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Medicinal herbs, houseplants and toxic plants — with profiles, a seasonal calendar, a distribution map and verifiable sources. Find the right plant for your question in seconds.
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Aconitum napellus
(Aconitum napellus)
Helmet-shaped blue flowers of mountain meadows — and one of Europe's most poisonous wild plants; the root's aconitine acts even through the skin.
Aesculus hippocastanum
(Aesculus hippocastanum)
Candle-like blossom in spring, glossy conkers in autumn: its aescin is today a recognised extract for heavy, tired legs.
Aglaonema commutatum
(Aglaonema commutatum)
Silver-patterned leaves that cope with low light — a good-luck houseplant in Asia, though its sap irritates skin and mucous membranes.
Agrimonia eupatoria
(Agrimonia eupatoria)
Yellow flower spikes that later cling as hooked burs; the tannin-rich herb is a recognised tea for mild diarrhoea.
Alchemilla vulgaris
(Alchemilla vulgaris)
Pleated leaves that cup glittering dewdrops each morning — near-magical in medieval lore, today a tannin-rich tea.
Alder buckthorn
(Frangula alnus)
A thornless shrub whose year-aged bark yields a gentle herbal laxative.
Allium ursinum
(Allium ursinum)
In spring it carpets shady woodland with a scent of garlic; the young leaves go raw into pesto and herb butter.
Aloe vera
(Aloe vera)
Two substances in one leaf: the cooling clear gel inside, and just beneath the rind a bitter yellow latex that acts quite differently.
Aloysia citrodora
(Aloysia citrodora)
One brush across the narrow leaves releases an intense lemon scent; the infusion is a traditional calmer and bedtime tea.
Althaea officinalis
(Althaea officinalis)
The root is packed with mucilage that hot water destroys, so it is prepared cold only — for dry, tickly cough.
Anise
(Pimpinella anisum)
Sweet-aromatic seeds — promote digestion and loosen mucus.
Apium graveolens
(Apium graveolens)
Crisp ribbed stalks from a tight rosette; phthalides in the seed oil provide the typical aroma.
Argentina anserina
(Potentilla anserina)
A silvery-haired herb of pathsides; its tannin-rich tea is recognised for mild diarrhoea and period pain.
Aristolochia clematitis
(Aristolochia clematitis)
A kettle trap with a carrion scent that briefly holds flies for pollination; its historic use in childbirth is now considered dangerous.
Arnica
(Arnica montana)
Proven external treatment for bruises — not for internal use!
Artemisia vulgaris
(Artemisia vulgaris)
Silvery, felted leaf undersides on stems up to two metres tall; this bitter herb traditionally stirs the digestive juices.
Artichoke
(Cynara scolymus)
The artichoke is a variety of a species of thistle cultivated as food.
Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera)
An evergreen shrub from the Ayurvedic tradition whose root is studied as a so-called adaptogen, mainly for stress and sleep problems.
Asian ginseng
(Panax ginseng)
An East Asian root plant whose root is traditionally used as a strengthening tonic and whose main active compounds are the ginsenosides.
Atropa bella-donna
(Atropa belladonna)
Sweet-tasting black berries named after Atropos, the Greek fate — one of the most dangerous poison traps in European woodland.
Basil
(Ocimum basilicum)
Depending on the variety it smells of anise, clove or lemon — the chemotypes differ sharply in their essential oil.
Beetroot
(Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva)
The deep red root stains everything it touches: betanin gives the colour, while its nitrate content made it famous in athletes' kitchens.
Bellis perennis
(Bellis perennis)
Found on lawns almost all year round — arnica's gentler sister, worked into salves for bruises and knocks.
Betula pendula
(Betula pendula)
White, papery peeling bark and drooping branches; the young leaves are a recognised flushing tea for mild urinary complaints.
Bistorta officinalis
(Bistorta officinalis)
Its serpent-coiled rhizome holds up to 36 percent tannin, making it one of Europe's most potent plant astringents.
Black cohosh
(Actaea racemosa)
The black rhizome of a North American woodland plant with white flower spikes - traditionally used for menopausal complaints such as sweating, sleep disorders and nervous irritability, but carrying rare, serious liver warnings.
Black pepper
(Piper nigrum)
A tropical climbing vine whose dried fruits are used worldwide as the spice peppercorn and contain the pungent compound piperine.
Black Spanish radish
(Raphanus sativus var. niger)
Black skin, sharp white flesh; its juice is a recognised remedy for sluggish digestion and bile complaints.
Blackcurrant
(Ribes nigrum)
Near-black berries in dense clusters, rich in vitamin C — and the leaves make a tea of their own.
Blond psyllium
(Plantago ovata)
The swelling seed husks from India - a gentle, EMA-recognised bulk-forming agent for chronic constipation and for conditions that call for a soft stool.
Blue gum eucalyptus
(Eucalyptus globulus)
An evergreen tree whose leaves and essential oil are traditionally used for colds and cough to ease the airways.
Boldo
(Peumus boldus)
An evergreen Chilean shrub whose aromatic leaves traditionally support digestion and the flow of bile.
