The Verdant HoursHerbal gathering almanac

A world of different seasons

Europe.

Explore woodland alliums, meadow plants, hedgerow flowers and aromatic herbs. Northern, Atlantic, continental and Mediterranean climates need different local references.

74 profiles in this edition

Europe

Spring woods & Mediterranean herbs

Read the season

Follow spring leaf emergence, summer flowering and autumn fruiting. In Mediterranean areas, cool-season rainfall may drive leafy growth. Month names on a British source describe Britain.

Before gathering

Study ramsons alongside lily of the valley and autumn crocus. Mixed spring leaf gatherings have caused serious and fatal poisoning.

Browse this region’s plants

American pokeweedPhytolacca americanaToxic · do not eat Autumn crocusColchicum autumnaleToxic · do not eat BilberryVaccinium myrtillusCulinary reference Black elderSambucus nigraCulinary reference BorageBorago officinalisExtra care needed CalendulaCalendula officinalisCulinary reference Castor beanRicinus communisToxic · do not eat ChicoryCichorium intybusCulinary reference CleaversGalium aparineStudy first Common chickweedStellaria mediaCulinary reference Common comfreySymphytum officinaleStudy first Common hawthornCrataegus monogynaExtra care needed Common hazelCorylus avellanaCulinary reference Common hopHumulus lupulusStudy first Common juniperJuniperus communisExtra care needed Common mallowMalva sylvestrisCulinary reference Common mulleinVerbascum thapsusStudy first Common purslanePortulaca oleraceaExtra care needed Common sorrelRumex acetosaCulinary reference Common yarrowAchillea millefoliumStudy first Cow parsleyAnthriscus sylvestrisExtra care needed Curly dockRumex crispusExtra care needed DandelionTaraxacum officinaleCulinary reference Deadly nightshadeAtropa bella-donnaToxic · do not eat Dog roseRosa caninaCulinary reference European yewTaxus baccataToxic · do not eat FennelFoeniculum vulgareExtra care needed Field horsetailEquisetum arvenseExtra care needed FireweedChamaenerion angustifoliumCulinary reference FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaToxic · do not eat Garlic mustardAlliaria petiolataCulinary reference German chamomileMatricaria chamomillaCulinary reference Giant hogweedHeracleum mantegazzianumToxic · do not eat GlasswortSalicornia europaeaCulinary reference Greater burdockArctium lappaExtra care needed Greater plantainPlantago majorCulinary reference Ground ivyGlechoma hederaceaExtra care needed Hemlock water dropwortOenanthe crocataToxic · do not eat Japanese knotweedReynoutria japonicaExtra care needed JimsonweedDatura stramoniumToxic · do not eat Lamb's quartersChenopodium albumCulinary reference Lemon balmMelissa officinalisCulinary reference Lily of the valleyConvallaria majalisToxic · do not eat Lords-and-ladiesArum maculatumToxic · do not eat MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaExtra care needed Miner's lettuceClaytonia perfoliataCulinary reference MonkshoodAconitum napellusToxic · do not eat MugwortArtemisia vulgarisStudy first OleanderNerium oleanderToxic · do not eat PennyroyalMentha pulegiumToxic · do not eat Poison hemlockConium maculatumToxic · do not eat Prickly pearOpuntia ficus-indicaCulinary reference Red cloverTrifolium pratenseStudy first Red raspberryRubus idaeusCulinary reference Ribwort plantainPlantago lanceolataCulinary reference Sea buckthornHippophae rhamnoidesCulinary reference SelfhealPrunella vulgarisStudy first Sheep sorrelRumex acetosellaExtra care needed Shepherd's purseCapsella bursa-pastorisCulinary reference Small-leaved limeTilia cordataCulinary reference Sour figCarpobrotus edulisCulinary reference Spotted spurgeEuphorbia maculataToxic · do not eat St John's wortHypericum perforatumExtra care needed Stinging nettleUrtica dioicaCulinary reference Sweet woodruffGalium odoratumExtra care needed Three-cornered leekAllium triquetrumCulinary reference ValerianValeriana officinalisExtra care needed Water mintMentha aquaticaCulinary reference WatercressNasturtium officinaleExtra care needed Wild carrotDaucus carotaExtra care needed Wild garlicAllium ursinumExtra care needed Wild oreganoOriganum vulgareCulinary reference Wild strawberryFragaria vescaCulinary reference Yellow wood sorrelOxalis strictaExtra care needed

All six regions

These are editorial collections, including native, introduced and cultivated plants. They are not distribution maps or local gathering permissions. Country-level coverage, local names and specialist field review are still expanding. No Antarctic gathering collection is offered.