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Every living thing needs plants to survive. From the food we eat to the air we breathe, and even the environments we live in, plants are the unsung heroes of our world. Since ancient times, whether using them in medicines, cosmetics or to decorate our homes, we have also learned how to use plants to boost our quality of life.
Throughout 2024, we celebrated just a dozen of the nearly 400,000 plant species we share the planet with. Here’s a roundup of each Plant of the Month from the last 12 months, each one written by members of our team.
January
Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) kicked off our ‘Plants of the Month’ for 2024. These hardy perennial flowers are native to Northern Europe with their Latin name translating to “milk flower”.
But the snowdrop is not simply a pretty flower, this species contains a molecule called galantamine which is approved to treat Alzhemer’s disease in over 70 countries. It works by breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Lectin agglutinin (GNA) also comes from the snowdrop. It acts as a pesticide and is currently being explored for use in antiviral drugs.
February
With Valentine's Day celebrated every year on 14 February, what could be better than roses (Rosa) for Plant of The Month?
Aside from their enchanting fragrance and beautiful colours, did you know that roses also have many benefits for skincare and wellness?
Rosa centifolioa is a common variety of rose that is used in the cosmetics industry. Packed with vitamin C and tannins, this variety offers toning and antioxidant benefits making it perfect to tackle the signs of aging.
Meanwhile, drinking rosehip tea (mostly produced from the seeds of Rosa rugosa and Rosa canina) is said to confer many health benefits. For example, rosehips are full of anti-inflammatory compounds such as galactolipids which may reduce inflammation and pain.
March
The famous eucalyptus is native to Australia so it’s no surprise that our Australian-born scientist, chose it as Plant of the Month for March.
Eucalyptus oil has been used for many years in balms, topical creams, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and is one of the main ingredients of the well-known vapour rubs used to ease cold and flu symptoms. Eucalyptus can even be used to relieve minor aches and pains
The principal component of eucalyptus oil is monoterpenoid eucalyptol which is thought to be produced by the eucalyptus tree, to both protect it from consumption by herbivorous animals (with the notable exception of the koala), as well as (somewhat counterintuitively) to protect it from wildfires.
The extremely flammable properties of eucalyptus oil are actually thought to prevent the trees from sustaining significant damage during bushfires, as the fire will burn too rapidly to allow enough time for the fire to significantly damage the main body of the tree. After a fire, epicormic sprouting occurs with fresh shoots emanating from the trunk, which is one of the reasons why the Australian bush can recover so rapidly once the fire has moved on.
So, the eucalyptus is yet another remarkable example plant from which naturally derived products with numerous applications can be used to enhance people’s quality of life.
April
Time for tea, anyone? Our April Plant of the Month was the tea plant, otherwise known as Camellia sinensis.
This evergreen shrub belongs to the Theaceae family and, as you can probably guess from its more common name, it is used to produce a variety of teas.
The leaf extract Camellia sinensis contains L-theanine as its most abundant amino acid and L-theanine’s calming effect is said to enhance concentration and learning.
Our patented memory complex, GBL-Memory¹ contains Camellia sinensis-derived L-theanine (as well as Fructooligosaccharides from Morinda officinalis) and has been clinically proven to improve Total Memory.
May
There was a strong link between May’s Plant of the Month and the festival of Beltane. Beltane marks the beginning of summer in the ancient Celtic calendar and was traditionally celebrated on 1 May when people would make flower crowns and decorate their homes with blooms from the hawthorn tree.
Also known as ‘The May Bush’ or ‘Crataegus monogyna', the hawthorn tree is packed full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and hawthorn berries are used in traditional medicines to help treat high blood pressure.
June
Meet Dianthus caryophyllus, better known as carnations.
These herbaceous perennials are cherished for their bright colours and enchanting fragrance. The sweet scent of carnations provides a calming effect, making them a popular choice in perfumes and aromatherapy products.
Carnation extracts are also frequently used in nutraceuticals for their antioxidant properties, helping to support health and wellness.
July
What could be more suitable for July (National Picnic Month!) than strawberries, a picnic staple?!
Strawberries, or Fragaria, are packed full of compounds which offer a wealth of health and beauty benefits. In the nutraceutical world; the antioxidants in strawberries, such as vitamin C, help support the immune system. In the cosmetic world; strawberries are often used as a natural exfoliant for skin brightening purposes. And In our world; there's nothing quite like the taste of a Scottish strawberry whilst watching Wimbledon of course!
August
With the sun shining and the hedgerows starting to bloom, we decided the juicy blackberry (Rubus) was the perfect choice for our August Plant of the Month.
A fun British pastime is 'blackberrying', which is foraging for blackberries in the countryside. You can find blackberries from August to early October but try not to be too greedy, birds and wildlife love the berries too!
Interesting fact: Blackberries aren't actually a berry, they're an aggregate-fruit (a fruit formed from several ovaries derived from the same flower).
The humble and abundant blackberry is sometimes considered a superfood. Blackberries are very high in vitamin C and have high levels of anthocyanins, which are a group of antioxidants that can prevent inflammation and protect against type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Anthocyanin-rich foods can also improve your memory and brain health!
Blackberries can be eaten raw or cooked in pies, crumbles, and jams. Delicious!
September
As summer flowers begin to fade, Asters bring a pop of colour to the late season. These star-shaped beauties bloom in late summer and early autumn, adding a lovely touch to the garden as the seasons change which made them the perfect choice for September’s Plant of the Month.
Fun fact: Asters are one of the birth flowers for September and are often called Michaelmas daisies because they bloom around St. Michael's Day 29 September.
Not only are Asters stunning but their leaves and flowers are also edible so you can add them to salads. Aster tea is often used in traditional medicines to treat aches and pains. Or, you can leave them unpicked for pollinators to enjoy!
October
Long before pumpkins took the spotlight, Neeps (aka turnips) were the original Halloween lanterns in parts of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. These were carved during Samhain to ward off spirits so in honour of Halloweens-past, we chose neeps for October’s Plant of the Month.
Beyond their spooky past, turnips are packed full of vitamin C which helps to protect cells from free radical damage when levels reach too high in the body. Whether lighting up Halloween or protecting the body, neeps are definitely worth celebrating!
November
We asked you - our followers - to choose the Plant of the Month for November and you chose… Rosemary or Salvia rosmarinus.
This hardy shrub has white, pink, purple or blue flowers and can be used as an ornamental plant in the garden, for fragrance, for food flavouring (it tastes great fresh or dried), and for medicine.
Rosemary contains phytochemicals, which are chemical compounds produced by plants to help them resist infections and being eaten by insects and animals.
Not only that, rosemary essential oil is used to treat many health conditions (including hair growth), and rosemary extract is used as a food antioxidant preservative.
There's not much this plant can't do!
December
Ho-ho-holly is synonymous with Christmas. The tradition of decking the halls with boughs of holly continues to this today and not just in the Christmas carol!
Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is also a very impressive plant. When we think of holly, we tend to think of its prickly leaves but did you know that holly can actually change its leaves?
For example, when holly leaves are munched on by deer, the leaves grow back spiky. Next time you see a holly bush, take a look at the upper leaves (which are out of reach) because they have smooth edges. It is only the lower leaves which are prickly.
