Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is a native Eurasian pine plant that grows on nutrient-poor, dry, rocky soils. Given the name, it should come as no surprise that scots pine is the national tree of Scotland. It is also important within the forestry industry due to its use for wood pulp and timber.

As its common name suggests, meadowsweet is a sweet-smelling herb that often grows in meadows. It is a perennial in the rose family and is native to Europe, the British Isles, and western Asia, and has also been naturalized in parts of North America. Filipendula ulmaria has been used to create potpourris and to add flavor to beers, wines, and stews.

The english oak (*Quercus robur*) is a deciduous tree native to Europe. It is a very long-lived tree; the oldest known specimens have been living for more than a thousand years. It is commonly represented in European mythologies as a symbol of strength, longevity, nobility, morale, and knowledge.

Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) is indigenous to almost all of continental Europe. It’s used commercially in papermaking, in the manufacture of fiberboard, and in energy production. The bark of black alder has been used for hundreds of years in dyeing and tanning. The leaves of this species are so sticky, some people put them on the floor of their homes to trap fleas.

European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is a large deciduous tree featured in Norse mythology and Scottish folklore. European ash is native to mainland Europe. This species is susceptible to the disease Ash dieback which is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. European ash often grows in basic soils on calcareous substrates.

Dropwort is an easy-to-grow member of the rose family. Its common name refers to the tubers that hang from its roots like drops of water. It grows easily in full sun to partial shade.

The common juniper, the most common of its species, is an evergreen conifer that thrives on every continent. It is grown for the horticultural industry as well as a decorative shrub. The wood is used to make woodcrafts, while the cones are utilized to flavor and enhance various foods. Some Native American cultures use the berries for medicinal purposes.

Cowslip is a flowering perennial. It was often found growing in cow pastures among the cow dung, which probably earned it its name, cowslip. This plant was often discussed in ancient literature and used as a source of wine and food.

Common reed (Phragmites australis) is a perennial flowering grass that is considered highly invasive. Common reed has thick roots and rhizomes that spread underground. Each plant produces thousands of seeds. The rapid growth of this species upsets the natural ecological balance by overwhelming native species, destroying habitats, threatening wildlife and increasing the potential for fires.

The common coleus is a plant that comes in a wide range of colors and leaf forms. This plant, also known as Coleus scutellarioides, is native to Southeast Asia and is used as an herbal remedy in various cultures. Common coleus is a narcotic used by the Mazatec people of Mexico. In Cuba, this plant is considered invasive.

Liverwort (*Hepatica nobilis*) is in the same family as the buttercup flower and is native to North America, Central and Northern Europe, and Asia. Its common name of "liverwort" is derived from the fact that the three-lobed leaf resembles a human liver in appearance. This plant is poisonous in high doses, so your actual liver won't appreciate it! Oddly, the plant produces pollen but not nectar - sometimes confusing bees!

Sorbus aucuparia, also known as european mountain-ash, is a deciduous tree native to Europe. It grows a slim trunk with upward-curving branches as it matures. Its admirable upright and dense branching gives the plant an oval crown. The juicy and soft clustered fruits are an excellent source of food for birds, while its yellow to plum foliage adds to its overall aesthetic appeal.

The fastest-growing of all spruces, the norway spruce (Picea abies) makes for a good roosting spot for owls and hawks. Its wood is used for paper, construction lumber, and musical instruments, and its needles can be used to brew spruce beer. It is also a popular choice for Christmas trees.

Cow parsley is a short-lived, herbaceous perennial. It can be easily confused with toxic plants such as poison hemlock and fool’s parsley, so it is best avoided. Its close resemblance to these toxic plants gave it another name: mother-die. Cow parsley can be invasive and tends to shade out native grasses. This also increases erosion rates by reducing the number of supportive root structures.

Lady's bedstraw (Galium verum) is native to Eurasia and North Africa but has become naturalized in parts of North America as well. The smell of the plant is a flea-repellant and it was sometimes used for bedding material in medieval Europe. Galium verum produces bright yellow flowers that can coagulate milk and have been used in cheese-making.

False christmas cactus gets its name from its flowering season; producing red purple pink or white flowers from fall to winter. Native to a small coastal strip on the east of Brazil this cactus prefers the shade and humidity of jungle conditions. In the wild hummingbirds pollinate the flowers.

Aegopodium podagraria, commonly known as ground elder, is a herbaceous perennial native to Eurasia. Origin of its common name lies in the shape of its leaves and flowers, somewhat similar to elderberry. Ground elder is often cultivated as an ornamental plant. Due to its fast spread via rhizomes, it is considered an invasive species in certain countries.

Blue fescue (*Festuca glauca*) is a clump-forming ornamental grass that is an evergreen perennial. Blue fescue is often planted for ornamental groundcover, but can become a weed if not carefully controlled. The Latin name Festuca glauca means "pale blue-grey."

A gorgeous houseplant, the rattlesnake plant, is the easiest of the Goeppertia lancifolia to grow. Known for its stunning tropical foliage, this plant is marked by various shades of green with wavy stripes. This plant prefers warmth, bright indirect light, and consistently moist but not soggy soil.

Graptopetalum mendoza is a small fleshy plant that spreads in clumps. Its pale green and tiny leaves grow in groups that eventually form into a circular pattern called a ‘rosette’. Its star-shaped flowers are attractive and white. It makes an excellent plant to grow in a rock garden.