So if you have chalky soil it’s likely to be shallow, dry, alkaline (or acidic) and nutrient poor! But don’t despair, there are plenty of plants that are up to the challenge.

Trees and shrubs

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

This conifer will tolerate most conditions, although it prefers a sunny spot. It’s a good choice for hedging in a chalky garden or, if you want an architectural shrub, try Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Erecta Aurea’ (shown here) which grows to only 2 metres tall. It has a compact, conical shape and bright yellow/green foliage.

Cornus mas

Growing up to 4 metres tall, the ‘Cornelian cherry’ is actually a species of dogwood and some varieties have the brightly coloured young stems typical of this genus of plants. It can be grown as a shrub or small tree and is prized for the bright yellow blossom which appears on bare stems in late winter.

Berberis darwinii

This dense, evergreen shrub will grow to 2.5 metres height and spread and is happy in any soil so long as it isn’t waterlogged – so chalk is ideal. Bright orange flowers appear in the spring followed by blue/black fruit in the summer. It requires little maintenance, which is good because the stems are covered in very sharp thorns!

Against a wall

Clematis

These climbers prefer a slightly alkaline soil and are happy on growing on chalk. If you want to cover a wall or shed then Clematis montana var. rubens ‘Tetrarose’ is a great choice. It will climb up to 8m metres and bears violet coloured flowers with yellow centres throughout the summer. Keep its roots cool by mulching well.

Jasminum nudiflorum

The winter jasmine is an excellent partner plant for clematis as it provides winter interest with small yellow flowers appearing in winter and early spring. It doesn’t ‘climb’ like the clematis does, so its gracefully long stems will need to be tied into a support.

Herbaceous plants

Paeonia

Peonies often work well on chalk soils. Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a popular choice. It grows to about 1 metre height and spread and has large, pink double flowers in the summer. Peonies prefer a sheltered spot and will require support as they grow.

Dianthus

Pinks are happiest in well drained and neutral to alkaline soils, so are an ideal choice on chalk. Try Dianthus ‘Doris’ for pale pink flowers over a compact mound of grey/green foliage. It looks great at the front of a bed or border.

Helenium

Perennial ‘sneezeweeds’ such as Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ (shown here) are happy in any soil and cope well with chalk. Their daisy-like flowers appear in summer and are a perfect selection for hot borders. Taller varieties will require support.

Crocus

Preferring well drained soil, crocuses are a good plant for spring colour on chalk soil. Crocus chrysanthus ‘Cream Beauty’ will work well and reward you with creamy flowers that are deep yellow in the centre, from early spring.

Use our plant selector to search for more ideas for chalky soils.

Back as far as Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) the mistletoe was used in rituals and medicines. Pliny told of Druids climbing into sacred oak trees to harvest mistletoe with golden sickles. The mistletoe would be caught before it touched the ground to ensure that it didn’t lose its special powers.

To what extent the Druids did use mistletoe in this way is unclear, but the stories persist. For example, in the Asterix cartoons by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, the Druid Getafix harvests mistletoe in the way that Pliny describes, using it to create the special potion which gives Asterix his superhuman strength.

Greek, Roman and Norse mythology all contain stories about the humble mistletoe. Perhaps the best known is that of the Norse god Baldr. He and his mother, Frigg, both had dreams of his impending death, so Frigg made every object swear not to harm her son, except the mistletoe, which was considered too young and harmless to take the oath.

The mischievous god Loki heard about this and made a spear or arrow out of mistletoe, which he gave to Baldr’s blind brother Höðr. Not realising what he was doing, Höðr killed Baldr with the mistletoe. As a result, tradition has it, Frigg’s tears became the mistletoe berries and she ordered the plant to grow high in trees so that it would be out of reach and unable to do further harm. Other traditions suggest that she made the mistletoe a symbol of peace and friendship to make up for its part in the terrible accident.

Today mistletoe is hung from the ceiling and used for the traditional Christmas kiss. This probably derives from ancient fertility traditions. It’s easy to see how this little plant became related to fertility when you consider that it retains its evergreen foliage while the deciduous host plant has shed its leaves and that its berries appear in the depths of winter. The forking shape of its branches, with pairs of leaves, were also associated with the shape of sexual organs and you can work out for yourself the symbolism of the sticky juice in the berries! As a result mistletoe was used to encourage fertility, as a medicine, a charm for young ladies looking for husbands, and in the kissing custom we retain today.

