Ivy-leaved toadflax

If you are heading out to the countryside in search of plants to study then the ivy-leaved toadflax may be one of the first you notice before you get out of town into the fields, hedgerows and woodlands.

As pictured, a favourite haunt of this widespread non native is on walls, particularly old and crumbly walls like those found around churches. The plant is technically ever green and even the snap dragon – like flowers may be encountered at any month. The tiny leaves look very much like the true evergreen ivy (Helix hedera) of our woodlands but the two species are in no way related.

Ivy-leaved toadflax is a member of the plantaginaceae or plantain family and is native to the Mediterranean region.

Although not commonly listed in wild food manuals Cymbalaria muralis is an edible plant and has a flavour fairly similar to cress. Add to this its year round availability of green parts and its habit of hanging around on walls near people you have a few pretty good reasons to start including this in your wayside nibbles.

As always, your wild plant identification must be 100% accurate if you are considering eating or utilising the plant for medicine.

There is little else to confuse this plant with if you are paying attention and referring to a reputable field guide but joining a foraging course with an expert provider is a more certain way to become familiar with this and the many other useful wild plants in our countryside.

You can find out more about our foraging courses by visiting https://www.woodland-ways.co.uk/book-online-spring-foraging-course-2.html and https://www.woodland-ways.co.uk/book-online-autumn-foraging-course-3.html