Plants & Fungi A - Z
Explore our profiles of plants and fungi.
These illustrated profiles contain a wealth of facts, including details on conservation, uses and habitats – as well as Kew’s connections with the species. They have been chosen to inspire interest in plants, detail our science and conservation work and showcase star plants in the Gardens.
This is a constantly growing resource with new profiles added every week - so do be sure to check back regularly.
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Hagenia abyssinica (hagenia)
A beautiful tree from African mountain forests, hagenia is much-used in local medicine.
More: Medicinal, Trees, Building materials
Harpagophytum procumbens (devil's claw)
Used for centuries by the indigenous peoples of the Kalahari as a medicinal plant, devil's claw is now also used in Western medicine.
More: Medicinal
Hedera helix (common ivy)
A woody climber native to Europe, common ivy has long been collected for winter decorations and is an important food-source for wildlife.
More: House plants, Medicinal, Ornamentals, Textiles and dyes, Traditions and beliefs
Heliamphora nutans (Venezuelan marsh pitcher)
Venezuelan marsh pitcher is a carnivorous plant from the mountains of Venezuela and Guyana. It has short cone-shaped pitchers with a small lid and nodding white flowers.
More: Carnivorous, Ornamentals
Helixanthera schizocalyx
A striking new mistletoe, recently discovered in the ‘lost forest’ of Mt Mabu in northern Mozambique, is currently known from just five collections made in the same small area.
More: Kew discoveries, Making the news
Helleborus thibetanus (tie kuai zi)
Helleborus thibetanus is a delicate hellebore, separated from its closest relatives in western Eurasia by more than 5,000 km.
More: Ornamentals
Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily)
The orange daylily bears a succession of striking orange-red flowers on long stems, but each flower lasts only one day, opening in the morning and closing in the evening.
More: Ornamentals
Hericium erinaceus (bearded tooth)
A wood-recycling fungus of conservation concern, bearded tooth has distinctive white football-sized fruitbodies, covered in icicle-like projections.
Heterospathe barfodii
Heterospathe barfodii is a critically endangered palm from Papua New Guinea with a striking white crownshaft and maroon young flowering stems.
More: Palms, Kew discoveries
Hevea brasiliensis (rubber tree)
Hevea brasiliensis, better known as the rubber tree, is the primary source of natural rubber.
More: Trees, Building materials, Gums and resins
Hierochloe odorata (sweet grass)
Hierochloe odorata is an aromatic grass native to Europe, Asia and North America, which has been used for incense and basketry by Native Americans.
More: Grass family, Traditions and beliefs, Textiles and dyes, Medicinal
Hoodia gordonii
Used for generations by the indigenous peoples of the Kalahari to quench their thirst, Hoodia gordonii is now widely used in the commercial production of slimming aids.
More: Medicinal, Beauty and cosmetics
Hordeum marinum (sea barley)
Sea barley is a wild relative of the well-known cereal barley (Hordeum vulgare).
More: Grass family
Houttuynia cordata (heart-leaved houttuynia)
Heart-leaved houttuynia is a creeping herb with fleshy stems and a scent that has been described as lemon, sandalwood, coriander or raw fish.
More: Food, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Hyacinthoides non-scripta (bluebell)
Bluebells, almost half the global population of which is found in the UK, can create a stunning carpet of woodland colour during the spring.
More: Making the news, Ornamentals
Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (chalara ash dieback)
Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus is a virulent fungal pathogen of ash trees that causes ‘chalara ash dieback’ in northern and central Europe and has recently spread to the UK.
More: Making the news, Fungi
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