Allium ursinum or wild garlic

Allium ursinum, also known as wild garlic or bear leek, is a wild relative of chives and is native to Zagori. The Latin name is due to the brown bear's taste for the bulbs and its habit of digging up the ground to get at them; they are also a favourite of wild boar

Wild garlic also known as ramsons or bear leek, is a wild relative of chives and is native to Zagori. The Latin name is due to the brown bear’s taste for the bulbs and its habit of digging up the ground to get at them;…

Cichorium intybus – Asteraceae

Cichorium intybus - Asteraceae - Zagori, Greece

Greek: αγριοράδικο, πικροράδικο, πικραλίδα Cichorium intybus, is a somewhat woody, perennial herbaceous plant usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. Cichorium intybus has a long tradition of use globally. Historically, chicory was grown by the ancient Egyptians as a medicinal plant, coffee…

Spring wild asparagus

April is the month to gather wild asparagus in the Zagori region of the National Park of Pindus, Greece

Greek:  άγρια σπαράγγια April is the month to gather asparagus in the Zagori region of the National Park of Pindus, Greece. A walk in the woods of, mostly Quercus coccifera trees, will reward you with the tasty asparagus shoots. Bear in mind that only…

Plants of Pindus

Melissa officinalis or Lemon balm

The nature in Greece is of great diversity. There are more than 6,000 plant species recorded, many of which are endemic mostly due to the isolation of the numerous mountains and islands. The mountainous area of the two National Parks, Vikos-Aoos and Valia Calda (or Pindus…

Urtica urens

Urtica urens, can be collected in the mountains of Epirus in the Zagori region, within the National Park of Vikos-Aoos, during spring time. A smaller and rarer subspecies can be found in higher altitudes of about 1500m during spring and autumn

Greek: Τσουκνίδα Urtica urens, a herbaceous annual plant species of the genus Urtica that abounds in the mountainous region of Zagori in Northern Greece. It  can be found almost everywhere, by the paths, treks, gardens, meadows … Urtica urens, commonly known as annual nettle, dwarf…

Greek mountain oregano

Formerly listed botanically as Origanum heracleoticum, Greek Oregano is one very spicy herb

Greek: ρίγανη Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (Greek oregano) is related to the herb marjoram, oregano also being known as wild marjoram. It is a perennial, although it is grown as an annual in colder climates, as it often does not survive the winter months. It…

Melissa officinalis

Melissa officinalis or Lemon balm

Greek: μελισσόχορτο Melissa officinalis (lemon balm), also known as balm or balm mint and not to be confused with bee balm (which is genus Monarda), is a perennial herb in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to center-southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It is…