As well as representing fertility, the use of mistletoe as a symbol of peace and luck (following the Norse mythology) is common throughout Europe. During the First World War cards sent from the Front often included mistletoe as a message of peace for loved ones.

Tradition also has it that mistletoe brought into the house at Christmas (or mid-winter/new year depending on the custom) should be kept hanging there for 12 months to protect the house from evil spirits. It should then be burned before the fresh mistletoe is brought in.

Find out more about the UK mistletoe, Viscum album, including how to grow it in your own garden.

Mistletoe image courtesy of dan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The situation is made worse when the soil is shallow or sandy as it will retain little water. In this situation you can help improve the soil by regularly mulching with organic matter (such as well-rotted manure or garden compost), doing so when the soil is wet to lock in the moisture.

But don’t lose heart! There are plenty of plants which will cope with these unfavourable conditions and still provide you with colour and interest.

Shrubs

Ribes alpinum

Growing to 1.5m height and spread, the alpine currant is a deciduous shrub with mid-green foliage and copes well with heavy shade. If there’s a male and female planted together then the female will bear scarlet berries in the summer. If the shade is more dappled then the cultivar R. a. ‘Aureum’ can be planted, which has brighter, yellow-green leaves.

Sarcococca confusa

Prized for the fragrance of its winter flowers, the Christmas box is a dense, evergreen shrub growing to about 2m tall by 1m wide. The flowers are followed by glossy black fruits. It can be grown as a shrub or trimmed back as a hedge.

Skimmia japonica

This rounded, evergreen shrub has dark red flower buds in autumn and winter which open into creamy-coloured flowerheads in the spring. If there’s a male nearby, the female shrub will then bear bright red berries (choose S. j. subsp. reevesiana for a plant which has both male and female flowers). It eventually grows to 6m height and spread.

Camellia japonica

Camellias are a great choice for shade as the shelter will help protect the delicate flowers from late frosts and morning sunlight which can ‘burn’ the petals. There are many cultivars of Camellia japonica, so you can find the perfect size and colour choice for your garden.

For example, C. j. ‘Madame Haas’ is shown here.

Fatsia japonica

The Japanese aralia is a very architectural, almost tropical looking plant with large, glossy, palmate leaves. In the autumn clusters of cream-coloured flowers pop up through the foliage. It grows up to 4m in height and spread but can be cut back to reduce the size. A variegated cultivar is available with cream edged foliage.

Herbaceous perennials

Convallaria majalis

Lily-of-the-valley is a petite, deciduous perennial which grows to 20cm tall. It has white, fragrant flowers on arching stems in late spring. It spreads well and can also be used as ground cover. Try C. v. var. rosea for delicate pink flowers or C. v. ‘Albostriata’ for cream-striped leaves.

Liriope muscari

This autumn flowering, evergreen perennial has long, narrow green leaves. The violet flowers appear on long spikes and are followed by black berries. It grows to 30cm tall and 45cm wide. Try L. m. ‘Monroe White’ for white flowers or L. m. ‘Variegata’ for white striped foliage.

Iris foetidissima

Although it doesn’t have the most attractive name, the stinking iris only smells unpleasant if you crush its leaves. It bears purple flowers in early summer above the long, evergreen leaves, growing to 90cm tall. For yellow flowers try I. f. var. citrina.

Asplenium scolopendrium

The hart’s tongue fern (shown left) takes its name from the shape of the long, evergreen, tongue-like, bright green leaves. The edges of the leaves, which arch out from the base, are often rippled and mature foliage will have dark red spore cases on the underside, arranged in a stripes. Try cultivars from the Crispum Group for more wavy leaf margins.

Ground cover

Geranium nodosum and Geranium phaeum

These deciduous geraniums will thrive in dark, dry conditions. Geranium nodosum has purple-pink flowers from spring to autumn and grows to 50cm height and spread. For a larger plant try Geranium phaeum, which grows to 80cm tall and 45cm wide and has dark violet flowers. Both species have a range of cultivars available with flowers in shades of white, pink, purple or blue.

Pachysandra terminalis

The Japanese spurge (shown right) is an evergreen, bushy plant which will grow to only 20cm tall but will spread much further than this, providing excellent year round ground cover. In early summer deep pink buds appear followed by small spikes of fragrant white flowers.

