Centaurea nigra - Knapweed, Common
Centaurium erythraea - Centaury, Common
Centranthus ruber - Valerian, Red
Cerastium fontanum - Mouse-ear, Common
Cerastium glomeratum - Mouse-ear, Sticky
Cerastium viscosum (syn.) - Mouse-ear, Sticky
Cetraria islandica - Iceland Moss
Chaerophyllum bulbosum - Chervil, Turnip-rooted
Chamaemelum nobile - Chamomile
Chamerion angustifolium - Willow, Rosebay
Chamomilla suaveolens (syn.) - Mayweed, P
Chelidonium majus - Celandine, Greater
Chenopodium album - Fat Hen
Chenopodium bonus-henricus - Good King Henry
Chenopodium rubrum - Goosefoot, Red
Chondrus crispus - Carraghen
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum - Daisy, Ox-eye
Chrysanthemum segetum (syn.) - Marigold, Corn
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium - Saxifrage, Opposite-leaved Golden
Cichorium intybus - Chicory
Cirsium arvense - Thistle, Creeping
Cirsium oleraceum - Thistle, Cabbage
Cirsium palustre - Thistle, Marsh
Cirsium vulgare - Thistle, Spear
Claytonia perfoliata - Spring Beauty
Clematis vitalba - Traveller's Joy
Clinopodium vulgare - Basil, Wild
Cochlearia officinalis - Scurvy-grass, Common
Conopodium majus - Pignut
Convulvulus arvensis - Bindweed, Field
Coriandrum sativum - Coriander
Cornus mas - Cherry, Cornelian
Cornus sanguinea - Dogwood
Cornus suecica - Cornel, Dwarf
Coronopus squamatus - Cress, Swine
Corylus avellana - Hazel
Crambe maritima - Sea Kale
Crataegus monogyna - Hawthorn
Crepsis tectorum - Hawk's Beard
Crithmum maritimum - Samphire, Rock
Cymbalaria muralis - Toadflax, Ivy-leaved
Cyperus longus - Galingale
Cytisus scoparius - Broom
D
Descurainia sophia - Flixweed
Draba muralis - Whitlow-grass, Wall
E
Elytrigia repens - Couchgrass
Empetrum nigrum - Crowberry
Epilobium hirsutum - Willowherb, Great
Equisetum arvense - Horsetail, Field
Erodium cicutarium - Stork's-bill, Common
Eryngium maritimum - Sea Holly
F
Fagus sylvatica - Beech
Fallopia convulvulus - Bindweed, Black
Fallopia japonica - Knotweed, Japanese
Filipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet
Filipendula vulgaris - Dropwort
Foeniculum vulgare - Fennel
Fragaria vesca - Strawberry, Wild
Fraxinus excelsior - Ash
Fucus vesiculosus - Bladder Wrack
Fumaria officinalis - Fumitory
G
Galium aparine - Cleavers
Galium mollugo - Bedstraw, Hedge
Galium odoratum - Woodruff
Galium verum - Bedstraw, Lady's
Geranium dissectum - Cranesbill, Cut-leaved
Geum rivale - Avens, Water
Geum urbanum - Herb Bennet
Glaucium flavum - Horned-poppy, Yellow
Glebionis segetum - Marigold, Corn
Glechoma hederacea - Ground Ivy
Graminae spp. - Grass
H
Heracleum sphondylium - Hogweed
Hibiscus syriacus - Rose of Sharon
Hippophae rhamnoides - Buckthorn, Sea
Hordeum murinum - Barley, Mouse
Humulus lupulus - Hop
Hylotelephium telephium - Orpine
Hypericum perforatum - St. John's Wort, Perforate
