Plants that start with B

Plants that start with B

The most well-known plants and fungi, listed by their common names.
Photo of beet
FotoDawg / CC BY-SA

Bis forBeet

Scientific name: beta vulgaris
Beets are an edible root vegetable, usually a very dark red. They can be eaten raw in salads, steamed or pickled. The stems and leaves of some varieties are also edible and can be used in the same way as spinach.
Vegetables
Photo of bell peppers
Joe Beasley / CC BY-SA

Bis forBell Pepper

Scientific name: capsicum annuum
The bell pepper is a medium sized fruit that ranges in colour from green to yellow to red. Unlike their cousins the chili, bell peppers are mild and sweet and are often eaten raw in salads, or cooked on pizza. Bell peppers are also called capsicums.
Fruit, Plants
Photo of blueberries
Nadia Prigoda-Lee / CC BY-SA

Bis forBerry

A culinary berry is any small, edible fruit, such as strawberries or raspberries. True botanical berries are defined by how the fruit was formed, and neither strawberries or raspberries are true berries. True berries include blueberries, tomatoes, capsicums, cranberries and grapes. There are many other botanical berries that are not edible. All of these true berries have the fruit made from a single ovary with the seeds inside.
Plant parts
Photo of a cluster of birch trees
Rick Harris / CC BY-SA

Bis forBirch

Scientific name: family: betulaceae
Birch are deciduous trees related to the oak and beech. They are found in many cooler places in the northern hemisphere. Birch are small trees that are grown in gardens for their attractive white bark.
Plants
Photo of a bird of paradise plant
Sarcozona / CC BY-SA

Bis forBird of paradise

Scientific name: strelitzia reginae
The bird of paradise is a large shrub native to Africa, also called the crane flower. They have very large leaves and a distinctive flower, and can grow to around 2-3 metres tall. They will tolerate both drought and mild frost.
Plants
Photo of blackberries
Steve Jurvetson / CC BY-SA

Bis forBlackberry

Scientific name: rubus fruticosus
Blackberries are the fruit of a very thorny plant closely related to the raspberry. They spread quickly by sending roots under the ground that then sprout new plants. They can easily get unmanageable and are hard to keep under control because of the thorns. Today, you can buy thornless blackberries. Blackberries are most often used to make jam.
Berries & drupes
Photo of blackcurrants
Foodista / CC BY-SA

Bis forBlackcurrant

Scientific name: ribes nigrum
Blackcurrents are a small berry related to redcurrants and gooseberries. They are used mainly for their juice, and made into drinks or cordials. Blackcurrents have a very, very high vitamin C content, with 100 grams of the fruit providing 3 times what you need each day.
Berries & drupes
Photo of bleeding hearts flowers
Gumdropgas / CC BY-SA

Bis forBleeding hearts

Scientific name: lamprocapnos (formerly dicentra) spectabilis
Bleeding hearts, or Dutchman's trousers, is a plant native to Asia. It likes mild to warm climates, a semi-shaded position and moist soil. It has very interesting flowers, and makes a good garden plant.
Plants
Photo of trees in full bloom
Tiberiu Ana / CC BY-SA

Bis forBloom

A bloom might be a single flower, all the flowers on a plant, or the fact that the plant is flowering. The trees in the picture are in full bloom.
Plant parts, Gardening
Photo of blueberries
Kyle McDonald / CC BY-SA

Bis forBlueberry

Scientific name: vaccinium cyanococcus
The blueberry is the fruit of a small bush. You can eat them fresh, but they are also sold frozen, dried and puréed. You can use blueberries in jams, pies, muffins, snack foods, and cereals.
Berries & drupes