Tolmiea menziesii

This semi-evergreen, spreading plant (commonly called the pickaback plant) produces heart-shaped, ivy-like leaves and grows to 60cm tall by 1m spread. In early summer spikes of chocolate-brown flowers appear. For paler, mottled leaves try the cultivar T. m. ‘Taff’s Gold’.

Vinca

Periwinkles, whether Vinca minor or Vinca major, will cope with shady, dry conditions and provide ground cover with their long, trailing stems. V. minor grows to 20cm tall while V. major reaches 45cm. Various cultivars of both species are available, providing flowers in a range of blues and violets, some with variegated leaf margins. Vinca plants can be invasive, so be prepared to cut them back regularly.

Japanese anemones – Anemone hupehensis

These autumn flowering blooms were brought back to England from China in 1844 by Robert Fortune, hence the oriental part of their name.

The genus name Anemone may derive from the Greek ‘anemos’ meaning ‘wind’ and as a result they used to be called ‘windflowers’. Back to the times of Pliny it was suggested that the flowers would only open when the wind blows, although the name is more likely to result from the fact that anemones can grow on windy, exposed sites.

Another explanation is that the name comes from Adonis, the Greek God of beauty and desire, because the Persian for his name is ‘Naamen’. Aphrodite was said to have fallen in love with Adonis and, when he was killed while hunting, she wept over him as he died, and the anemone grew where either her tears or his blood soaked the ground.

Winter jasmine – Jasminum nudiflorum

Jasmines are so named from the original Persian name ‘yasmin’. The winter flowering jasmine is botanically called nudiflorum, meaning ‘naked’. But there’s nothing rude about this! It’s simply a reference to the fact that the yellow flowers appear on bare, or naked, stems. Along with the Japanese anemone (above) this plant was introduced to Europe by Robert Fortune in 1844.

Oregon grape holly – Mahonia

The genus Mahonia was named after Bernard M’Mahon, a political refugee from Ireland, who popularised gardening in America in the early 1800s.

The common name ‘Oregon grape’ is simply explained – the plant originates from the American far west and the berries resemble grapes, they can also be used to make wine.

The bright yellow flowers of Mahonia x wagneri ‘Pinnacle’ are shown here.

Poinsettia – Euphorbia pulcherrima

The poinsettia originated in Mexico, where legend has it that a young girl, too young to provide a gift to celebrate Jesus’ birthday, instead picked some weeds and presented them at church, where they sprang into the crimson blooms of the poinsettia. The plant’s common name is a dedication to Dr Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first US ambassador to the Republic of Mexico from 1825 to 1829. A keen botanist, Dr Poinsett brought the plant to America. He was also the founder of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts, which is now known as the Smithsonian Institution.

The genus, Euphorbia, is said to be named after Euphorbus, physician to King Juba of the ancient kingdom of Mauretania (in North Africa).

Violet/pansy – Viola

The viola is said to be named after Io, a young girl who the God Zeus fell in love with. To hide her from his wife, Hera, he changed Io into a young cow. But Hera became suspicious when she saw the pretty white heifer with violets in her mouth and asked Zeus to give her the cow, which he did. Eventually, after making the heifer’s life a misery, Hera changed Io back into a girl, but only once Zeus had promised never to look at her again.

Violas have long been associated with love; the Elizabethan called them ‘heart’s-ease’, Napoleon had a locket containing violets picked from his beloved Josephine’s grave and the name ‘pansy’ derives from the French ‘penser’, to think, relating them to purity of thought.

Viola ‘Huntercombe Purple’ is shown here.

Charming camellias

Camellias are an excellent option for growing against north facing walls, so long as they are in a fairly sheltered spot. Flowering in spring, camellias are available in many different colours, from brilliant whites to deep scarlets.

A north facing position will prevent the morning sunlight burning the flowers and should keep the display going for longer. Camellias are available in a wide range of sizes, from petite 1m shrubs to larger specimens which will reach over 10m tall. Shown here is Camellia japonica ‘Virginia Carlyon’, which grows to 10m.

Valuable viburnums

Viburnums are attractive, evergreen shrubs which will grow happily in a north facing location. They have dark black/blue berries which provide a useful food source for birds. Viburnum tinus ‘Variegata’ has yellow edged leaves which add year round colour. Growing to 2.5m height and spread, it bears white flowers in winter and spring.

Viburnum x burkwoodii is an alternative of about the same size. Its fragrant flowers are a dainty, pink/white colour. Viburnum x juddii has the same pretty flowers, but is a smaller bush at just 1.5m height and spread.

