The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.

photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com A bee nectaring on purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) which is hardy in zones 3-8. More and more gardeners are adding native plants to their landscapes.

The ergot fungus, Claviceps purpurea, infects grasses and cereals. It produces alkaloids that are highly toxic to humans and animals. In 2023, the Ergot Working Group, comprising key UK industry ...