Borage
(Borago officinalis)
Blue star flowers and a cucumber flavour — a favourite in green sauce, but not recommended internally due to liver-toxic alkaloids.
Broccoli
(Brassica oleracea var. italica)
The green flower head is cut before it opens; brief cooking best preserves its mustard-oil glycoside glucoraphanin.
Brugmansia
(Brugmansia arborea)
Brugmansia is a genus of seven species of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae.
Brussels sprout
(Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
The Brussels sprout is a member of the Gemmifera cultivar group of cabbages, grown for its edible buds.
Butcher's broom
(Ruscus aculeatus)
Evergreen spiny shrub with leaf-like shoots and red berries; its rhizome is traditionally used to support the veins in heavy, tired legs.
Butterbur
(Petasites hybridus)
A migraine preventive and antispasmodic – but only safe as a PA-free, standardized extract.
Buxus sempervirens
(Buxus sempervirens)
The backbone of formal gardens since antiquity, clipped into hedges and topiary — yet every part is strongly poisonous from steroid alkaloids.
Cabbage
(Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. alba)
The firm white head keeps all winter: raw as coleslaw, lacto-fermented as sauerkraut, and as a leaf compress an old household remedy.
Calendula officinalis
(Calendula officinalis)
Bright orange flower heads, the source of the classic wound ointment of the European home medicine cabinet.
California poppy
(Eschscholzia californica)
Brilliant orange poppy from California — not an opium plant: it contains no morphine. The aerial herb is traditionally used to relieve mild mental stress and tension and to aid sleep.
Capsella bursa-pastoris
(Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Heart-shaped seed pods give it its name; in folk medicine the herb ranks as the foremost styptic plant.
Capsicum annuum
(Capsicum annuum)
Ripe red fruits deliver roughly three times the vitamin C of oranges, while the carotenoid capsanthin supplies the vivid colour.
Capsicum chinense
(Capsicum chinense)
Habanero, Bhut Jolokia, Carolina Reaper: this species holds the heat records, above two million Scoville.
Caraway
(Carum carvi)
Its crescent-shaped fruits flavour bread and cabbage; brewed as a tea, carvone and limonene ease cramping in the gut.
Carpinus betulus
(Carpinus betulus)
Often mistaken for beech, it belongs to the birch family — marked by very hard wood and a habit of forming dense hedges.
Carrot
(Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
The vivid orange comes from beta-carotene; the storage root also supplies pectin, potassium and vitamin K1.
Catnip
(Nepeta cataria)
Cats react to its scent while people drink it as tea — a mildly calming herb of old cottage gardens.
Cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)
Its white head is made of thousands of unopened flower buds, harvested from July through October.
Celeriac
(Apium graveolens var. rapaceum)
The knobby autumn root of celery: grated raw for rémoulade, cooked as a soup base, carrying its typical phthalide aroma.
Centaurea cyanus
(Centaurea cyanus)
Its vivid blue comes from the pigment protocyanin and makes it the decorative touch in tea blends such as Lady Grey.
Chard
(Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris var. cicla)
Broad leaves on brightly coloured stalks; leaf and stalk are cooked separately because they need different times.
Chaste tree
(Vitex agnus-castus)
A symbol of chastity since antiquity — today an evidence-based women's remedy for premenstrual syndrome.
Chicory
(Cichorium intybus)
Blue flowers along the roadside and a taproot dug in autumn: roasted, it became the chicory coffee of the 18th century.
Chives
(Allium schoenoprasum)
Hollow tubular leaves and round purple flowers you can eat too — plus plenty of vitamin K1.
Chlorophytum comosum
(Chlorophytum comosum)
Grassy striped leaves and plantlets dangling on long runners — perhaps the most forgiving houseplant for beginners.
Cinnamomum verum
(Cinnamomum verum)
Ceylon cinnamon: the dried inner bark warms baking and tea, and carries far less coumarin than the common cassia type.
Clove
(Syzygium aromaticum)
Dried, nail-shaped flower buds whose eugenol has long numbed aching gums.
Colchicum autumnale
(Colchicum autumnale)
Naked lilac flowers in autumn, leaves only the following spring — the corm yields colchicine and is highly poisonous.
Coleus barbatus
(Plectranthus barbatus)
Called falso boldo in Brazil; its root contains forskolin, which pushes cells to produce more cAMP.
Coleus comosus
(Plectranthus caninus)
Marketed in 2001 as a cat deterrent; solid studies are missing and consumer groups called the advertising misleading.
Common centaury
(Centaurium erythraea)
A delicate, pink-starred meadow herb that ranks among Europe's most bitter plants — a classic traditional remedy for sluggish digestion and poor appetite.
Common chickweed
(Stellaria media)
The vitamin-rich wild green that grows almost all year and has long soothed itchy skin.
Common fumitory
(Fumaria officinalis)
The delicate field herb said since antiquity to stimulate bile flow and ease digestion.
Common rue
(Ruta graveolens)
An ancient protective and medicinal herb with a pungent scent – today only of historical interest because it is toxic and phototoxic.
Conium maculatum
(Conium maculatum)
A red-spotted stem and a mousy smell when crushed — the plant behind the execution poison of antiquity.