Colourful creepers

Deciduous creepers will rapidly cover a north facing wall with colourful foliage, although they can be very vigorous, so don’t plant them in a small area! They have insignificant flowers in summer followed by black/blue berries in the autumn.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia, the Virginia creeper, and Parthenocissus tricuspidata, Boston ivy, both grow up to 20m in height and are invaluable for covering large walls. The palmate leaves become vibrantly coloured in autumn, the Virginia creeper with bright oranges and reds, the Boston ivy with a more subtle, purple colour.

Parthenocissus henryana, the Chinese Virginia creeper, is less vigorous, growing to 1m tall. The leaves are a deep bronze/green colour with very attractive, bright silver-white veins.

Pretty pyracanthas

The pyracantha, or firethorn, has year round interest and will happily grow in any aspect, including north facing walls. The evergreen shrubs bear white flowers in early summer, followed by brightly coloured berries in the autumn, which persist into the winter. The berries, a useful source of food for birds, are bright yellow, orange or red, depending on the variety chosen. Pyracantha will grow 3 to 5 metres up a wall. The stems have sharp spines, useful for garden boundaries and also providing a safe nesting spot for birds.

Pyracantha ‘Soleil d’Or’ is a good choice for a north facing wall. It reaches 3m in height and 2.5m in spread and has golden-yellow berries which will brighten up any shady area.

Climbing clematis

While most clematis prefer a sunny spot, Clematis montana, and the larger flowered Clematis montana var. grandiflora, can be grown against a north facing wall so long as the soil is not acidic (it can also be container grown). This deciduous climber will grow to 12m tall and 4m spread and bears white flowers in early summer.

Interesting ivies

Ivies are often undervalued, viewed as a nuisance in most gardens. However, in a dark spot an ivy can be invaluable in bringing a splash of light and interest. As well as clinging onto a wall they will grow horizontally, providing ground cover.

For a large area Hedera colchica ‘Sulphur Heart’, shown here, is an excellent choice. Growing to 5m tall, the large leaves are yellow at the centre, becoming green at the margins. It’s easy to grow and can be pruned at any time of year to control the spread. If you have less space then Hedera helix ‘Goldchild’ will grow to just 1m high. The leaf margins have a thick edging of yellow, lightening up the darkest corner.

Top it off with a tropaeolum!

The flame flower, Tropaeolum speciosum, will reach 3m height and spread and has bright red flowers through summer and autumn. This deciduous, twining climber will grow up a wall with support, or is an excellent choice for growing through a hedge (such as yew). It prefers its roots to be in cool shade and won’t grow well in alkaline or chalk soils, though it can be planted in a container so you can control the growing environment more easily.

Bleeding heart/
lady in the bath

While most of us will know Dicentra spectabilis as ‘Bleeding heart’, due to the flower shape which looks like a dripping heart (shown here), the name ‘lady in the bath’ may not be as familiar. But turn the flower upside down and you’ll see that it does, indeed, resemble a lady in the bath!

The derivation of the botanical name is more boring. Dicentra derives from the Greek ‘di’, meaning ‘two’, and ‘kentron’ meaning ’spur’, referring to the two upward pointing parts of the flower (known as spurs). Spectabilis comes from the Latin meaning ’spectacular’, which the flower display certainly is at the height of its season.

Daffodils

Nothing quite heralds spring like a bed of daffodils. Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of the poet William, described these cheery flowers perfectly when recollecting that they “tossed and reeled and danced, and seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind”. The botanical genus name ‘Narcissus’ relates to the myth of the Greek youth Narcissus who became so infatuated with his own reflection in a pool that, upon realising that he could never possess it, died. The flower sprang up from the spot. However, it’s not clear whether the flower was named after the youth of the legend or vice versa.

The common name daffodil is thought to originate from Asphodel, a genus of flowering plants, the yellow variety of which is similar to daffodils. Affodell was a variant of Asphodel and became ‘affodil. The ‘d’ is thought to have been added either due to the Dutch ‘de’ (meaning ‘the’) being added to make “de ‘affodil”, or due to Asphodels being known in Britain as “bastard ‘affodil”.

Sowbread

It doesn’t seem quite right that the petite, delicate cyclamen should be lumbered with such an unbecoming common name. The name first appeared in the 1551 ‘herbal’ (a book of plants used for medicinal purposes) written by botanist William Turner. Here it was named ‘Sawesbread’, which has over time become sowbread. The origins of the name refers to the purported use of cyclamen roots as food for pigs.

