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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Berkheya purpurea (purple berkheya)
Purple berkheya is the only mauve to purple flowered species in the genus, most of the others being yellow or in some cases white.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Campanula betulifolia (birch-leaved bellflower)
The birch-leaved bellflower is a large-flowered species found in north-east Turkey.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Campanula thyrsoides (yellow bellflower)
Yellow bellflower is unusual amongst the campanulas in having yellow flowers, and is considered rare in many alpine countries.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Celmisia spectabilis (cotton daisy)
The cotton daisy is one of the more widespread species in the mountainous areas of New Zealand.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Textiles and dyes
Centaurea montana (perennial cornflower)
A low-growing perennial with beautiful, large, blue flowerheads, perennial cornflower is native to central and southern Europe.
More: Alpines, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Crocus baytopiorum
The stunning pale blue flowers of the Turkish Crocus baytopiorum make it one of the most distinctive Crocus species.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Crocus sieberi (Sieber’s crocus)
The corms of Sieber’s crocus are edible, apparently tasting of hazelnuts, and are eaten raw by mountain shepherds in Greece.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Dianthus carthusianorum (Carthusian pink)
Carthusian pink is an elegant, hardy, small-flowered Dianthus named in honour of the Carthusian order of monks.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop)
The common snowdrop is one of the most popular of all cultivated bulbous plants, and its flowering is traditionally seen to herald the end of winter.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Traditions and beliefs
Galanthus panjutinii (Panjutin’s snowdrop)
Galanthus panjutinii is an endangered snowdrop from Russia and Georgia.
More: Alpines, Kew discoveries
Galanthus woronowii (Woronow's snowdrop)
A snowdrop with wide, green, shiny leaves, Galanthus woronowii is currently the subject of research into sustainable harvesting of bulbous plants.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal, Alpines
Gentiana acaulis (stemless gentian)
Stemless gentian is a central European species and can be seen on the back of the Austrian € 0.01 (one euro cent) coin. It has also been chosen as the logo of the Alpine Garden Society.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Medicinal
Geranium farreri (Farrer’s geranium)
Farrer’s geranium is described as one of the most delicate and charming of all geraniums.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Gladiolus dzavakheticus (sword lily)
The eye-catching sword lily adds beauty to sub-alpine landscapes and lakesides, especially in foggy weather, when only its pink flowers are visible.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Saving species
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 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
Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake)
The spring snowflake is a popularly cultivated bulbous plant with delicate white flowers, and belongs to the same family as the snowdrops.
More: Ornamentals, Medicinal, Alpines
Lewisia rediviva (bitterroot)
Bitterroot was first described as new to science in 1813 from specimens collected during one of the first western expeditions across the United States to the Pacific coast, but the species was already well-known and used by local Native Americans.
More: Alpines, Food, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Narcissus cantabricus (white hoop petticoat daffodil)
The white hoop petticoat daffodil is named after the characteristic shape of its flower.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Nerine humilis (nerine)
Nerine humilis is a low-growing, pink-flowered bulb, found on rocky slopes in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, often flowering in huge numbers after veld fires.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Ononis rotundifolia (round-leaved restharrow)
Round-leaved restharrow is a beautiful, dwarf shrub with large, pink, red-veined pea-flowers and round, toothed, sticky leaflets.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Legume family
Oxalis hirta (tropical woodsorrel)
The late autumn flowering tropical woodsorrel was introduced into cultivation in the 18th century, but is not widely grown due to its untidy habit and flowers that only open in the sun, which can be rare in November.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Oxalis massoniana
Oxalis massoniana is a clump-forming perennial with hairy stems, narrow leaves and bright orange flowers; it is named after the Scottish botanist Francis Masson.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Great plant hunters
Papaver orientale (oriental poppy)
Few hardy, herbaceous flowers are more spectacular than the oriental poppy, a perennial that has long been popular in cultivation.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Paris japonica (Japanese canopy plant)
The genome of the Japanese canopy plant contains 50 times more DNA than the human genome and is 15% larger than the previous record holders (the marbled lungfish and a trillium).
More: Alpines, Kew discoveries, Food, Making the news
Persicaria affinis (knot weed)
This mat-forming perennial with smooth leaves and spikes of small pink or red flowers was once admired in the Himalaya by Sir Joseph Hooker, one of Kew’s early directors.
More: Alpines, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Primula beesiana (candelabra primula)
Primula beesiana is a popularly cultivated hardy perennial producing tiers of purple-red flowers in summer, and is especially dramatic when grown en masse.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Primula bulleyana (Bulley's primula)
Primula bulleyana is a candelabra primula from China with rich golden yellow-orange flowers.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Primula denticulata (drumstick primula)
The drumstick primula is the most common Himalayan primula in the wild and is very popular in cultivation.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Primula verticillata (yellow primrose)
An attractive perennial with elegant yellow flowers, Primula verticillata is native to north-east Africa and south-west Arabia, and is one of the parents of the Kew primrose (‘P. kewensis’).
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Primula vialii (orchid primrose)
Primula vialii is a striking perennial, with unusual spikes of pinkish flowers, tipped with red.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Rodgersia pinnata
Rodgersia pinnata is a large, spreading perennial with bold divided leaves, tall branching lower stems, and masses of small pink flowers.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Roscoea capitata
Roscoea capitata is a rare Nepalese plant with pink to purple flowers in a tight head held well above the leaves.
More: Alpines, Medicinal, Ornamentals
Roscoea purpurea (bhordaya)
Roscoea purpurea is a vigorously growing plant with flowers in a wide variety of colours, usually purple, but also pink, white and rarely bright red.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals, Medicinal
Saxifraga burseriana (Burser's saxifrage)
Most saxifrage species are associated with spring and early summer, but the flowers of Burser’s saxifrage can be produced amid the snow, and during the bleak and dull weather of mid-winter.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Silene multifida (fringed campion)
Fringed campion is a tall perennial with white, frilled flowers.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Silene schafta (autumn catchfly)
Autumn catchfly is a popular plant for a rock garden, flowering at a time when most other alpines are long finished.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus (Chilean blue crocus)
Chilean blue crocus has brilliant blue flowers, and was thought for many years to be extinct in the wild.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Thymelaea hirsuta (mitnan)
Mitnan is a yellow-flowered desert shrub, the leaves of which are used in traditional medicine and the branches and bark are woven to make strong rope.
More: Textiles and dyes, Medicinal, Alpines
Trillium nivale (snow trillium)
Snow trillium is one of the earliest alpine plants to bloom in spring and often flowers as the snow melts around it.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Tropaeolum tricolor (three-coloured Indian cress)
Three-coloured Indian cress is a delicate, colourful climber with thread-like stems and small, bright red, purple and yellow, long-spurred flowers.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Tulipa sprengeri
Extinct in the wild, Tulipa sprengeri is a late-flowering, bright-red tulip with small flowers and shiny green leaves.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Vallea stipularis (capuli)
Vallea stipularis is a beautiful, evergreen, South American shrub with masses of pinkish-red or crimson, bell-shaped flowers.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Verbascum dumulosum (shrubby mullein)
Shrubby mullein is found only among the ruins of the ancient city of Termessus in Antalya, southern Turkey.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
Viola cornuta (horned pansy)
A popular bedding plant with a light fragrance, horned pansy is native to the Pyrenees.
More: Ornamentals, Alpines
Weldenia candida
Weldenia candida grows naturally on volcanic slopes and craters, and was first introduced to cultivation in 1893.
More: Alpines, Ornamentals
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