Identifying Edible and Poisonous Wild Plants

Our Hedgerow Guide aims to help you forage for British plants that are relatively common in the wild, easy to find and good to eat – and to avoid those that are inedible or poisonous.

Never rely on one source for plant identification, and never eat anything unless you are 100% sure it is edible. We will not be held responsible for the use of the information in this guide.

Hedgerows are a great place to find most of these plants, but do look around in woods and fields as many grow there too.

You can filter to see what’s in season currently. If you want to learn more about wild food and foraging then why not come one of our courses?

Choose a type of hedgerow:
Choose a season of interest:

This guide is here to help keep you safe, however, please ensure that you use multiple sources for identifying plants. Only eat a wild food if you yourself are 100% sure what it is. It should also be noted that there are a couple of plants that you should not touch without gloves. We will not be held responsible for any misidentification, or any other use of the information on this website.

Photo Sort by common name : Common Name Sort by scientific name : Scientific Name Type Start End
Colt's-foot Colt's-foot Tussilago farfara Edible Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Jun
Perennial Sow-thistle Perennial Sow-thistle Sonchus arvensis Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Jul Season End : Oct
Rough Hawkbit Rough Hawkbit Leontodon Hispidus Edible Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Dec
Smooth Hawksbeard Smooth Hawksbeard Crepis capillaris Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Dec
Prickly Sowthistle Prickly Sowthistle Sonchus asper Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Common Sow Thistle Common Sow Thistle Sonchus oleraceus Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Magnolia Magnolia Magnolia spp. Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Sep
Stinking Hellebore Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Winter Aconite Winter Aconite Eranthis hyemalis Poisonous Spring Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Winter Heliotrope Winter Heliotrope Petasites fragrans Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Miner's lettuce Miner's lettuce Claytonia perfoliata Edible Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Feb Season End : May
Good King Henry Good King Henry Blitum bonus-henricus Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Jan Season End :
Sour Fig Sour Fig Carpobrutus sp Edible Summer Season Start : Season End :
Henbane Henbane Hyoscyamus niger Poisonous Autumn Summer Season Start : May Season End : Sep
Lamb's lettuce Lamb's lettuce Valerianella locusta Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Jan
Mouse-Eared Chickweed Mouse-Eared Chickweed Cerastium sp Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Rough Chervil Rough Chervil Chaerophyllum temulum Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Season End :
Green Alkanet Green Alkanet Pentaglottis sempervirens Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Season End :
Dewberry Dewberry Rubus caesius Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Season End :
Pimpernel Pimpernel Lysimachia sp Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Season End :
Crown Vetch Crown Vetch Securigera varia Poisonous Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Jul
Salsify Salsify Tragopogon sp Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Sep
Bistort Bistort Bistorta officinalis Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Season End :
Water Pepper Water Pepper Persicaria hydropiper Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Oct
Woody Nightshade Woody Nightshade Solanum dulcamara Poisonous Autumn Summer Season Start : May Season End : Oct
Deadly Nightshade Deadly Nightshade Atropa belladonna Poisonous Autumn Summer Season Start : May Season End : Oct
Black Nightshade Black Nightshade Solanum nigrum Poisonous Autumn Summer Season Start : Jul Season End : Sep
Lily of the Valley Lily of the Valley Convallaria majalis Poisonous Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Jul
Barberry Barberry Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Sep Season End : Nov
Crowberry Crowberry Empetrum nigrum Edible Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jun Season End : Apr
White Campion White Campion Silene latifolia Inedible Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Sep
Harebells Harebells Campanula rotundifolia Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Jul Season End : Oct
Gorse Gorse Ulex sp. Edible Poisonous Spring Summer Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Rock Samphire Rock Samphire Crithmum maritimum Edible Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Oct
Thornapple Thornapple Datura stramonium Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Oct
Wild Thyme Wild Thyme Thymus polytrichus Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Sea Beet Sea Beet Beta vulgaris maritima Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Walnut Walnut Juglans regia Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Nov
Sea Radish Sea Radish Raphanus maritimus Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Meadow Bindweed Meadow Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Hedge Bedstraw Hedge Bedstraw Galium mollugo Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Feb Season End : Oct
Redcurrant Redcurrant Ribes rubrum Edible Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Sep
Laburnum Laburnum Laburnum sp. Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Trailing Bellflower Trailing Bellflower Campanula poscharskyana Edible Autumn Summer Winter Season Start : May Season End : Dec
Sweet Cicely Sweet Cicely Myrrhis odorata Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Pink-Sorrel Pink-Sorrel Oxalis articulata Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Forsythia Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia Edible Spring Season Start : Feb Season End : Apr
Crow Garlic Crow Garlic Allium vineale Edible Spring Winter Season Start : Nov Season End : Aug
Douglas Fir Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Edible Spring Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
White Bryony White Bryony Bryonia dioica Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Water Mint Water Mint Mentha aquatica Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Oct
Pheasant Berry Pheasant Berry Leycesteria formosa Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Jul Season End : Oct
Pink Purslane Pink Purslane Claytonia sibirica Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Few-Flowered Garlic Few-Flowered Garlic Allium paradoxum Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Jul
Monkshood Monkshood Aconitum napellus Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Foxglove Foxglove Digitalis sp Poisonous Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Sep
Lesser Swine Cress Lesser Swine Cress Coronopus didymus Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Scurvy Grass Scurvy Grass Cochlearia officinalis/danica Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Aug
Three-Cornered Leek Three-Cornered Leek Allium triquetrum Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Jan