The genus name Cyclamen is more simplistic in its origins, coming from the Greek ‘kyklo’ meaning ‘circle’, and probably referring to the stems, which curl up when the flower is spent and the seeds are developing.

Columbine/Granny’s bonnet

It’s not hard to work out why Aquilegia flowers are known as Granny’s bonnet when you look at the pretty, nodding flowers of this cottage garden favourite. However Columbine is slightly less easy to guess at. The word derives from the Latin ‘columba’, meaning ‘dove’. There are various theories about why these plants are dove-like. Some believe that if you hold the flowers upright then they resemble a ring of doves drinking, others consider the leaf shape to be bird-like, while others think that the shape of the flower, with one petal and all the sepals removed, looks a little like a hovering dove.

The name Aquilegia is thought to either derive from the Latin ‘aquila’, meaning ‘eagle’, due to the flower’s spurs resembling eagles’ talons, or from ‘aquilegus’, meaning a ‘water container’, relating to the similarity of the flower’s shape to Greek amphoras.

Lilac

Which came first the name of the colour or the name of the plant? Well, in this case we know the answer; the name of the plant came first. The lilac was so named after the Arabic word laylak or the Persian word nylac, both meaning ‘blue’. The plant was introduced into France in the 16th century. It wasn’t until the late 18th century that ‘lilac’ also came to mean a pale purple/pink colour.

The botanical genus name for lilac, Syringa, derives from the Greek ’syrinx’, meaning ‘pipe’, because the stems of lilacs can be hollowed out and were used in Turkey to make pipes.

On the whole the plants that we consider weeds are categorised as such because of their highly competitive nature, which makes them difficult to control and can limit the growth of neighbouring plants. They may do this by forming mats of foliage which smother the plants below them, self-seeding so freely that they pop up anywhere and everywhere, or climbing around other plants and strangling them in the process. Basically weeds are the thugs of the garden!

But surely every bad boy weed has a good side? Well, yes, in most cases. Read on and see if you can find some comfort in the benefits which your garden weeds can bring. Please note that if you are considering using any of these plants for medicinal purposes you should consult your doctor first.

Stinging nettles

Urtica dioica and the smaller Urtica urens are probably best know for the stings they give us if we brush against them. However these irritating plants actually have a wide range of uses.

Culinary uses

You can cook the young leaf tips of stinging nettles in much the same way as you would spinach. They are great in soups and can also be used to make nettle beer. The foliage should not be eaten raw and only younger leaves (from plants less than 10cm high) used for cooking (older leaves have a gritty texture even after cooking). You can also dry the leaves to make a non-aromatic tea.

Chlorophyll extracts from stinging nettles are used as a green colouring agent (E140) in food and medicine.

Medicinal uses

An infusion of nettles can be drunk to treat conditions including anaemia, haemorrhoids, arthritis, rhuematism and skin complaints. Externally (eg as an ointment) it can be used for local relief of arthritis pain, gout sciatica, burns, insect bites, scalp and hair problems, neuralgia and nosebleeds.

Horticultural uses

Nettles only grow in fertile soil, so they are a good indicator of the nutrient levels.

Their hunger for nutrients makes them a great source of plant food. You can make a liquid fertiliser by steeping nettles in water for 2 to 4 weeks (weigh them down with rocks or bricks to keep them submerged). Burgon and Ball do an ‘organic plant food maker’ with an infuser to contain your nettles and allow their goodness to spread into the water – though an old bucket will work just as well! Dilute the resulting liquid 1 part to 10 parts water and use it as you would any liquid feed. Chopped up nettles are also a useful addition to compost and can help to speed up the composting process, just make sure you don’t add any roots to your compost or you’ll find nettles growing out of it!

Stinging nettles are a main food source for butterflies, so growing a few in your garden can help sustain the native populations and also give them somewhere more attractive than your veg patch to lay their eggs! Ladybirds also favour nettles and are very useful in the garden as they prey on garden pests such as whitefly.

Dandelions

Dandelions or, to be more accurate, Taraxacum officinale, are a well known weed in lawns and borders. The common name is derived from the French ‘dent de lion’, which translates as ‘lion’s tooth’, a reference to the jagged leaf edges. Folklore has it that you can tell the time by counting how many puffs it takes to blow the seeds off a dandelion seedhead…though gardeners are less inclined to do this as it spreads the seeds all over their garden! Here’s a more positive look at how you can use dandelions.