Hypochoeris radicata - Catsear, Common
I
Impatiens glandulifera - Balsam, Himalayan
Iris pseudacorus - Flag, Yellow
J
Juncus spp. - Rushes
Juniperus communis - Juniper
L
Lamiastrum galeobdolon - Archangel, Yellow
Laminaria digitata - Kelp
Laminaria saccharina - Sweet Oar Weed
Lamium album - Deadnettle, White
Lamium amplexicaule - Deadnettle, Henbit
Lamium purpureum - Deadnettle, Red
Lapsana communis - Nipplewort
Lathyrus japonicus - Pea, Sea
Lathyrus montanus - Vetch, Bitter
Laurencia pinnatifida - Pepper Dulse
Lemna minor - Duckweed
Leontodon hispidus - Hawkbit, Rough
Lepidium draba - Cress, Hoary
Lepidium latifolium - Dittander
Ligusticum scoticum - Lovage, Scots
Linaria vulgaris - Toadflax
Lolium perenne - Ryegrass, Perennial
Lonicera periclymenum - Honeysuckle
Lotus corniculatus - Trefoil, Bird's-foot
Lycium barbarum - Duke of Argyl's Tea-tree
Lycopus europaeus - Gipsywort
Lysimachia nummularia - Creeping Jenny
Lysimachia vulgaris - Loosestrife, Yellow
Lythrum portula - Purslane, Water
Lythrum salicaria - Loosestrife, Purple
M
Malus sylvestris - Apple, Crab
Malva moschata - Mallow, Musk
Malva sylvestris - Mallow, Common
Matricaria discoidea - Mayweed, Pineapple
Matricaria matricarioides (syn.) - ditto
Matricaria recutita - Mayweed, Scented
Medicago lupulina - Medick, Black
Melilotus altissimus - Melilot, Tall
Melilotus officinalis - Melilot
Mentha aquatica - Mint, Water
Mentha arvensis - Mint, Corn
Mentha citrata - Mint, Eau-de-Cologne
Mentha longifolia - Mint, Horse
Mentha piperita - Peppermint
Mentha pulegium - Pennyroyal
Mentha requienii - Mint, Corsican
Mentha rotundifolia - Mint, Apple
Mentha spicata - Spearmint
Menyanthes trifoliata - Bogbean
Mertensia maritima - Oyster Plant
Mespilus germanica - Medlar
Meum athamanticum - Spignel
Mimulus guttatus - Monkey Flower
Morus spp. - Mulberry
Mycelis muralis - Lettuce, Wall
Myrica gale - Myrtle, Bog
Myrrhis odorata - Cicely, Sweet
N
Nuphar advena - Spatterdock, Common
Nuphar lutea - Water-lily, Yellow
Nymphaea alba - Water-lily, White
O
Oenothera glazioviana - Evening Primrose, Large-flowered
Ononis repens - Rest-harrow
Orchis mascula - Orchid, Early Purple
Origanum vulgare - Marjoram, Wild
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum - Star of Bethlehem, Spiked
Ornithogalum umbellatum - Star of Bethlehem
Oxalis acetosella - Wood-sorrel
Oxalis corniculata - Oxalis, Yellow
P
Papaver rhoeas - Poppy, Common
Pastinaca sativa - Parsnip, Wild
Persicaria lapathifolia - Persicaria, Pale
Phragmites australis - Reed, Common
Picea spp. - Spruce
Picris echioides - Oxtongue, Bristly
Pinus spp. - Pine
Plantago coronopus - Plantain, Buck's Horn
Plantago lanceolata - Plantain, Ribwort
Plantago major - Plantain, Greater
Polygala vulgaris - Milkwort, Common
Polygonum aviculare - Knotgrass
Polygonum bistorta - Bistort
Polygonum japonicum (syn.) - Knotweed, Jap.
