Never heard of borage plant? You're not alone. Here are some terrific reasons to consider welcoming this easy-to-grow plant with lovely edible star-shaped flowers into your garden! Read on to learn about excellent borage uses
Bugleweed (Ajuga sp.) is a family of wild edible weeds that grow all over the world, and they make a tasty addition to salads. Though often considered a weed, it's quite beautiful, and grows in
Most of us probably don’t think twice about the air quality within our home. We think our home is odorless, fresh or neutral smelling. But the truth is that indoor air quality can be, well, deceiving. There are several factors that can contribute to toxicity within the air. All the interior like furniture, paint, carpe
In this recipe, fresh lilac and violet flowers combine with honey and brandy to make a tasty herbal elixir for sore throats and mild coughs.
Botanical Name of Pipsissewa: Chimaphila umbellata. The name pipsissewa comes from the Cree Indians. The name means 'broken into small pieces' and is derived from the notion that the herb could dissolve kidney stones. Other Common Names: Ground holly, prince's pine, king's cure, bitter wintergreen, false wintergreen, umbellate wintergreen, rheumatism weed, skærm-vintergrøn (Danish), pyrole en ombrelle (French), Winterlieb (German), chimaphila (Spanish). Habitat: Pipsissewa has a circumboreal distribution and is found in the boreal forest or taiga in the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and North America. Description: Chimaphila umbellata is 10-25 cm tall dwarf shrub with creeping and woody rootstock.
Discover the art of wildcrafting and the science of plant identification through this captivating voyage into wild edible and herbal botanicals!
Botanical Name: Petasites hybridus. Other Common Names: Common butterbur, sweet coltsfoot, blatterdock, bogshorns, butter-dock, butterly dock, capdockin, flapperdock, and langwort. Habitat: Butterbur is native to mainland Europe, as far north as Scandinavia. It also grows in Western Asia and has been successfully introduced to Northern America. It typically will grow in shady places or beside waterways. It also grows well in wet meadows, copses, marshes, flood plains, washes, and damp roadsides. Description: Butterbur plant has huge leaves resembling the leaves of the rhubarb. The leaves, which grow big enough to protect a person’s head from the sun or the rain,
Symphytum officinale NL: Smeerwortel / F: Consoude Comfrey is another amazing perennial herb, essential to any herbal first aid kit as well as to any healthy organic and permaculture garden. Comfrey in the garden: it contains more Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) than most commercial fertilizers. Its long roots draw nutrients from deep in the soil and transfer it all to the leaves. The nutrient-rich leaves can then be used directly as a mulch, added to compost piles as a compost activator or chopped and added to a container with rain water to allow it to ferment and be later used as liquid compost. Comfrey not only enriches the soil but it can also speed up heat processes, which is pretty handy to have near and around fruit shrubs and other fruit trees or larger crops that require higher soil temperatures. Do not allow it to grow near to smaller plants, as it is a pretty strong, large and rather dominant plant. it also comes in white Comfrey as first aid herb: it has been used in folk medicine to help reduce bruising and to speed up tissue repair: broken bones and ligaments, damaged cartilage or connective tissue. Its tissue healing properties (mainly attributed to a substance called allantoin) are so strong that it is not advisable to be used in case of open wounds, as it risks “closing” the wound much faster than the time the body might need to get rid of any harmful microorganisms. It is also useful externally in the treatment of varicose veins, joints inflammation, to stop bleeding and in eye injuries. Its tincture or tea made out of the dried leaves or roots have been used internally to reduce heavy menstruation flow and to relieve gastric ulcers. The leaves can be used freshly squeezed, dried and made into a strong tea or macerated in oil for 3-4 weeks, the drained oil can be used to make salves to be applied in bruises and rheumatic joints to help relieve pain and swelling. hairy leaves and stems Comfrey in the kitchen: it has also a long history of being used as an edible but in the light of recent studies this is no longer advised, since the plant contains varying amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids - which are toxic. The young leaves contain little amounts of the harmful alkaloids and can therefore be consumed in moderate amounts (I personally would do that only in case where there is no other food source available). Dried leaves and roots can be made into tea and its roots can be roasted into coffee, such as with dandelion and chicory roots. More on Comfrey: Comfrey -Symphytum officinale - Knitbone, Bruisewort, Miracle Herb Comfrey Comfort - Lesley Tierra - PlanetHerbs Comfrey - The Superfood for Plants Medicinal & Poisonous Plants to Livestock - Comfrey Montana Plant Life: Comfrey Nice videos: Common comfrey Symphytum officinale - Sylvanbotanical Why permaculture folks love comfrey - Paul Wheaton
Explore how to use mugwort, its traditional uses, as well as some of the folklore and facts about how mugwort can enhance the dream state.