Culinary uses

You can blanche fresh dandelion leaves to eat them in salads or cook them like spinach (they are often mixed with sorrel). The flower petals can be made into wine.

The leaves and roots are used to flavour herbal beers and soft drinks, such as dandelion and burdock. The roots can also be roasted, ground and used as a substitute for coffee.

Medicinal uses

Dandelion is used in both European and Chinese medicine for a wide range of ailments because of its diuretic, laxative and anti-rheumatic effects, and its ability to stimulate liver function, improve digestion and reduce swelling and inflammation. Conditions it is said to improve include urinary disorders, gall stones, jaundice, gout, eczema and acne.

Chickweed

Common chickweed, Stellaria media, is a real pain in the garden as each plant produces 2,500 seeds in a season and the seeds can survive for up to 4 years, germinating at any time. It particularly likes heavy and fertile soils. But it does have a good side!

Culinary uses

Chickweed sprigs can be added to salad and cooked as vegetables. They can also be fed to domestic fowl and pet birds (the common name derives from the fact that chickens enjoy eating the plant).

Medicinal uses

Medicinally it can be used to ease rheumatism when taken internally. When applied externally (usually within an ointment) it is said to ease itching skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis, vaginitis, ulcers, boils and abcesses.

Field horsetail

Equisetum arvense, field horsetail, is a difficult weed to control and can spread rapidly, particularly on compacted soil. But it does have some uses.

Medicinal uses

The stems of field horsetail are an astringent that acts on the genitor-urinary system when taken internally and can be used to treat prostatitis, incontinence, cystitis and urethritis. It can be used internally and externally for haemorrhage. However it is an irritant and therefore best restricted to short term use.

Other uses

Another common name for field horsetail is ‘bottlebrush’. This derives from the fact that,from the Middle Ages up until the 18th century, it was used for scouring pots and pans. Due to its high levels of silica it has good abrasive properties.

Shepherd’s purse

With its purse shaped seed capsules, which ripen to eject seeds all over your garden, Capsella bursa-pastoris is a real pest. It’s an ephemeral plant, meaning that it can have several life cycles in a year, so the production of seeds just goes on and on! But there is some good news about this plant.

Culinary uses

The leaves of shepher’s purse (which is also know as witches’ pouches or pick-pocket) are rich in vitamins A, B and C and can be used in salads.

Medicinal uses

It can be used internally (usually in a tea or tincture) to stop bleeding (especially excessive menstruation, blood in urine, haemorrhoids, nosebleed and wounds) and for cystitis. Externally it can be used for varicose veins. In Chinese medicine it is also used to cool the blood.

Daisy

Daisies (Bellis perennis) in a lawn can be a real problem as they form a mat of foliage which crowds out the surrouding grass. But they do have some real benefits.

Culinary uses

Young leaves, flower buds and petals of daisies have a pleasantly sour taste and can be added to salads.

Medicinal uses

Daisy flowers and leaves be taken internally for coughs and catarrh and externally for ruptures, varicose veins, minor wounds, and sore/watery eyes. They are used in homeopathy as a treatment for deep bruising.

The daisy has also been investigated for possible use in HIV treatment.

Other uses

While a nuisance in the garden daisies are very pretty and surely the world would be a drearier place if we couldn’t make daisy chains?!

Ground elder

Aegopodium podagraria is a real problem in beds and borders, where its rhizomes entwine with other plants. But it does have its uses.

Culinary uses

Young leaves of ground elder can be used in salads and soups, and as a vegetable.

Medicinal uses

It is believed that ground elder was introduced into the British Isles in medieval times when it was cultivated in monasteries for medicinal use. It is dedicated to St Gerard , who was invoked to cure gout (‘herb Gerard’ is another name for ground elder).

Ground elder is used as a mild sedative with diuretic and anti-inflammatory effects. It can be taken internally (dried and used in infusions) to treat gout and sciatica. Externally it can be used to treat haemorrhoids, gout, stings and burns. It is also used in homeopathy to treat arthritis and rheumatism.