Coriander
(Coriandrum sativum)
Few herbs divide people so sharply: about one in eight tastes soap in the fresh leaves, while the seeds unite everyone.
Cornus mas
(Cornus mas)
Yellow blossom long before the leaves, then bright red stone fruit from August for purée and syrup — tart and rich in vitamin C.
Couch grass
(Elymus repens)
Perennial wild grass with aggressive white runners - a stubborn garden weed, yet its washed rhizome is a mild traditional remedy for flushing the urinary tract.
Cowbane
(Cicuta virosa)
One of the deadliest plants in Europe — a single bite of the root tuber can trigger violent cicutoxin-driven convulsions.
Cranberry
(Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Bright red bog berry from North America: cranberry juice and extract are used to help prevent recurrent bladder infections - the benefit is documented, but modest and not the same for everyone.
Crataegus monogyna
(Crataegus monogyna)
A thorny hedgerow shrub foaming white in May; its leaves and flowers support heart and circulation, but only after weeks of use.
Cucumber
(Cucumis sativus)
About 95 percent water: the most refreshing vegetable of summer — raw, pickled, or as a cooling slice on tired eyes.
Cucurbita pepo
(Cucurbita pepo)
Cucurbita pepo is a cultivated plant of the genus Cucurbita.
Cumin
(Cuminum cyminum)
Warm and faintly bitter from cuminaldehyde — the backbone of kitchens from North Africa to India.
Cyclamen persicum
(Cyclamen persicum)
Swept-back flowers above marbled leaves from October to March — the tuber beneath them is poisonous.
Cymbopogon citratus
(Cymbopogon citratus)
Its lemon scent comes not from citrus but from the citral in the essential oil of its slender stalks.
Daphne mezereum
(Daphne mezereum)
Fragrant pink flowers sit on bare wood long before the leaves appear — this protected shrub is strongly poisonous in every part.
Datura stramonium
(Datura stramonium)
Spiky seed capsules packed with black seeds that carry tropane alkaloids in wildly variable, unpredictable amounts.
Devil's claw
(Harpagophytum procumbens)
Kalahari tuber with a bitter claw: harpagoside from the secondary storage root is traditionally used for minor joint pain and digestive complaints.
Dieffenbachia
(Dieffenbachia seguine)
Dumb cane is no idle name: needle-shaped crystals in the sap can silence the voice for a while.
Dill
(Anethum graveolens)
Fine, feathery leaves and aromatic seeds: dill belongs with cucumber and fish, and its seed tea settles a bloated stomach.
Dipsacus fullonum
(Dipsacus fullonum)
Its spiky heads raised the nap on woollen cloth for centuries — hence the name; today it is the root that draws interest.
Downy hemp-nettle
(Galeopsis segetum)
An inconspicuous yellow-flowered arable herb whose silica-rich aerial parts were once used as a gentle cough remedy for mild respiratory catarrh.
Dracaena fragrans
(Dracaena fragrans)
A sturdy stem topped with arching, strap-like leaves — an undemanding houseplant that tolerates shady corners.
Dracaena trifasciata
(Dracaena trifasciata)
Stiff, yellow-and-green banded leaves that forgive almost any neglect; in Africa its fibres were twisted into cord.
Echinacea purpurea
(Echinacea purpurea)
Drooping purple ray florets around a cone-shaped centre; pressed juice from the herb is the genus's best-known cold remedy.
Eggplant
(Solanum melongena)
Its glossy purple skin owes its colour to the anthocyanin nasunin; cooked, it makes a nourishing vegetable.
Elecampane
(Inula helenium)
Bitter-aromatic root — classical tea for cough and bronchitis.
Eleuthero
(Eleutherococcus senticosus)
The spiny root-shrub of the Siberian taiga - a classic adaptogen recognised by the EMA in traditional use for symptoms of asthenia such as tiredness and weakness.
Epipremnum aureum
(Epipremnum aureum)
Trails for metres with heart-shaped, yellow-marbled leaves, forgiving both low light and erratic watering.
Eruca sativa
(Eruca sativa)
Jagged young leaves with a sharp, nutty bite; the pungency comes from the mustard glycoside glucoerucin.
Euonymus europaeus
(Euonymus europaeus)
In autumn pink capsules split open to reveal orange seed coats — a striking sight, and poisonous in every part.
Eyebright
(Euphrasia officinalis)
Traditional tea and eye-bath for irritated eyes.
Fagus sylvatica
(Fagus sylvatica)
Smooth silver-grey bark and coppery autumn foliage; the triangular beechnuts press into a rich, oily paste.
Fennel
(Foeniculum vulgare)
Feathery foliage and a clear anise scent; the ripe fruits hold up to six percent essential oil.
Fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum-graecum)
Smells bittersweet, like maple syrup; the seeds serve digestion internally and make a warm poultice externally.
Ficus elastica
(Ficus elastica)
Large, glossy leathery leaves with a red sheath on every new shoot; its latex once supplied rubber.
