A A A

Flowering plants this month

April

Borage (Borago officinalis, Fidloqqom)

The tiny star-shaped blue flowers of the Borage are now starting to appear. This plant has both edible and medicinal properties. The flowers can be tossed in salads and the leaves can be made into soup. Medicinal properties of the Borage in traditional Maltese medicine include cough treatment and anti-inflammatory.

Hairy Garlic (Allium subhirsutum, Tewm Muswaf)

The Hairy Garlic grows in garrigue and steppe areas as a herbaceous perennial with long leaves. The clustered flowers and green stalk, which are edible are star-shaped and are often encountered from mid-April.

Summer Asphodel (Asphodelus aestivus, Berwieq)

The very common Summer Asphodel flowers from January to April. It withstands winds, cold and even poor soil. Its Latin name Asphodelus refers to the fact that its tubers are not harmed by fire.

Giant Fennel (Ferula communalis, Ferla)

This common large herbaceous perennial is native to the Mediterranean region. The umbel-shaped flowers can be seen during this time of the year and although the plant looks like the fennel, it doesn’t have an aromatic odour and it is not edible.

Cape Sorrel (Oxalis-pes caprae, Ħaxixa Ngliża)

The very common Cape Sorrel, also known as the Bermuda Buttercup, flowers from December to April. Its bulbous roots remain alive throughout the year. The flower is native to Cape, South Africa, and was introduced as an ornamental plant in the Maltese Islands in the early 19th century.

Pine Spurge (Euphorbia pinea, Tengħud Komuni)

The Pine spurge is a very common shrub, traditionally used for several medicinal purposes. The bright yellow flowers bloom in winter and spring. A particular type of moth’s caterpillar lives on such shrub.