To celebrate these late, but very welcome, bloomers, we thought we’d share with you our top 10 interesting facts about asters…

1. Virgil wrote about asters in his poem the Georgics (book 4) which was completed around 29BC. He described the plant in some detail; “A flower, too, there is in the meadows, which farmers have called amellus, a plant easy for searchers to find, for from a single clump it lifts a vast growth. Golden is the disk, but in the petals, streaming profusely round, there is a crimson gleam amid the dark violet. Often with its woven garlands have the gods’ altars been decked; its flavour is bitter to the tongue; shepherds cull it in meadows cropped by the flock, and by Mella’s winding streams. This plant’s roots you must boil in fragrant wine, and set for food at their doors in full baskets.”
2. Asters generally have 21 petals (or “ray flowers”), which many view as an example of the frequent appearance in nature of numbers from the Fibonacci sequence.
3. What’s in a name? Well, the genus name Aster is the ancient Greek for ’star’ and refers to the shape of the flowerhead. Following DNA research the North American species of asters are now categorised under the Symphyotrichum genus, so Aster novi-belgii is now Symphyotrichum novi-belgii and Aster lateriflorus is now Symphyotrichum lateriflorum. The aster’s common names include Michaelmas daisy and starwort. The name ‘Michaelmas daisy’ originated around the time of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar. At this point Michaelmas Day, the feast day of St Michael the Archangel, was brought forward to the 29th September, when the aster is flowering. Traditionally asters were worn to church or school on that day. The epithet ’starwort’ is derived from the Old English ‘wort’, which originally meant ‘root’, and was adapted to mean any plant which has medicinal benefits.
4. During the Hungarian revolution of the 31st October 1918 protesters in Budapest wore asters and the events of that day subsequently became known as the ‘Aster revolution’.
5. The first aster to be cultivated in the UK was the native Aster tripolium, which was grown for ornamental, culinary and medicinal use in Cornwall. In 1596 Aster amellus (so called because it grew along the river Mella in Italy) was grown in the Holburn Physic Garden by John Gerard. In the USA, in the 17th century, Aster tradescantii (now Symphyotrichum tradescantii) was discovered by John Tradescant, who brought it back to the UK and from which he cultivated A. novae-belgii and A. novae-angliae (now Symphyotrichum novae-belgii and S. novae-angliae).
6. Asters have had many practical uses over time. Records dating back to around AD200 show that Aster tataricus was being cultivated in China; its roots were used medicinally for treating chronic bronchitis and tuberculosis. Native Americans smoked dried aster roots. Tea made from the roots is said to be useful in treating fevers. Yellow dye can be produced from the stems, flowers and leaves of asters.
7. Historically asters have had other, non medicinal, uses. They were laid on the graves of French soldiers to symbolise that they wished things had worked out differently and the smell of burning asters will, apparently, ward off serpents.
8. Asters are said to symbolise love and daintiness. They are the ‘birth flower’ for September.
9. When you look at an aster flowerhead you’re not just looking at one flower, but many. Each one of the long petals is actually a flower (“ray flowers”) plus the central disk is also made up of many tiny flowers all bunched together (“disk flowers”). This is a ‘composite’ flower arrangement which is common to all plants within the Asteraceae family. The individual flowers open sequentially, in an inward-moving spiral pattern. The varied opening times mean that different flowers are fertilised by different pollen to promote variety. This evolutionary strategy has been very successful for the Asteraceae family which grows abundantly and is the second most diverse plant family with around 22,000 different species.
10. One legend explaining why the aster received this name (other than because of the star-like shape of the flowers) is that the plant arose when the Greek goddess of justice, innocence and purity, Astraea, became unhappy at the corruption on Earth and decided to dwell in the stars as the constellation Virgo. Depending on the version you read, she either looked at the Earth and cried because she couldn’t see any stars, or she wept for the two lost and lonely humans who remained after Zeus flooded the Earth in his anger at the sins of man. In both stories the aster flower then grew out of the soil where her tears fell.

The aster shown is Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’.