Polygonum lapathifolium (syn.) - Persicaria, Pale
Polygonum persicaria - Redshank
Porphyra umbiliculis - Laver
Potentilla anserina (syn.) - Silverweed
Potentilla erecta - Tormentil
Potentilla reptans - Cinquefoil, Creeping
Primula veris - Cowslip
Primula vulgaris - Primrose
Prunella vulgaris - Self-heal
Prunus avium - Cherry, Wild
Prunus cerasifera - Plum, Cherry
Prunus cerasus - Cherry, Dwarf
Prunus domestica - Plum, Wild
Prunus domestica ssp insititia - Bullace
Prunus padus - Cherry, Bird
Prunus spinosa - Blackthorn
Pteridium aquilium - Bracken
Pulmonaria offinialis - Lungwort
Pyrola minor - Wintergreen
Pyrus communis - Pear
Q
Quercus petraea - Oak, Sessile
R
Ranunculus bulbosus - Buttercup, Bulbous
Ranunculus ficaria - Celandine, Lesser
Ranunculus repens - Buttercup, Creeping
Ranunculus sceleratus - Buttercup, Celery-lvd.
Raphanus raphanistrum - Radish, Wild
Reseda lutea - Mignonette, Wild
Rhus typhina - Sumach, Stag's Horn
Ribes nigrum - Currant, Black
Ribes rubrum - Currant, Red
Ribes uva-crispa - Gooseberry
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (syn.) - Watercress
Rosa arvensis - Rose, Field
Rosa canina - Rose, Dog
Rubus caesius - Dewberry
Rubus chamaemorus - Cloudberry
Rubus fruticosus - Bramble
Rubus idaeus - Raspberry
Rumex acetosa - Sorrel, Common
Rumex acetosella - Sorrel, Sheep's
Rumex alpinus - Rhubarb, Monk's
Rumex crispus - Dock, Curled
Rumex obtusifolius - Dock, Broad-leaved
Rumex patientia - Dock, Patience
Ruscus aculeatus - Broom, Butcher's
S
Salicornia europaea - Samphire, Marsh
Salsola pestifer - Thistle, Prickly Russian
Salvia verbenaca - Clary, Wild
Sambucus nigra - Elder
Sambucus racemosa - Elder, Red-berried
Sanguisorba minor - Burnet, Salad
Sanguisorba officinalis - Burnet, Great
Scirpus lacustris - Clubrush, Common
Scirpus maritimus - Clubrush
Scrophularia nodosa - Figwort, Common
Sedum acre - Stonecrop, Biting
Sedum reflexum - Stonecrop, Reflexed
Sedum telephium (syn.) - Orpine
Senecio vulgaris - Groundsel
Silene vulgaris - Campion, Bladder
Silybum marianum - Thistle, Milk
Sinapis alba - Mustard, White
Sinapis arvensis - Charlock
Sisymbrium officinale - Mustard, Hedge
Smyrnium olusatrum - Alexanders
Solidago virgaurea - Goldenrod
Sonchus arvensis - Sow-thistle, Perennial
Sonchus asper - Sow-thistle, Prickly
Sonchus oleraceus - Sow-thistle, Smooth
Sorbus aria - Whitebeam
Sorbus aucuparia - Rowan
Sorbus latifolia - French Hales
Sorbus torminalis - Service Tree, Wild
Sparganium erectum - Bur-reed, Branched
Stachys officinalis - Betony
Stachys palustris - Woundwort, Marsh
Stellaria media - Chickweed, Common
Succisa pratensis - Scabious, Devilsbit
Symphoricarpos albus - Snowberry
Symphytum officinale - Comfrey
T
Tanacetum parthenium - Feverfew
Tanacetum vulgare - Tansy
Taraxacum officinale - Dandelion
Teucrium scorodonia - Sage, Wood
Thlaspi arvense - Pennycress, Field
Thymus polytrichus - Thyme, Wild
Tilia x vulgaris - Lime, Common
Tragopogon porrifolius - Salsify
Tragopogon pratensis - Goatsbeard
Trifolium pratense - Clover, Red
Trifolium repens - Clover, White
Trigonella ornithopodioides - Fenugreek
Tussilago farfara - Coltsfoot
Typha angustifolia - Bulrush, Lesser
Typha latifolia - Bulrush
U
Umbilicus rupestris - Navelwort
Umblicaria pistulata - Rock Tripe
Urtica dioica - Nettle, Stinging
Urtica urens - Nettle, Annual
V
Vaccinium oxycoccus - Cranberry
Vaccinium uliginosum - Bilberry, Northern
Vaccinium vitis-idaea - Cowberry
Valeriana officinalis - Valerian, Common
Valerianella locusta - Cornsalad
Veronica beccabunga - Brooklime
Veronica chamaedrys - Speedwell, Germander
Viburnum opulus - Rose, Guelder
Vicia cracca - Vetch, Tufted
Vicia hirsuta - Tare, Hairy
Vicia sativa - Vetch, Common
Vicia sepium - Vetch, Bush
Viola odorata - Violet, Sweet
Viola riviniana - Violet, Common Dog
Botanical Family Translator
For details about characteristics of the families see the safety page.
