BASILS (Annuals)
- SPICY GLOVE-small globe shaped ornamental type.
Culinary. Protect from leaf miners in fall. Use sticky bars
to trap.
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SWEET BASIL - Most common, easy
to grow. Large glossy green leaves. Anise flavored. Great
for pestos. The most popular and a favorite of all good
cooks. A must for good basil vinegars. Used primarily in
seasoning spaghetti sauces, stews, soups and many other
dishes.
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PURPLE RUFFLES - easy to grow,
not used too much in cooking, however, great for adding
a couple of leaves to the sweet basil in making vinegars,
to give it a champagne pink color.
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MEXICAN SPICE - Excellent in cooking
and making vinegars-pungent flavor, stems dry beautifully
- great for dried arrangements, tussie mussies, potpourris
and great just to walk into the garden and run your hand
over-makes your day.
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CINNAMON - Excellent in cookies,
cakes, and another one to add to arrangements, green or
dried just for adding aroma. A favorite.
BAY LAURES (Perennial)
A marvelous plant that can be grown in a large
container. If planted in the ground it could reach a height
of 40 ft. but, you can control its height in a pot. It can freeze,
most particularly during the extreme low wind chill days. The
cold winter winds can be devastating. Plant in a large pot,
make it convenient to bring in, in the winter. Place outside
in the spring. Fresh bay leaves are hard to beat, especially
when used in butters and spreads.
CATNIP (Perennial)
Makes a soothing and sleep-inducing tea. Can
be sewn in sachets or pillows to create a "sleep pillow". Cats
love it. They will wallow in the bed where it grows. If this
bugs you, you can plant some in a hanging basket. It will cascade
and have blue blooms, when it matures
CHAMOMILE (Annual)
- GERMAN-Considered an annual - however can be taken
into the greenhouse and carried over the winter in more
southern localities. The flowers are used as a tea. It is
used in ointments and salves and the tea calms, soothes,
and gives relief for spasms and cramps. It will grow to
18" in full sun to part shade. Like catnip it can also be
made into a "sleep pillow".
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ROMAN - Low growing 6-9 inches,
with tall flower stalks, makes a nice ground cover. Releases
a pleasing odor when walked on, for which it was used historically.
CHERVIL - (Annual)
An annual, which likes the cooler weather.
Excellent for seasoning egg dishes. Use the delicate white flowers
in flower arrangement.
CHIVES - (Perennial)
- ONION Used in many dishes - such as spreads, butters,
baked potatoes, soups, stews and more. The flowers are lavender,
used in salads. Chives can be blended in water and used
as an insect repellent or grown among plants that may harbor
unpleasant insects. Chives, garlic, onions and leeks make
excellent repellents.
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GARLIC - Has a delicate garlic
flavor - when dried will not hold its flavor as well as
the onion chive, but is great in the same manner as a fresh
addition to foods. Its flower is white and also can be eaten,
add to salads. Flowers of both chives can be floated on
punch bowls.
When trimming tops of chives, cut them about
1/2 inch from the ground. It will then produce new growth. These
need to be propagated by root division in about 3 years. A must
in every garden.
COMFREY (Perennial)
The Indians refer to this plant as 'boneknit'.
It is believed to mend broken bones, relieve sore muscles and
stop bleeding, by using it in the form of a compress. It is
now used in face creams, which is said to clear certain skin
problems, such as acne and brown spots. This plant is propagated
from root division (cutting). It can be slightly invasive, but
makes a beautiful blue flower that can be used in arrangements.
CONE FLOWER (Echinacea purpurea - Perennial)
Has a beautiful pink daisy like flower-excellent
for cutting flower, is a hardy perennial. An extract of the
root is believed to enhance the immune system, cleanse the block
and slow the aging process. Grows to 3' in height and in full
sun to evening shade.
CORIANDER - (Annual)
Also known as Chinese parsley, an annual used
in latin dishes such as salsa, can be blended into a pesto for
later use for butters, spreads and many other cooked foods.
It likes full sun, but does not like the summer heat, which
causes it to bolt quickly and go to seed.
CILANTRO - (Annual)
An excellent substitute for Coriander, this
tender plant will freeze back, has an excellent flavor and has
an even stronger flavor. Keep the prickly green flowers cut
off; use the flower spike in stir frying, chopped like a scallion.
Grow in full sun to part shade and once established, it's tough.
DILL - (Annual)
Dillweed (the leaves) is a favorite for many
dishes. The seeds are used in pickling and vinegars. Cool weather
plant. Harvest the outside leaves. Best seeded direct into the
soil to prevent early bolting.
