Key plants in The Edible Garden at Berkley Castle

This plant steals the spotlight with its stunning bronze textured foliage and striking umbelliferous yellow flowers, a hit among pollinators. Not only is it visually appealing, but it also boasts numerous medicinal uses and a delightful sweet aniseed taste.

With its intense aroma, this herb is a versatile plant, lending its unique flavour to both culinary and medicinal creations. Known for its efficacy in treating liver diseases and biliary tract issues, it’s a staple in herbal teas and adds a delightful touch to pastries and puddings. Plus, it doubles as a natural moth repellent.

Popular in the 18th century, this vegetable offers a distinctive oyster-like taste. Its young roots add a zing to salads, while older roots enhance the flavours of stews. From June to August, it graces the garden with stunning purple star-shaped flowers, followed by enchanting dandelion-like seed heads.

Adorned with delightful blue star flowers on elegant stems. Its leaves can be added to salads, while its roots, when baked and ground, serve as a caffeine-free coffee alternative. In recent years, it has gained popularity in food manufacturing as both a sweetener and a source of fibre.

This versatile herb has long been used in medicinal and culinary purposes. It’s been used to soothe sore throats,
ease colds, and reduce fevers. Its bitter-tasting leaves lend a unique flavour to ales and beers, while its curly texture adds visual interest to the lower layers of the planting pocket.