Giant Hogweed Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Cowslip Cowslip Primula veris Edible Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Sep
Clovers Clovers Trifolium sp Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Buttercups Buttercups Ranunculus sp Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Silver Birch Silver Birch Betula pendula Edible Spring Season Start : Mar Season End : Mar
Bilberry Bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus Edible Summer Season Start : Jul Season End : Sep
Columbine Columbine Aquilegia Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Jul
Greater Stitchwort Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Jun
Wild Mustard Wild Mustard Sinapis arvensis Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Aug
Lady's Smock Lady's Smock Cardamine pratensis Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Ragwort Ragwort Jacobaea vulgaris Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Yew Tree Yew Tree Taxus baccata Poisonous Autumn Summer Season Start : Sep Season End : Nov
Beech Tree Beech Tree Fagus sylvatica Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Nov
Pineapple Weed Pineapple Weed Matricaria discoidea Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Oct
Dog's Mercury Dog's Mercury Mercurialis perennis Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Lords and Ladies Lords and Ladies Arum maculatum Poisonous Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Fool's Parsley Fool's Parsley Aethusa cynapium Poisonous Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Sep
Wild Chervil Wild Chervil Anthriscus sylvestris Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Hemlock Water Dropwort Hemlock Water Dropwort Oenanthe crocata Poisonous Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Feb Season End : Jul
Himalayan Balsam Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Wild Carrot Wild Carrot Daucus carota Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Dec Season End : Dec
Stagshorn Plantain Stagshorn Plantain Plantago coronopus Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Wood Avens Wood Avens Geum urbanum Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Pennywort Pennywort Umbilicus rupestris Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Hawthorn Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna/laevigata Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Fool's Watercress Fool's Watercress Helosciadium nodiflorum Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Mar Season End : Dec
Watercress Watercress Nasturtium officinale Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Wintercress Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris Edible Spring Winter Season Start : Dec Season End : Jun
Hemlock Hemlock Conium maculatum Poisonous Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Sep
Asparagus Asparagus Asparagus officinalis, Asparagus prostratus Edible Spring Season Start : Mar Season End : May
Daisy Daisy Bellis perennis Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Yarrow Yarrow Achillea millefolium Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Meadowsweet Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Burdock Burdock Arctium minus, Arctium lappa Edible Autumn Winter Season Start : Sep Season End : Dec
Alexanders Alexanders Smyrnium olusatrum Edible Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Sep
Mugwort Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Oct
Ribwort Plantain Ribwort Plantain Plantago lanceolata Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Sheep's Sorrel Sheep's Sorrel Rumex acetosella Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Prickly Wild Lettuce Prickly Wild Lettuce Lactuca serriola Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Sep
Greater Plantain Greater Plantain Plantago major Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Borage Borage Borago officinalis Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Sep
Comfrey Comfrey Symphytum officinale Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Oct
Rosebay Willowherb Rosebay Willowherb Chamerion angustifolium Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Oct
Wild Gooseberry Wild Gooseberry Ribes uva-crispa Edible Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Aug
Crab Apple Crab Apple Malus sylvestris Edible Autumn Season Start : Aug Season End : Nov
Rowan/Mountain Ash Rowan/Mountain Ash Sorbus aucuparia Edible Autumn Season Start : Apr Season End : Oct
Damson Damson Prunus domestica subsp insititia Edible Autumn Season Start : Sep Season End : Oct
Blackthorn (Sloe) Blackthorn (Sloe) Prunus spinosa Edible Autumn Season Start : Sep Season End : Nov
Mallow Mallow Malva sylvestris Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Nettle Nettle Urtica dioica Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Dead Nettles Dead Nettles Lamium sp Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Lesser Celandine Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna (Previously Ranunculus ficaria) Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Jun
Wood Sorrel Wood Sorrel Oxalis acetosella Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Dandelion Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Hogweed Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Vetch Vetch Vicia spp. Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Cleavers Cleavers Galium aparine Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Hairy Bittercress Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Common Sorrel Common Sorrel Rumex acetosa Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Shepherd's Purse Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Nov
Primrose Primrose Primula vulgaris Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Jun
Hedge Garlic Hedge Garlic Alliaria petiolata Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Violet Violet Viola odorata Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Lime Tree Lime Tree Tilia sp Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Aug
Pignut Pignut Conopodium majus Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Jun
Wild Garlic Wild Garlic Allium ursinum Edible Spring Summer Season Start : Feb Season End : Jun
Elder Tree Elder Tree Sambucus nigra Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Oct
Common Chickweed Common Chickweed Stellaria media Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Cherry Cherry Prunus Family Edible Spring Summer Season Start : May Season End : Jun
Oregon Grape Oregon Grape Mahonia aquifolium Edible Autumn Spring Summer Winter Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Sweet Chestnut Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa Edible Autumn Season Start : Sep Season End : Nov
Hazel Hazel Corylus spp. Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Jan Season End : Dec
Bramble Bramble Rubus fruticosus Edible Autumn Spring Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Wild Strawberry Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca Edible Summer Season Start : May Season End : Aug
Wild Raspberry Wild Raspberry Rubus idaeus Edible Autumn Summer Season Start : Jun Season End : Sep
Ground Elder Ground Elder Aegopodium podagraria Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct
Fat Hen Fat Hen Chenopodium album Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Apr Season End : Oct
Honesty Honesty Lunaria annua Edible Autumn Spring Summer Season Start : Mar Season End : Oct