BOTANICAL HERBS
We grow a variety of historic species for home use and appreciate their
contribution as border plantings along pathways or fences and as companions
for various vegetable crops.
We also carefully 'Wildcraft'(WC) certain species as noted. Some are available Bulk (B)
AGRIMONY,(Agrimonia eupatoria), Astringent for shade. Rosaceae. Perennial has barbed seeds which cling to passersby... beware.
ALFALFA, (Medicago sativa) 'Nitro' cultivar. (see under Legumes)
BALLOON FLOWER, FUJI BLUE (Platycodon grandiflora), China. Perennial. Easily grown, OK in containers. Kids love to watch every day as blossoms unfurl & inflate (balloon). Widely adaptable.
BORAGE, (Borago officinalis), see under Herbal Edibles- Annual
BUTTERFLY WEED, (Asclepias tuberosa)'Pleurisy Root',Midwest Native. Brilliant orange flowers attract beneficials. Pods open same as milkweed.
Second year roots are dug and easily divided., B
CATNIP, (Nepeta cataria), Essential for felines and home remedies.
CATNIP, LEMON (Nepeta cataria var. citriodora), Fragrant cousin grows robustly sweetly scenting the garden., B
CENTAURY, (Centaurium erythrea), subs for Yellow Gentian, now depleted by overharvest in Europe. Tiny pink flowers & slender leaves., B
CHAMOMILE, GERMAN (Matricaria recutita), Annual. Fun & easily grown. Often self sows over many generations tolerating poor soil and drought. A must for young children., B
CHASTE TREE, (Vitex agnus-castus), Perennial shrub with showy foliage and flowers with distinctive fragrance. Ripe berries are a special female tonic. An easy & distinctive garden specimen., B
CHASTE TREE, (Vitex cannabina)Yellow Vitex, Chinese Medicinal., B
CINQUEFOIL, (Potentilla recta), Rosaceae. Perennial. Border for part shade has stellar yellow blossoms. Roots yield astringent tea- (tannins) for fast relief of 'hikers revenge'., B
CLOVER, MAMMOTH RED (Trifolium pratense), Hardy Perennial. Pink blossoms make delightful sun tea in Spring. Essential soil building cover crop and excellent compost tea. Best clover species for acid soils. Quality shade dried blossoms fetch a great price.
CLOVER, GIANTS HEAD (T.macrocephalum), Biennial. Native of Trinity River and Hoopa Valley. Huge fls (to 2x4") of red, white & green sprawling to 6'across. RARE. Clovers of gourmet quality were once food for people here.,
B
ELECAMPANE, (Inula helenium), Once found use in kitchen gardens as well as medicine chest. Grown for 2-3 year roots and divisions which propagate easily. Tall majestic yellow flower & robust spear-like leaves. Perennial.
EVENING PRIMROSE, CHINESE (Oenothera sp.) Biennial. Strong bloomer takes up excess magnesium in soil bioremediation. Easy to grow & attracts beneficial insects of all kinds. Root historically eaten as a vegetable in Europe and elsewhere. Seed oil is a source of Omega III. RARE from Chinese collection.
HEMP AGRIMONY, (Eupatorium cannabinum), Tall Perennial with large fluffy pink blossoms and 'blow-away' seeds. Distinctive foliage from cousin 'Joe Pye Weed'., B
HYSSOP, (Hyssopus officinalis), Biblical Herb with fragrant purple flowers.
Companion for fruit trees is easily grown & hardy., B
LAVENDER, SPANISH (L.stoechas), Free flowering showy violet petals and classic fragrance. Useful in floral arranging. Widely adaptable and most
productive lavender for the home garden., B
LAVENDER, ENGLISH (L.angustifolia), Preferred by many for herbal and medicinal use., B
LICORICE MINT, (Agastache foeniculum), Lavender spikes are pungently scented and attractive to pollinators. Great tea! ,B
MARSHMALLOW, (Althea officinalis), Ancient healing herb has edible long roots- dug, sliced & dried 2d or 3d season from seed. Easily to grow from divisions. Perennial has downy foliage & creamy fls., B
MILKWEED, (Asclepias speciosa) Native NorCal species
MOTHERWORT, COMMON (Leonorus cardiaca), Popular female tonic herb has
attractive foliage and self-sows freely., B
MOTHERWORT, SIBERIAN (L. siberica), Chinese Medicinal 'Yi mu cao'. Flowers
to 8' in poor soil second year from attractive low growing rosettes. Showy &
eyecatching tall border becomes a main attraction.Wow! Biennial., B
ALGERIAN SAGE, (Salvia algerensis), RARE from Medicinal Plant Ass'n- FRANCE.
Robust perennial with pleasing aroma!
CLARY SAGE, (Salvia sclarae), Hardy perennial with huge drooping sticky
pink-purple flowers and overpowering aroma. Source of sclerol used in
commercial tobacco formulas. Species name refers to historic use in
extracting foreign particles from the eye.,B
MEDITERRANEAN SAGE, (Salvia aetheopsis), Wild and weedy species cannot be
sent to CA*., B.
TURKESTAN SAGE, (Salvia turkestanica), RARE. Originally acquired from
special European collection. 2-3ft downy pink flower spikes on compact
semi-hardy perennial plants.
VERVAIN SAGE, (Salvia verbenacea), aka 'Christ Eyes' becomes a pleasant but
adventitious groundcover. Culinary delight!, B
WHITE SAGE, (Salvia apiana), Homegrown in the northwestern Golden State,
far from its native south coast range. One of the paramount ceremonial
plants deserves special placement in your medicinal landscape,after your
patient nurturance from seed., B
WHORLED CLARY, (Salvia verticilata), RARE Compact cousin of Clary sports
ringlets of delicate & tiny purple flowers with fine-textured foliage. Easy
from seed and good companion., B
SARSAPARILLA, (Aralia nudicaulis), WC Northwestern species
SELF HEAL, (Prunella vulgaris), Excellent groundcover has multiple uses &
ornamental quality. A pleasant companion for strawberries & other
perennials and makes a fine tea!, B
SCOTCH THISTLE, (Onopordon acanthium), Another weedy medicinal with
distinctive foliage less bothersome than Milk Thistle.
SKULLCAP, ALPINE (Scutellaria alpina), RARE Italy. Distinctive form of the
popular medicinal. Showy flowers and pods! Self-sows in moist soil with
afternoon shade. Perennial., B
STINGING NETTLE, (Urtica dioica), 'Dynamic accumulator' thrives in moist
soil and part shade, for a multitude of beneficial uses: both internal
(careful: only young immature grrens can be used) and for garden remedies
such as 'Biodynamic' tree paste and other preps. We use in compost tea along
with comfrey, red clover etc.
YELLOW NIGHTSHADE (S. surratense) 'Kantakari' Ayurvedic Md
YERBA SANTA (Eriodictyon californicum) Perennial shrub thrives in chapparal
of CA Coast Range. An historic remedy for our cold & wet winter season.
Challenging for green thumbs from seed. WC.,B