- Aceraceae - Maple
- Aizoaceae - Mesembryanthemum
- Alismataceae - Water-plantain
- Apiaceae - Carrot
- Anacardiaceae - Cashew
- Araceae - Arum
- Asteraceae - Daisy
- Balsaminacea - Balsam
- Berberidaceae - Barberrry
- Betulaceae - Birch
- Boraginaceae - Borage
- Brassicacea - Cabbage
- Butomaceae - Flowering Rush
- Campanulaceae - Bellflower
- Cannabaceae - Hemp
- Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle
- Caryophyllaceae - Pink
- Chenopodiaceae - Goosefoot
- Clusiaceae - St. John's Wort
- Compositae - former name of the Daisy family, now Asteraceae
- Convolvulaceae - Bindweed or Morning-glory
- Cornaceae - Dogwood
- Corylaceae - Hazel
- Crassulaceae - Stonecrop
- Cruciferae - former name of the Cabbage family, now Brassicacea
- Cupressaceae - Cypress
- Cyperaceae - Sedge
- Dioscoreaceae - Yam
- Dipsacaceae - Teasel
- Eleagnaceae - Oleaster
- Empetraceae - Crowberry
- Equisetaceae - Horsetail
- Ericaceae - Heath
- Euphorbiaceae - Spurge
- Fagaceae - Beech
- Fumariaceae - Fumitory
- Gentinaceae - Gentian
- Geraniaceae - Cranesbill
- Graminae - Grass
- Grossulariaceae - Currant
- Hippocastanaceae - Horse Chestnut
- Iridaceae - Iris
- Juglandaceae - Walnut
- Labiatae - former name of the Mint family, now Lamiaceae
- Lamiaceae - Mint
- Leguminosae - Pea
- Lemnaceae - Duckweed
- Liliaceae - Lily
- Lythraceae - Loosestrife
- Malvaceae - Mallow
- Menyanthaceae - Bogbean
- Moraceae - Mulberry
- Myriaceae - Bog Myrtle
- Nymphaeceae - Water-lily
- Oleaceae - Olive
- Onagraceae - Willowherb
- Orchidaceae - Orchid
- Oxalidaceae - Wood-sorrel
- Papaveraceae - Poppy
- Pinaceae - Pine
- Plantaginaceae - Plantain
- Plumbaginaceae - Sea Lavender
- Polygonaceae - Dock
- Portulacaceae - Purslane
- Primulaceae - Primrose
- Pyrolaceae - Wintergreen
- Ranunculaceae - Buttercup
- Resedaceae - Mignonette
- Rosaceae - Rose
- Rubiaceae - Bedstraw
- Saxifragaceae - Saxifrage
- Scrophulariaceae - Figwort
- Solanaceae - Nightshade
- Sparganiaceae - Bur-reed
- Tiliaceae - Lime
- Typhaceae - Reed-mace
- Umbelliferae - former name of the Carrot family, now Apiaceae
- Urticaceae - Nettle
- Valerianacea - Valerian
- Violaceae - Violet