FENNEL- (Annual - will winter over if
protected - in southern area.)
- BRONZE - Beautiful in your garden due to the outstanding
color; is great in soups, fish or chopped in salad. Grows
to 4' annual.
GARLIC - (Annual)
- SILVER SKIN- small bulbs are excellent in cooking,
alae considered an excellent source for different health
reasons. An annual which must be planted in the fall - September
- October and will mature in the months of June - July in
our area. Excellent for all types of dishes.
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ELEPHANT - Produces a very large
head with big cloves, likes moist conditions and needs time
for development as does the Silver skin. It is a favorite,
because It's size makes it easier to chop, just doubling
the amount called for in recipes as it is much milder than
the smaller types. It will be 8 times larger than the smaller
ones. Great to plant near roses and other plants that are
prone to be bothered with aphids or white flies.
GERANIUMS - Scented - (Perennial -
needs winter protection)
Lemon Rose, Rose, Peppermint, Snowflake, Peach,
Apple, Cinnamon, Ginger, Lemon-Lime, Lime, Chocolate and many
others. Are used as an excellent addition to cookies, cakes,
teas and other desserts, in addition to being used in oils,
vinegars and potpourris.
HOREHOUND - (Perennial)
Once used extensively in medicines. Grows to
3'. Is a hardy perennial. Makes a great addition to the herb
garden. Used in making of cough drops, cough syrups and candies.
LAMBS EARS - (Perennial)
Grown for an ornamental, a good edging plant
for the herb garden, needs part shade.
LAVENDER - (Perennial)
- ENGLISH - Grows to 2 ft. is bushy, full and seems
easier to grow than the French.Cannot tolerate extreme heat,
so protect from the evening sun, and you may save it. Used
in perfumes, sachets, all types of cosmetics, and can be
used for making breads, syrups and honeys. Rub on insect
bites to ease pain and promote healing.
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FRENCH - Not as robust as the English,
can grow to 2 ft., has smaller serrated leaves. All lavenders
are used in potpourris, bath salts, sachets and many cosmetics.
LEMON BALM - (Perennial)
A hardy perennial in our area, can be invasive,
but not so much that you can't handle it. It can be considered
a friendship plant, as it has so many qualities and uses, anyone
would be happy to have a starter plant. It can be propagated
from the separation of root system as well. It makes a wonderful
tea, is used in many dishes calling for a lemon flavor, such
as breads, cookies and others.
LEMON GRASS - (Perennial - must be winter
protected)
A relative of the Pampas Grass, not as dangerous
to handle, grows to 4 ft. The strongest lemon flavor is in the
lower end of the stem (small bulb) section. Makes a great tea,
also a substitute for lemon in foods such as sauces and etc.,
harvest the stem right down to the ground level and chop like
a scallion. Grows from full sun to part shade. Produces the
most lemon oil that is used in many household products as well
as used as a culinary herb. The tops will burn during a freeze,
the entire plant needs to be mulched and protected from freezes.
LEMON MINT - (Perennial)
Another great lemon flavor, especially in teas.
An annual that will grow to 3 ft. Grow in full sun, very showy
LEMON VERBENA - (Perennial)
The strongest of the lemon herbs, grows to
8 ft. with beautiful lavender flowers. Does best when cut back
to control sprawly growth. Is excellent used in teas, dried
for later uses in teas, cakes and cookies. Protect from bitter
cold winters.
LOVAGE - (Biennial)
A great salad or soup herb. A biennial such
as is the parsley, does like a lot of water. Likes sun to part
shade. Does need protection in winter months. Used like celery
in many dishes.
MARJORAM - (Annual - can winter over
in greenhouse)
Sweet - a mild oregano - every cook needs one
in their herb bed or window box. Used in many meat and vegetable
dishes. Grows from 6-9 inches. Needs full sun and moderate water.
MINT - (Perennial)
Apple, Chocolate, Corsican, ENGLISH, Lemon-Lime,
Lime, Orange, Peppermint, Pineapple, Spearmint, and Wintergreen,
to name a few. There are many types of mints and many uses.
It is invasive, but can be contained by planting in large pots
or encircling the desired area with a metal trim placed in the
ground, below the root system depth. Likes moist soil and will
grow well in sun or shade. Keep the plant well trimmed, and
if you remove some of the root growth, replace the soil to keep
the plant healthy.
OREGANO - (Perennial)
Italian - Relative to the Marjoram - stronger,
used in many dishes - ITALIAN foods - Latin foods and many more.
