Bogbean

The Bogbean flower spikes grow above the water on tall stems, with white feathery star-shaped flowers, fringed inside with long white hairs. It gets its name from its leaves, that look like those of broad beans. The emergent leaves are trifoliate, having three oval leaflets.

Bogbean’s flower from May to July, in shallow water. They are also semi-aquatic in fens and bogs.

It is widespread throughout Britain, but commonest in the north and west of England.

The Bogbean is the County flower of Renfrewshire.

It is known locally as buckbean, marsh trefoil, bog-nut and ‘Bog Hop’, which refers to the use of Bogbean, instead of Hops, to flavour beer in Northern England and parts of Europe.