Fiddle-leaf fig
(Ficus lyrata)
The fiddle-leaf fig captivates with its enormous, violin-shaped leaves and has been one of the trendiest houseplants in recent years.
Field Horsetail
(Equisetum arvense)
Rich in silica — traditional tea for kidneys and connective tissue.
Filipendula ulmaria
(Filipendula ulmaria)
Creamy-white flower plumes with a sweet scent along streambanks, carrying salicylate-like compounds.
Flamingo flower
(Anthurium andraeanum)
The flamingo flower delights with its bright red, waxy-shiny spathes and, with good care, blooms for nearly the entire year.
Flax
(Linum usitatissimum)
The mucilage-rich seeds swell into a gel in the gut — a gentle, well-documented remedy for constipation.
Foxglove
(Digitalis purpurea)
A striking woodland plant whose heart-acting glycosides shaped modern cardiology – yet which is deadly poisonous.
Fragaria vesca
(Fragaria vesca)
Tiny berries far more fragrant than the garden strawberry — and leaves that make a tea of their own.
Fraxinus excelsior
(Fraxinus excelsior)
Reaching 40 metres, with pinnate leaves and jet-black winter buds — one of Europe's tallest broadleaf trees.
Galium aparine
(Galium aparine)
Tiny hooked bristles make it cling to clothing and fur — the reason it is also called cleavers.
Galium odoratum
(Galium odoratum)
Only as it wilts does the hay-like scent behind May wine appear — the work of the coumarin it contains.
Garden angelica
(Angelica archangelica)
The "root of the angels" — a stately aromatic herb prized for digestion and bitter liqueurs.
Garlic
(Allium sativum)
The smell appears only on crushing, when odourless alliin turns into sulphurous allicin.
Gentiana lutea
(Gentiana lutea)
Its root ranks among the bitterest things plants produce — amarogentin stays tasteable at extreme dilution.
Geum urbanum
(Geum urbanum)
Rub the freshly dug root and it smells of cloves — the eugenol inside is what gave the plant its name.
Ginger
(Zingiber officinale)
Its heat comes from gingerols and shogaols; use for nausea and travel sickness is well recognised.
Ginkgo biloba
(Ginkgo biloba)
Fan-shaped leaves on a living fossil whose form has scarcely changed in over 200 million years.
Glechoma hederacea
(Glechoma hederacea)
A creeping groundcover with kidney-shaped leaves that smells spicy and minty when crushed.
Goldfruchtpalme
(Dypsis lutescens)
An elegant indoor palm from Madagascar that releases plenty of moisture into the room and is harmless to cats and dogs.
Gotu kola
(Centella asiatica)
A creeping tiger grass from the wetlands of Asia: the triterpene saponins asiaticoside and madecassoside make this herb a traditional remedy for minor wounds and skin irritation, with standardised extract for heavy legs.
Grapevine (red vine)
(Vitis vinifera)
The red autumn leaf of the grapevine strengthens the veins - recognised for chronic venous insufficiency with heavy, tired legs.
Great mullein, Common mullein
(Verbascum thapsus L.)
The woolly-haired mullein provides soothing flowers traditionally valued as a mild cough tea for colds and a scratchy throat.
Greater celandine
(Chelidonium majus)
An old wart remedy with yellow-orange latex – but internally hepatotoxic and to be treated with caution.
Greater plantain
(Plantago major)
The trample-tough wayside herb with broad leaves - a traditional first-aid leaf for insect bites and minor wounds.
Green cardamom
(Elettaria cardamomum)
Aromatic spice from southern India whose seeds are traditionally used to support digestion.
Ground elder
(Aegopodium podagraria)
A carrot-and-parsley-scented wild vegetable with a triangular stalk, traditionally used against gout and rheumatism.
Hamamelis virginiana
(Hamamelis virginiana)
Flowers unusually late, September to November, in slender yellow threads; bark and leaves soothe irritated skin.
Hedera helix
(Hedera helix)
Climbs walls with aerial rootlets and stays evergreen; extracts from its leaves are well studied for cough.
Helleborus niger
(Helleborus niger)
Opens white flowers in midwinter, often through snow; its rhizome once served as sneezing powder and is poisonous.
Herb Robert
(Geranium robertianum)
The pungent, tannin-rich wild herb of hedgerows and walls, a long-standing folk remedy for diarrhoea and wounds.
Hippeastrum
(Hippeastrum vittatum)
The forced bulb opens large star-shaped flowers in midwinter — a living-room favourite, yet poisonous in every part.
Houttuynia cordata
(Houttuynia cordata)
Heart-shaped leaves with a striking smell; known in Chinese medicine as Yu Xing Cao and used for airway complaints.
Humulus lupulus
(Humulus lupulus)
Its resinous cones do more than flavour beer — as a tea they are an old remedy for trouble falling asleep.
Hyacinthus orientalis
(Hyacinthus orientalis)
One or two flower spikes can scent an entire room — Europe's foremost fragrant bulb since the 16th century.
Hyoscyamus niger
(Hyoscyamus niger)
Feared since antiquity as a powerful intoxicant — among the most toxic nightshades growing wild in Europe.