A must. A perennial that needs some protection in winter.
Mexican - Used in the same manner as all other
oreganos, especially in Latin foods. A nice plant to put in
a large pot, protect from extreme heat and cold.
PARSLEYS
- ITALIAN - Large flat leaf. Great for chopping for
making pestos and dishes of all sorts. Used in many foods,
salads, spreads, butters, meats and vegetables.
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CURLY LEAF- A beautiful plant in
the herb garden, very hardy,
wonderful in all dishes.
All Parsleys are biennials, some get very
large. Use the very bottom leaves first for cooking. Parsley
is a great source of iron, magnesium, and iodine. You can
grow both kinds in full sun to part shade.
PATCHOULI (Perennial)
Native to India, great-smelling, tender perennial
will not tolerate dry conditions or much cold. Should winter
over in greenhouse. Used in cologne and perfumes, the smell
is distinctive and very pleasing. Used in sachets or potpourris
using the stems, leaves and flowers. Reaches 4 ft.
PENNYROYAL - (Perennial
An excellent flea and mosquito repellent, this
is a strong smelling mint, and easily grown as a ground cover.
Makes an excellent hanging basket or pot herb, but needs the
rootball trimmed back and new soil added several times a year.
Planted around pet quarters will repel fleas. Rubbing pest with
fresh Pennyroyal works great.
PEPPERS - (Annual)
Chili, Jalapeno, Serrano and many others are
wonderful plants to add to the herb garden, as is one of your
important spices to have on hand and used sparingly. Serranos
are excellent and a compliment to vinegars.
ROSEMARY - (Perennial)
There are many Rosemarys - the Prostrate which
is a low growing, sprawling plant reaching 2-3 ft in height.
Growing in large clay pots in our area is recommended, so they
may be brought in during freezing weather.
The upright types can get quite large - up
to 6-8 ft. and get full when trimmed periodically. Some of the
uprights are more cold hardy, such as the Arp. All need some
winter protection and do well if planted more in an enclosure
and protected from low chill factor. The bitter cold winds do
the most damage. An excellent culinary herb, used in many vegetable
dishes, teas and baked goods. It is excellent on baked chicken.
Pine Scent Rosemary is an upright type that
has a strong pine aroma, is used in many arrangements at yuletime.
RUE - (Perennial)
A hardy perennial growing to 2 ft. bluish gray
foliage and yellow button flowers. Used as an insect repellent.
Can cause a rash on some people, especially during the sunny
part of the day.
SAGE - (Perennial)
- GARDEN SAGE - One of the Mediterranean herbs, that
does not like to be in soggy soil. Best to let near dry
out before watering. Key ingredient in soups, stews and
poultry stuffings. If you ever use the fresh, you won't
want to go back to the ground store bought type.
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PINEAPPLE- A favorite for appearance
and flavor. Grows to 4 ft. has lush green leaves and red
flowers that are attracted to hummingbirds and butterflies.
You can use the leaves in teas and where you may want a
pineapple flavor such as in baked goods, also the flowers
are pretty floated on top of punch bowls.
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PURPLE- has light reddish, purple
leaves. Dries beautifully.
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TRICOLOR - variegated leaves
of white, purple and green. Use as garden sage.
SORRELL- Perennial)
A hardy perennial growing to 18" tall in full
sun. A great salad herb, has a lemony flavor when using the
young leaves raw. The older leaves can be cooked as greens.
It is excellent made into a soup.
SWEET ANNIE - (Annual)
Grows to 5 ft., is an excellent dried arrangements,
wreaths and in potpourri. Has an excellent aroma. Grows in full
sun with moderate water.
TANSY - (Perennial)
Unique for its fern-like foliage and yellow
button flowers, which are great for drying. A hardy perennial
which grows to 3 ft. Grow in full sun. An excellent flea repellent.
Plant near pet areas, works great.
TARRAGON - (Perennial)
- MEXICAN - Grown as a substitute for true tarragon.
Will survive our winters if heavily mulched or covered during
extreme cold times. Has an excellent anise aroma and can
be used in many dishes, and vinegars. Has small marigold
flowers, however, foliage loses its flavor during blooming
period. Very hardy in our area with care.
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TRUE TARRAGON
Does not do well in our humid climate. If you try growing
it, make sure you don't let it become too wet, too long.
When planting, fill the pot about 1/3 full of chard or pea
gravel before adding soil, and water only when it becomes
dry. In lieu of True Tarragon, use the Mexican Mint Marigold
(Mexican). It works perfectly.