The Kitchen Garden
OUR PLANT GLOSSARY
Everything in this garden is used by chefs in the UK to create flavour and add texture to their dishes. Browse our plant glossary below to learn more about our assortment of plants, what they look like and what they are commonly used for. See if you can identify which plants are which using our guide below.
Runner BEANS - PHASEOLUS COCCINEUS
Part of the legume family, this bean is commonly grown in English Gardens.
What they look like:
Green, large heart-shaped leaves that grow on a vine and usually need some support to keep them up. Our little beans haven’t yet fruited. By will do it later in the year.
Used in:
Summer salads, side dishes and aromatic curries.
CHILLI PEPPERS - Nahuatl chīlli
Chillis have been part of our diets since about 7,500 BC. We still love them today, and you’ll find variations of the species in lots of our products, like our ‘All Spice No Sausage’ Ve-Du-Ya Paste!
What they look like:
You can’t miss them, with their yellow and red peppers and dark green leaves.
Used in:
Anything you need to add a little heat too!
Common Chives - Allium schoenoprasum
A species of flowering plant closely related to garlic, leeks and shallots.
What they look like:
Tall green shoots with purple pompom-like flowers.
Used in:
Flowers add a pop of colour and texture to a dish. Chives are chopped and sprinkled over salads, potatoes, omelettes and more.
Courgettes - Cucurbita pepo
Courgettes or Zucchini are summer squash harvested when their immature seeds are still soft and edible.
What do they look like:
Our courgette plants are still young, but we hope to get lots from them later in the year. They have large green leaves that are slightly circular with 3 points.
Used in:
Tarts, salads, to make courgetti, and even cakes. Their flowers are often stuffed with fresh herbs and cheese.
Elderberry bush - Sambucus L.
The various elder species can be known as elderberry or elderflower; this plant commonly grows near farms as they love lots of organic matter.
What do they look like:
This distinctive bush has purple leaves with white flowers.
Used in:
The berries can make elderberry syrup or wine!
COMMON grape VINE - Vitis vinifera
Our producers use grape varieties to make our aged Balsamic Vinegars, so we have given these grapes pride of place under our Belazu sign. Although these vines may not be quite the right variety, they will still produce some sweet juicy grapes later in the season.
What do they look like:
Once grown, they will have a woody vine with large tooth-edged leaves. They can grow up to 17m in length.
Used in:
Grapes have been used for centuries to make wine and Balsamic Vinegar of Modena! They can also be eaten on their own or with cheese.
Kale - Brassica oleracea
Belonging to the cabbage family, Kale originates from the Eastern Mediterranean and Anatolia.
What they look like:
Kale has distinctive dark green curly leaves
Used in:
Best when steamed, roasted, or dressed with Rose Harissa or Tahini.
Lavender - Lavandula
A member of the mint family, Lavender has a distinctive smell and is found across Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and Asia.
What they look like:
Small shrub-like leaves with purple lavender flowers.
Used in:
Making oils and teas and flavour desserts like ice cream and tarts.
Lettuce - Lactuca sativa
It was first cultivated in ancient Egypt to produce oil from its seeds.
What they look like:
With a very distinctive shape, you’ll be able to find a whole box of lettuces growing in our garden.
Used in:
Perfect in salads, soups or as a wrap for a taco.
Marigolds - Calendula officinalis
Marigolds have a traditional use in various cuisines, particularly in Indian, Mexican and Thai cooking.
What they look like:
Vibrant flowers with yellow, orange, or red petals and a pungent aroma.
Used in:
Marigold petals add colour and a spicy, tangy flavour to salads, rice dishes, and soups or as a garnish.
Mint - Mentha spicata
Mint has been used worldwide for centuries, in teas, oils, and for its fresh scent.
What they look like:
Small, aromatic green leaves with a spreading growth habit.
Used in:
Commonly used to add refreshing flavour to beverages, desserts, salads, and savoury dishes.
Orange trees - Citrus sinensis
Orange trees have been cultivated for their sweet, juicy fruits for thousands of years. Spain is the top producer of orange trees, with over 35 million trees.
What they look like:
Evergreen trees with glossy green leaves and fragrant white flowers.
Used in:
Oranges are consumed fresh, juiced, or as flavourings in various dishes, desserts, and beverages.
Oregano - Origanum vulgare
A staple herb in Mediterranean cuisine for centuries.
What they look like:
Small, bushy plants with aromatic, grey-green leaves and clusters of tiny white or pink flowers.
Used in:
Widely used in Italian, Greek, and Mexican dishes to add flavour to pizzas, pasta sauces, meats, and vegetable dishes.
Redcurrants - Ribes rubrum
Redcurrants originate from Western Europe and are a common find in kitchen gardens around the UK.
What they look like:
Deciduous shrubs bearing clusters of bright red, translucent berries.
Used in:
Often used to make jams, jellies, sauces, and desserts, they can be added to baked goods or used as garnishes.
Rhubarb - Rheum rhabarbarum
Rhubarb is thought to originate from Siberia and was then brought to Europe during the 14th century.
What they look like:
Large, leafy plants with thick, red or green stalks and large, triangular-shaped leaves.
Used in:
Primarily used in sweet dishes like pies, crumbles, jams, and compotes, as the stalks provide a tart flavour.
Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary is a familiar aromatic herb used in Mediterranean cuisine for centuries.
What they look like:
Evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and small, pale blue flowers.
Used in:
Adds a fragrant, pine-like flavour to roasted meats, vegetables, soups, and marinades.
purple Sage - Salvia leucophylla
Sage has been used in cooking for centuries, particularly in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines.
What they look like:
Woody perennial herb with soft, grey-green leaves and violet-blue flowers.
Used in:
To enhance the flavour of stuffings, meat dishes, sausages, sauces, and herbal teas.
Strawberries - Fragaria × ananassa
Strawberries have been eaten since ancient times, first grown in Britain in the late 18th Century.
What they look like:
Low-growing plants with green leaves and white flowers, bearing juicy, red fruits.
Used in:
Enjoyed fresh, used in jams, cakes, pies, smoothies, salads, and paired with cream or chocolate.
Tomatoes - Solanum lycopersicum
These cherry tomatoes are thought to have been first cultivated in Mexico, where they were used in a huge array of culinary dishes.
What they look like:
not a difficult one to spot! Some of our tomatoes need a little more growing before we can harvest them. Smell the leaves to enjoy that signature tomato smell!
Used in:
All kinds of dishes like soups, stews, salads. They provide that all-important sweet rich base for a lot of our store cupboard essentials, including some of our pestos and cooking pastes.
Thyme - Thymus vulgaris
Utilized in the Mediterranean and European cuisines for centuries.
What they look like:
Small, woody perennial herb with tiny, aromatic leaves and small pink or purple flowers.
Used in:
Adds a savoury, earthy flavour to soups, stews, marinades, roasted meats, and vegetable dishes.
Woodland sage - Salvia nemorosa
Wildlife-friendly, this herbaceous, hardy plant is related to lavender, thyme and basil.
What they look like:
Tall purple flowers with soft, mint-like leaves.
Used in:
Garnishing cocktails and salads. The leaves can be added to salads or tea.
Violas - Viola × wittrockiana
Violas are edible flowers originating from Europe and Western Africa.
What they look like:
Small flowering plants with vibrant, delicate petals in various colours.
Used in:
Viola flowers are used as an attractive garnish or to add a mild, floral flavour to salads, desserts, and drinks.