Hypericum perforatum
(Hypericum perforatum)
Crush the yellow flowers and they stain the fingers red — the source of the traditional red oil used on skin.
Hyssopus officinalis
(Hyssopus officinalis)
A blue-flowered mint-family herb of monastery gardens; an infusion of the flowering herb is an old remedy for stubborn cough.
Iceland moss
(Cetraria islandica)
A lichen, not a moss: its mucilage-rich yet bitter thallus is an EMA-recognised traditional remedy for soothing irritation of the mouth and throat, for dry irritating cough and for temporary loss of appetite.
Ilex aquifolium
(Ilex aquifolium)
Spiny leaves and red berries make holly festive greenery — and a frequent cause of poisoning in children.
Indian frankincense
(Boswellia serrata)
The aromatic bark resin of the Indian salai tree - its boswellic acids are studied in standardised extracts for osteoarthritis and inflammatory joint complaints. An ancient incense resin with modern but still limited clinical evidence.
Java tea (Cat's whiskers)
(Orthosiphon aristatus)
Tropical mint-family herb with long, whisker-like stamens; the leaf is drunk as Java tea to flush the urinary tract.
Juglans regia
(Juglans regia)
Known for its autumn kernels, yet medicinally it is the leaves that count — as a bath or compress for irritated skin.
Juniperus communis
(Juniperus communis)
The blue-black berry cones season game and give gin its name; brewed as an infusion they aid digestion.
Kohlrabi
(Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
Not a root but a swollen stem above the soil: the mild bulb is at its best raw, tender heart leaves included.
Laburnum anagyroides
(Laburnum anagyroides)
Golden flower chains in May, then pea-like pods — and it is that very resemblance that makes it dangerous to children.
Laurus nobilis
(Laurus nobilis)
Leathery leaves season braises and are lifted out before serving; their cineole also stirs the digestion.
Lavandula angustifolia
(Lavandula angustifolia)
Violet flower spikes above grey-green foliage; linalool and linalyl acetate carry the scent said to help with sleep.
Leek
(Allium porrum)
A mild relative of the onion: the white shaft of tightly rolled leaf sheaths flavours soups and stews from autumn into winter.
Lemon balm
(Melissa officinalis)
A crushed leaf smells instantly of lemon; folk medicine accordingly calls it the nerve herb.
Lettuce
(Lactuca sativa var. capitata)
Firm round heads of tightly layered leaves; at about 95 percent water it is very low in calories.
Lettuce
(Lactuca sativa var. crispa)
It forms no firm head but open rosettes; you pick it leaf by leaf from May through October.
Ligustrum vulgare
(Ligustrum vulgare)
A dense garden hedge with heavily scented white panicles; its black berries once yielded ink.
Lily of the valley
(Convallaria majalis)
Sweet scent and white bells in May — behind them sit cardiac glycosides that are dangerous even in small amounts.
Liquorice
(Glycyrrhiza glabra)
The sweet root is a traditional remedy for cough and stomach complaints — but because of its glycyrrhizin only for short-term use.
Lovage
(Levisticum officinale)
Its aroma recalls bouillon seasoning, hence its German nickname; the root is the part chiefly used.
Lythrum salicaria
(Lythrum salicaria)
Magenta flower spikes along banks and ditches; its name points to an old use for staunching bleeding.
Maize
(Zea mays)
Beyond the kernels, corn silk is used — the fine flower threads brewed as a tea for urinary complaints.
Malva sylvestris
(Malva sylvestris)
Leaves and flowers are full of mucilage that settles like a film over irritated mucous membranes.
Mandragora officinarum
(Mandragora officinarum)
Its branched, often human-shaped root made mandrake Europe's most legend-laden plant — and it is highly poisonous too.
Matricaria chamomilla
(Matricaria chamomilla)
Recognised by its hollow, domed flower base; the bisabolol in its oil underpins its use for stomach and gut complaints.
Melilotus officinalis
(Melilotus officinalis)
Dried, it smells of fresh hay; the coumarin behind that scent makes it a recognised remedy for the veins.
Mentha × villosa
(Mentha × villosa)
Soft, apple-scented leaves — the Caribbean mint that gives the mojito its name.
Menyanthes
(Menyanthes trifoliata)
Grows at the edge of bog pools with delicately fringed white flowers; its leaves rank among the strongest bitters.
Mercurialis annua
(Mercurialis annua)
Crushed, this arable weed gives off an odd, fish-like smell; today it plays no medicinal role.
Moringa
(Moringa oleifera)
Fast-growing tropical tree whose nutrient-rich leaves are widely marketed as a supplement, though human evidence remains limited.
Motherwort
(Leonurus cardiaca)
A calming companion for the nervous heart — the traditional "motherwort" of the mint family.
Myrrh
(Commiphora myrrha)
The reddish-brown oleo-gum-resin of a thorny desert tree - prized since antiquity as incense and a remedy for wounds.
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
(Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
Its bulb yields galantamine, an approved Alzheimer's medicine — while the plant itself is strongly poisonous.