• Alcea rosea (hollyhocks) – eat the petals only.
• Allium schoenoprasum (chives) – flowerheads can be eaten whole, add to salads for a less overpowering onion flavour.
• Borago officinalis (borage) – eat the petals only, which can be added to salads or crystallised for cake decorations (please note they will turn from violet to pink on contact with acid such as lemon juice or vinegar). The cucumber-flavour leaves are often added to drinks of Pimms, and the flowers can be floated on top as decoration.
• Calendula officinalis (pot marigolds) – eat the petals only, useful in salads where the wide variety of available colours means you can colour-coordinate it! The bright petals can also be used to colour rice (instead of saffron) or infused to give colour to butters, cheeses, milk puddings or cakes.
• Centaurea cyanus, C. scabiosa, C. nigra and C. montana (cornflowers) – eat the petals only, use the blue colour to great effect in salads (yes, there really is a blue food!). Also good for pot-pourri when dried.
• Chrysanthemum x grandiflorum (syn. C. x morifolium) (florists’ chrysanthemums) – eat the petals only. Used in Chinese cuisine to make chrysanthemum tea.
• Cucurbita pepo (courgettes/zucchini) – flowerheads can be eaten whole (but remove the stamen or style/stigma). They are often deep fried in a light/tempura batter, stuffed and baked, or used in soups.
• Dianthus (pinks and carnations) – eat the petals only, they look pretty in salads and can be dried for pot-pourri.
• Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William) – eat the petals only.
• Helianthus anuus (sunflowers) – the flowerbuds can be eaten whole (try frying them in butter) or enjoy the flowers in the garden then munch on the seeds, either raw or roasted.
• Lavendula (lavender) – eat the petals only, crystallise them for decorations or add them to fresh to jams, vinegars or ice creams. Dried flowers can be used for pot-pourri.
• Mentha (mint) – flowerheads can be eaten whole, try including in salads or popping into your drink of Pimms.
• Monarda didyma (bergamot) – eat the petals only, they are bright red or mauve and effective at adding a splash of colour to salads. They can also be used in pot-pourri. The leaves can be infused as a tea (bergamot is one of the main flavours of Earl Grey tea).
• Nepeta cataria (catmint) – flowerheads can be eaten whole, use as a garnish or alongside the leaves to make tea.
• Ocimum basilicum (basil) – flowerheads can be eaten whole and are a useful garnish, especially for Mediterranean style dishes.
• Primula vulgaris (primroses) – flowerheads can be eaten whole. The flowers and young leaves are both useful for salads and the flowers make a good garnish for desserts. You can also use the flowers to make desserts such as primrose pottage.
• Rosa (roses) – eat the petals only, they can be crystallised for cake decorations or used in salads.
• Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) – flowerheads can be eaten whole, simply use along with the rest of the sprig in flavouring meals such as lamb dishes, or use them separately as a garnish.
• Sambucus nigra (elder) – flowerheads can be eaten whole. The flowers can be deep fried in a light/tempura batter, or  added to stewed fruit, jellies and jam for a muscatel flavour. The adventurous can also try using the flowers to make elderflower cordial or wine.
• Tropaeolum majus (nasturtiums) – flowerheads can be eaten whole, including flower buds, they are great for adding colour to a salad or for cakes and desserts if crystallised. Alternatively, infuse them to make nasturtium vinegar. The peppery flavoured leaves can also be used in salads.
• Viola odorata (violets) – flowerheads can be eaten whole, use them fresh to garnish salads and desserts or crystallise to make lovely cake decorations.

In many cases where only the petals of the flower are edible, you should be able to remove the central, inedible, parts while leaving the petals intact and still joined together.

Always ensure you wash flowers thoroughly in cold water before using them in food, particularly if you have animals (eg foxes, dogs or cats) visiting your garden.

Use flowers as freshly as possible as they rarely keep well.

Don’t use flowers which have been sprayed with pesticides or fertilisers (unless they are suitable for use on food produce).

Consume edible flowers in moderation.

Please remember: not all flowers are edible. Make sure you check that you know what the flower is and whether it is edible before you eat it, and ensure that children also understand that they should only eat parts of plants which a responsible adult has told them they can.

We were fortunate enough to be staying in a beachside property, and from the sea-view patio I could see at least 6 different plant species, including sea kale (Crambe maritima), grasses, sea holly (Eryngium maritima) and sea campion (Silene sp.) poking their way through the pebbles, thriving in these unlikely situations. Further along the beach these were followed by a display of brilliant pink and violets from red valerian (Centranthus ruber) and common mallow (Malva sylvestris), offset by the bright yellow flowers of the yellow horned poppy (Glaucium flavum).

If this wasn’t enough to satisfy my need for greenness, a walk through the nearby Dunwich Heath (National Trust) revealed a patchwork quilt of heathers with bright green ferns thrusting up through them from time to time. All a stone’s through from the beach.

So the next time you’re holidaying near the seaside, don’t look inland for garden inspiration, head seawards and enjoy the shoal of plants living on the shore.

Here are a few images of the seaside delights I found:

Click images to enlarge.