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Plants of Ireland

IE · 53.41°, -8.24°

We catalogue 96 plants documented in Ireland — 31 native and 65 introduced. Of these, 95 are edible and 51 have medicinal uses.

II

Edible for food + foraging

49

Plants with edible parts documented in Ireland. Always identify positively before harvest.

Allium flavum
Allium flavum
Allium flavum
ediblemedicinal
Amelanchier confusa
Amelanchier confusa
Amelanchier confusa
edible
Apple Serviceberry
Apple Serviceberry
Amelanchier lamarckii
edible
Arrow Head
Arrow Head
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Alismataceaeedible
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
edible
Bistort
Bistort
Polygonum bistorta
ediblemedicinal
Black Poplar
Black Poplar
Populus nigra
ediblemedicinal
Blackberry
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Broom
Broom
Cytisus scoparius
Fabaceaeedible
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
ediblemedicinal
Buxbaum's sedge
Buxbaum's sedge
Carex buxbaumii
edible
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Hemp Nettle
Common Hemp Nettle
Galeopsis tetrahit
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus sieversii
edible
Crowberry
Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
edible
Dewberry
Dewberry
Rubus caesius
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Eyebright
Eyebright
Euphrasia officinalis
Orobancheaceaeediblemedicinal
Field Garlic
Field Garlic
Allium oleraceum
Alliaceaeediblemedicinal
Flowering raspberry
Flowering raspberry
Rubus parviflorus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Great Burnet
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Rosaceaeedible
Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy
Glechoma hederacea
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum japonicum
ediblemedicinal
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Valerianella carinata
edible
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Rosaceaeedible
Marram Grass
Marram Grass
Ammophila arenaria
edible
Marsh Orchid
Marsh Orchid
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Orchidaceaeedible
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Meadow Buttercup
Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Menzies' burnet
Menzies' burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii
edible
Milk Vetch
Milk Vetch
Astragalus glycyphyllos
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
edible
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Paradise Apple
Paradise Apple
Malus pumila
edible
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass
Lolium perenne
edible
Pignut
Pignut
Conopodium majus
edible
Polygonum molle
Polygonum molle
Polygonum molle
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Red Dead Nettle
Red Dead Nettle
Lamium purpureum
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Redcurrant
Redcurrant
Ribes sativum
Rosaceaeedible
Rest Harrow
Rest Harrow
Ononis repens
edible
Rock Cress
Rock Cress
Arabis lyrata
Brassicaceaeedible
Rosa dumalis
Rosa dumalis
Rosa dumalis
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Salad Burnet
Salad Burnet
Sanguisorba minor
edible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

22

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Allium flavum
Allium flavum
Allium flavum
ediblemedicinal
Bistort
Bistort
Polygonum bistorta
ediblemedicinal
Black Poplar
Black Poplar
Populus nigra
ediblemedicinal
Blackberry
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Hemp Nettle
Common Hemp Nettle
Galeopsis tetrahit
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Dewberry
Dewberry
Rubus caesius
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Eyebright
Eyebright
Euphrasia officinalis
Orobancheaceaeediblemedicinal
Field Garlic
Field Garlic
Allium oleraceum
Alliaceaeediblemedicinal
Flowering raspberry
Flowering raspberry
Rubus parviflorus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy
Glechoma hederacea
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum japonicum
ediblemedicinal
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Meadow Buttercup
Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Milk Vetch
Milk Vetch
Astragalus glycyphyllos
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Polygonum molle
Polygonum molle
Polygonum molle
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Red Dead Nettle
Red Dead Nettle
Lamium purpureum
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Rosa dumalis
Rosa dumalis
Rosa dumalis
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

50

Non-native species established in Ireland. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Allium flavum
Allium flavum
Allium flavum
ediblemedicinal
Amelanchier confusa
Amelanchier confusa
Amelanchier confusa
edible
Apple Serviceberry
Apple Serviceberry
Amelanchier lamarckii
edible
Arrow Head
Arrow Head
Sagittaria sagittifolia
Alismataceaeedible
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
edible
Bistort
Bistort
Polygonum bistorta
ediblemedicinal
Black Poplar
Black Poplar
Populus nigra
ediblemedicinal
Blackberry
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Broom
Broom
Cytisus scoparius
Fabaceaeedible
Bulbous Buttercup
Bulbous Buttercup
Ranunculus bulbosus
ediblemedicinal
Buxbaum's sedge
Buxbaum's sedge
Carex buxbaumii
edible
Charlock
Charlock
Sinapis arvensis
edible
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Hemp Nettle
Common Hemp Nettle
Galeopsis tetrahit
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus sieversii
edible
Crowberry
Crowberry
Empetrum nigrum
edible
Dewberry
Dewberry
Rubus caesius
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Eyebright
Eyebright
Euphrasia officinalis
Orobancheaceaeediblemedicinal
Field Garlic
Field Garlic
Allium oleraceum
Alliaceaeediblemedicinal
Flowering raspberry
Flowering raspberry
Rubus parviflorus
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Golden-chain tree
Golden-chain tree
Laburnum anagyroides
Fabaceae
Great Burnet
Great Burnet
Sanguisorba officinalis
Rosaceaeedible
Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy
Glechoma hederacea
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Hairy rockcress
Hairy rockcress
Arabis hirsuta
Brassicaceaeediblemedicinal
Hybrid cattail
Typha glauca
Cyperaceaeedible
Japanese Knotweed
Japanese Knotweed
Polygonum japonicum
ediblemedicinal
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Keeled-Fruited Cornsalad
Valerianella carinata
edible
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Rosaceaeedible
Marram Grass
Marram Grass
Ammophila arenaria
edible
Marsh Orchid
Marsh Orchid
Dactylorhiza incarnata
Orchidaceaeedible
Marsh Willow Herb
Marsh Willow Herb
Epilobium palustre
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Meadow Buttercup
Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
Ranunculaceaeediblemedicinal
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceaeediblemedicinal
Menzies' burnet
Menzies' burnet
Sanguisorba menziesii
edible
Milk Vetch
Milk Vetch
Astragalus glycyphyllos
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
edible
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Paradise Apple
Paradise Apple
Malus pumila
edible
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial Ryegrass
Lolium perenne
edible
Pignut
Pignut
Conopodium majus
edible
Polygonum molle
Polygonum molle
Polygonum molle
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Red Dead Nettle
Red Dead Nettle
Lamium purpureum
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Redcurrant
Redcurrant
Ribes sativum
Rosaceaeedible
Rest Harrow
Rest Harrow
Ononis repens
edible
Rock Cress
Rock Cress
Arabis lyrata
Brassicaceaeedible
Rosa dumalis
Rosa dumalis
Rosa dumalis
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Salad Burnet
Salad Burnet
Sanguisorba minor
edible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Ireland?

96 speciess — 31 native and 65 introduced. Of these, 95 are edible and 51 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Ireland?

Common edible species include Allium flavum, Amelanchier confusa, Apple Serviceberry, Arrow Head, Bird's Foot Trefoil. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Ireland?

51 medicinal plants catalogued for Ireland, including Allium flavum, Bistort, Black Poplar, Blackberry, Bulbous Buttercup.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other europe

Andorra
AD
Albania
AL
Austria
AT
Bosnia and Herzegovina
BA
Belgium
BE
Bulgaria
BG
Belarus
BY
Switzerland
CH
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