Nephrolepis exaltata
(Nephrolepis exaltata)
Arching fronds for hanging pots and bathrooms; it needs humidity and is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Nerium
(Nerium oleander)
Adorns Mediterranean terraces with clusters of pink flowers — and ranks among Europe's most poisonous ornamentals.
Oat
(Avena sativa)
Green straw in summer, ripe grain as rolled oats: the beta-glucan in oats blunts the rise in blood sugar after a meal.
Ocimum tenuiflorum
(Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Grown in Indian temple courtyards as a sacred plant, tulsi smells spicier and sharper than Mediterranean basil.
Oenothera biennis
(Oenothera biennis)
Its yellow flowers open only in the evening; the seeds are pressed for an oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid.
Olive
(Olea europaea)
Gnarled, centuries-old trunks define the south — and not only the fruit is used, but the bitter leaves as well.
Onion
(Allium cepa)
Cutting the layered bulb releases sulphur compounds: a kitchen staple and an old household remedy for coughs.
Ononis spinosa
(Ononis spinosa)
Sharp thorns on poor pasture and pink pea-like flowers; the root is used to flush the urinary tract.
Oregano
(Origanum vulgare)
Only once dried does the herb reach its full pungent aroma — carried by carvacrol and thymol.
Ouret lanata
(Aerva lanata)
Ayurvedic stone-breaker herb from Sri Lanka, infused for urinary gravel — and used only in short courses of no more than seven days.
Papaver rhoeas
(Papaver rhoeas)
Paper-thin red petals that often drop after just a few days — the emblem of early-summer cornfields.
Parsley
(Petroselinum crispum)
Curly or flat leaves with around 160 mg vitamin C per 100 g — among the most nutrient-dense kitchen herbs.
Parsley
(Petroselinum crispum subsp. tuberosum)
A sturdy white taproot rather than leafy greens; at around 130 mg vitamin C it is among the richest root vegetables.
Parsnip
(Pastinaca sativa)
Only after the first frost does the root turn sweet and nutty, which is why it is lifted from late autumn into winter.
Passionflower
(Passiflora incarnata)
An exotic American beauty whose herb gently calms nervous restlessness and helps you drift off to sleep.
Pea
(Pisum sativum subsp. sativum)
Straight from the pod it tastes sweeter than shop produce — after picking, the sugar quickly turns to starch.
Pelargonium 'citrosum'
(Pelargonium citrosum)
Sold as a mosquito-repelling plant, an effect considered disproven; as a scented plant with lemon-rose foliage it still charms.
Pelargonium graveolens
(Pelargonium graveolens)
Its cut-edged leaves smell of roses when touched — the source of the rose geranium oil used in perfumery.
Pelargonium odoratissimum
(Pelargonium odoratissimum)
Its soft, velvety leaves smell distinctly of apple — a favourite in evening teas, sugar baking and fragrance care.
Peppermint
(Mentha × piperita)
Peppermint is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint.
Phalaenopsis
(Phalaenopsis spp.)
Butterfly-shaped flowers that last for months — the best-selling orchid for the windowsill.
Phaseolus vulgaris
(Phaseolus vulgaris var. nanus)
A knee-high bush form that needs no support; the pods are toxic raw and must be boiled hard for ten minutes.
Phaseolus vulgaris
(Phaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris)
The climbing form trained up poles and trellises — likewise edible only when thoroughly cooked, never raw.
Philodendron
(Philodendron hederaceum)
Glossy heart-shaped leaves on climbing stems — easy to keep, though oxalate crystals make it no plant to nibble.
Picea abies
(Picea abies)
Its pale-green May shoot tips make a resinous tea, while the needle oil is inhaled for colds.
Pinus sylvestris
(Pinus sylvestris)
Recognisable by the orange-red bark high on the trunk; young shoots and needle oil help clear the airways.
Plantago lanceolata
(Plantago lanceolata)
The roadside first-aid herb: crushed fresh onto an insect bite, dried as a tea for cough.
Poinsettia
(Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Its red petals are coloured bracts rather than flowers, and the milky sap irritates skin and eyes.
Populus tremula
(Populus tremula)
A breath of wind sets its leaves trembling; the bark holds compounds the body turns into salicylates.
Potato
(Solanum tuberosum)
Only the tuber is edible; green patches and sprouts contain solanine and should be cut away generously.
Primula veris
(Primula veris)
Nodding golden clusters in spring; the saponin-rich root loosens stubborn bronchial mucus, and the plant is protected.
Prunus laurocerasus
(Prunus laurocerasus)
Central Europe's most common garden hedge; chewing its leaves or kernels releases hydrogen cyanide.
Prunus spinosa
(Prunus spinosa)
White blossom on thorny twigs long before the leaves; the blue fruits only turn palatable after frost.
Pulmonaria officinalis
(Pulmonaria officinalis)
Its white-spotted leaves reminded early herbalists of lung tissue — hence both the name and its old use for cough.
Pulsatilla vulgaris
(Pulsatilla vulgaris)
Violet, silky-haired bells on dry chalk grassland; usable only when dried, as the fresh plant badly irritates skin.
Quercus robur
(Quercus robur)
Young bark peeled in spring holds up to 20 percent tannin, among the strongest astringents in herbal use.
