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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Ilex aquifolium (common holly)
Well-known as a festive winter decoration, common holly is one of Britain's few native evergreen trees.
More: Traditions and beliefs, Trees
Ilex fargesii (Farges’s holly)
Farges’s holly, named after the French missionary Paul Farges, is a Chinese holly with glossy dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers, followed by red berries.
More: Ornamentals
Illicium verum (star anise)
An evergreen tree from China and Vietnam, star anise is cultivated for its aromatic fruits that are used to produce a spice similar in flavour to aniseed.
Imperata cylindrica (alang-alang)
Alang-alang is considered one of the ten worst weeds in the world, but has many uses as a traditional medicine.
More: Medicinal, Grass family, Beauty and cosmetics, Textiles and dyes
Ipomoea batatas
A vine from the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), sweet potato is widely cultivated for its edible root tubers.
More: Food
Iris afghanica
Iris afghanica has been described as the finest plant introduction from Afghanistan, and the most superb of the regelia irises.
More: Alpines
Iris japonica (fringed iris)
Fringed iris is common in many parts of China and Japan and appears to have been cultivated in Europe since 1792.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal
Iris latifolia (English iris)
English iris, which is in fact native to France and Spain, is a tall, sturdy, bulbous iris with deep blue flowers in mid-summer.
More: Ornamentals
Iris sibirica (Siberian iris)
The striking Siberian iris was first brought into cultivation in the Middle Ages, and is still widely grown in temperate regions.
More: Ornamentals
Iris variegata (Hungarian iris)
Iris variegata has striking bicoloured flowers and is the source of many of the most colourful bearded iris cultivars.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Isoberlinia doka (doka)
Doka is a vigorously colonising African tree which often dominates the woodland belt that stretches from Guinea in the west to Uganda in the east.
More: Legume family, Building materials, Traditions and beliefs
Isoetes eludens
Part of an ancient group of plants related to the ferns, this species eluded discovery until 2007, hence its Latin name eludens.
More: Little and large, Ancient, Kew discoveries
Isoglossa variegata
A newly described rare species of forest floor herb, discovered growing in the glasshouses at Kew!
More: Kew discoveries
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