Quince
(Cydonia oblonga)
Hard and tart raw, honey-scented once cooked: autumn's most aromatic fruit, rich in the pectin that sets jelly.
Radish
(Raphanus sativus var. sativus)
Small, red and sharp: the root is ready within a few weeks, and the leafy tops are edible too.
Red cabbage
(Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. rubra)
The red cabbage is a kind of cabbage, also known as Blaukraut after preparation.
Rhatany
(Krameria lappacea)
The tannin-rich red Andean root - a classic astringent for inflammation of the mouth and gums.
Rhododendron ponticum
(Rhododendron ponticum)
Large violet flower trusses; its nectar and honey carry grayanotoxins that can cause dizziness and vomiting.
Rhubarb
(Rheum rhabarbarum)
Rhubarb — perennial knotweed plant with tart stalks. IMPORTANT: leaves are toxic due to oxalic acid, only stalks are edible.
Ricinus
(Ricinus communis)
Castor oil is pressed from its mottled seeds — while the seeds themselves contain the highly toxic ricin.
Robinia pseudoacacia
(Robinia pseudoacacia)
Fragrant white flower clusters in early summer and a busy bee pasture; the flowers should be eaten only cooked.
Rosa canina
(Rosa canina)
Its pale pink hedgerow blossom ripens into autumn hips containing up to two percent vitamin C.
Roselle
(Hibiscus sabdariffa)
The fleshy calyces of this mallow plant make the tart, ruby-red hibiscus tea, which has shown a mild blood-pressure-lowering effect in studies.
Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
Needle-like leaves with a resinous scent — a tea for digestive complaints, a bath additive for tired muscles.
Roseroot (Golden root, Arctic root)
(Rhodiola rosea)
Arctic-alpine succulent with a rose-scented rootstock – a traditional adaptogen used for temporary stress symptoms such as fatigue and weakness.
Rubus fruticosus
(Rubus fruticosus)
Thorny canes and deep-black fruit in late summer; the young leaves make a tannin-rich tea.
Salix alba
(Salix alba)
Its bark is the source of salicin — the plant forerunner of acetylsalicylic acid.
Salvia elegans
(Salvia elegans)
Its leaves smell unmistakably of ripe pineapple, set off by bright red flowers that are used as well.
Salvia officinalis
(Salvia officinalis)
Grey-green, velvety wrinkled leaves; recognised as a gargle for sore throats and as a tea for heavy sweating.
Sambucus nigra
(Sambucus nigra)
Fragrant white umbels in June, black berries in autumn; the flower tea is the classic remedy for colds.
Sanguisorba officinalis
(Sanguisorba officinalis)
Dark red, cylindrical heads on damp meadows — folk-named blood drops, with a strongly tannin-rich root.
Savoy cabbage
(Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. sabauda)
Savoy cabbage is a variety or cultivar group of the plant species Brassica oleracea.
Sea buckthorn
(Hippophae rhamnoides)
Orange-red berries on thorny dune shrubs — one of the most vitamin-C-rich native fruits, often called the lemon of the north.
Sempervivum tectorum
(Sempervivum tectorum)
Once planted on roofs to ward off lightning; the juice of its thick leaves cools small wounds.
Senna
(Senna alexandrina)
A heat-loving shrub whose leaves and pods have provided a proven herbal laxative since the Middle Ages.
Silybum marianum
(Silybum marianum)
White-veined leaves, said in legend to come from the Virgin's milk; its fruits supply the liver compound silymarin.
Snap pea
(Pisum sativum convar. saccharatum)
Eaten pod and all: the thick-walled pods snap fresh from the plant and taste distinctly sweet.
Solidago virgaurea
(Solidago virgaurea)
Golden flower plumes in late summer; the herb is a recognised flushing tea for the urinary tract.
Sorbus aucuparia
(Sorbus aucuparia)
Orange-red berry clusters in autumn, ready only after the first frost and hard to digest raw.
South African geranium (Umckaloabo)
(Pelargonium sidoides)
South African geranium with dark red flowers – its root yields the Umckaloabo extract EPs 7630, used traditionally to ease common cold symptoms.
Spathiphyllum wallisii
(Spathiphyllum wallisii)
White, sail-like bracts above dark green foliage — one of the most popular green plants for home and office.
Spearmint
(Mentha spicata)
Warm and mildly sweet rather than cooling: its high carvone content clearly sets it apart from peppermint.
Spinach
(Spinacia oleracea)
Its reputation as an iron powerhouse rests on an old measuring error; brief blanching noticeably lowers the oxalic acid.
Stevia rebaudiana
(Stevia rebaudiana)
The Guaraní called it sweet herb: its leaves taste 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, with no calories.
Summer savory
(Satureja hortensis)
Called bean herb because it traditionally seasons legumes — pungent from carvacrol and thymol.
Sweet chestnut
(Castanea sativa)
Roasted chestnuts warm the winter while the leaves make a tannin-rich cough tea — both in use since antiquity.
Swiss cheese plant
(Monstera deliciosa)
The Swiss cheese plant impresses with its large, distinctively perforated leaves and is one of the most popular tropical houseplants.
Symphoricarpos albus
(Symphoricarpos albus)
Round white berries hang on into winter; children once popped them underfoot, but never ate them.
Symphytum officinale
(Symphytum officinale)
Its old German name points to knitting together — used as a salve on unbroken skin for bruises and sprains.
Tagetes patula
(Tagetes patula)
A classic bed companion for tomatoes: its roots release compounds that suppress nematodes in the soil.
Tanacetum parthenium
(Tanacetum parthenium)
A British folk remedy since the 18th century for preventing migraine — one or two leaves a day.
Taraxacum officinale
(Taraxacum officinale)
Yellow flower heads that turn into seed clocks; leaves, flowers and root are all usable.
Tarragon
(Artemisia dracunculus)
Narrow leaves with a mild anise note — one of the four classic fines herbes and the base of béarnaise.
Taxus baccata
(Taxus baccata)
Red, cup-shaped arils among dark needles; the plant is highly toxic and yet supplies a cancer drug precursor.
Tea plant
(Camellia sinensis)
Evergreen shrub whose leaves yield green, black and white tea.
Thuja occidentalis
(Thuja occidentalis)
In 1535 an infusion of young shoot tips saved a scurvy-stricken ship's crew — today that is purely history.
Thymus vulgaris
(Thymus vulgaris)
The classic cough tea for stubborn mucus; thymol and carvacrol thin it while acting antibacterially.
Tilia cordata
(Tilia cordata)
Drunk as hot as you can bear, lime blossom tea is the classic sweating cure at the start of a cold.
Tilia platyphyllos
(Tilia platyphyllos)
Flowers two to four weeks earlier than the small-leaved lime; both yield the same classic sweating tea.
Tomato
(Solanum lycopersicum)
The tomato is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable.
Tormentil
(Potentilla erecta)
A modest meadow plant with a blood-red root — a classic tannin remedy for diarrhoea and sore mouths.
Tropaeolum majus
(Tropaeolum majus)
Fiery, peppery edible flowers; their mustard oil reaches the urine and inhibits bacteria there.
Tulipa gesneriana
(Tulipa gesneriana)
In the Hunger Winter of 1944/45 its bulbs became emergency food — and, despite boiling, caused much sickness.
Turmeric
(Curcuma longa)
The orange-yellow rhizome stains hands and pots for good; curcumin gives the colour and sits at the centre of the research.
Tussilago
(Tussilago farfara)
Golden heads as early as March, long before the hoof-shaped leaves; the wild plant is no longer recommended.
Ulmus minor
(Ulmus minor)
A broadleaf tree with lopsided leaf bases and winged fruits, badly hit by Dutch elm disease for decades.
Umbrella sedge
(Cyperus alternifolius)
A marsh plant of the sedge family, grown as an ornamental umbrella-shaped houseplant.
Urtica dioica
(Urtica dioica)
Everyone knows its stinging hairs; the young leaves are mineral-rich and used to flush the urinary tract.
Vaccinium myrtillus
(Vaccinium myrtillus)
Only when dried does it act medicinally: 5 to 10 grams help with mild diarrhoea; fresh, it is simply fruit.
Valerian (herb)
(Valeriana officinalis)
Its pungent smell only develops on drying — and the effect sets in only after two to four weeks.
Vanilla planifolia
(Vanilla planifolia)
Picked green, the pod smells of almost nothing; only months of curing release the vanillin.
Veratrum album
(Veratrum album)
Root diggers repeatedly confuse it with yellow gentian — at times with fatal consequences.
Verbascum densiflorum
(Verbascum densiflorum)
A flower spike up to two metres tall whose individual blooms last a single day; only the fresh corollas are picked.
Verbena officinalis
(Verbena officinalis)
Slender spikes of pale lilac in cottage gardens — one of Europe's oldest nerve herbs.
Veronica officinalis
(Veronica officinalis)
An inconspicuous carpet in open woodland, brewed in folk medicine for airways and joints.
Vinca minor
(Vinca minor)
A glossy groundcover with blue-violet flowers along shaded edges; all parts are considered poisonous.
Viola tricolor
(Viola tricolor)
Tricolour flowers in violet, yellow and white; tea and baths belong to its old use for blemished skin.
Viscum album
(Viscum album)
A ball-shaped hemiparasite high in tree crowns, harvested in winter; its extracts are studied in supportive cancer care.
White deadnettle
(Lamium album)
The gentle sister of the stinging nettle: white blooms long valued for soothing irritated mucous membranes.
White Horehound
(Marrubium vulgare)
Classical cough tea — medicinal plant of the year 2018.
Wormwood
(Artemisia absinthium)
One of the most bitter medicinal herbs — a classic digestive bitter, with thujone-related caution rooted in its absinthe history.
Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)
Bitter compounds for digestion, traditionally also used for wound care.
Zamioculcas
(Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
Thick, glossy pinnate leaves that forgive weeks of drought — about the most undemanding houseplant there is.
Zucchini
(Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo convar. giromontiina)
Picked young while the rind and seeds are still soft; its yellow flowers can be stuffed and fried as well.