Botanical Name: Evernia prunastri. Other Common Names: Ekmossa (Swedish), mousse de chêne (French), Eichenmoss (German). Habitat: Oakmoss is widespread throughout Europe, North Africa, Asia and North America. Description: Evernia prunastri or oakmoss is a lichen of the Parmeliaceae family. The genus Evernia contains about ten different species. The thalli (the vegetative body of a lichen) are bush-shaped and grow together to form large clumps. The thallus is flat and highly branched. It grows on trunks and branches of shrubs and deciduous trees like oaks, fruit trees, and blackthorn but also sometimes on pine trees. It is green to light whitish-green
Botanical Name of Horsetail: Equisetum arvensis, Equisetum arvense. Other Common Names: Bottlebrush, shave grass, corncob plant, scouring rush, field horsetail, pewterwort, paddock-pipes, Dutch rushes, snake pipes, small scouring rush, åkersnelle (Norwegian), cola de caballo (Spanish), prêle des champs (French), Acker-Schachtelhalm (German). Habitat: Horsetail is native to both North America and Europe. It is one of only a few Equisetum survivors from the dinosaur era. In parts of Northern America, Canada, and Europe it is often considered a rather bothersome weed because of its prolific tuber system. Plant Description: Horsetail is a perennial plant of the Equisetaceae or the horsetail plant
Botanical Name: Cichorium intybus L. Other Common Names: Common chicory, wild chicory, coffee chicory, coffee weed, succory, wild succory, blue saisy, blue sailors, achicoria (Spanish), sikuri (Finnish), Wegwarte (German), chicorée (French), cikoria (Swedish), cikorie (Danish). Habitat: Chicory is found growing wild in Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. It has been introduced to North America, where it has locally become naturalized. Chicory commonly occurs as a weed along roadsides and trails, in landfills and dry meadows. Description: Chicory is a perennial plant belonging to the Compositae family (Asteraceae). It can grow to about 1 meter in height. A variety of
Botanical Name of Ashwagandha: Withania somnifera. The ashwagandha root is often referred to as the 'Indian ginseng' because it is used in a similar way in Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine as Panax ginseng is used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The herb has been used for more than 2500 years to restore overall health and increase longevity. The Indian or Hindu common name ashwagandha (Sanskrit), translates roughly to 'the smell and strength of a horse,' referring to the plant's alleged ability to enhance sexual vigor. Ashwagandha Seedpods (Withania somnifera) - Attribution: Vinayaraj V. R What is Ashwagandha Used For? Some of
Borage is an annual herbaceous plant that is easy to grow and provides a myriad of benefits for gardeners. Not only are its striking star-shaped flowers picturesque to look at, but borage is an excellent companion plant that helps other plants to thrive, and it is entirely edible from stem to flower. The plant's leaves and stems are easily identifiable by the bristly hairs that cover them as they mature and look particularly unique on dewy mornings. Follow our guide to learn about borage uses, benefits, and companion planting advantages. Borage Soil Requirements Borage soil should be well-tilled and well-draining. Borage is a vibrant herbaceous plant that can tolerate soil that falls between 4.5-8.5 on the pH scale but thrives optimally in the middle at a pH of 6.5. How to Plant Borage Borage plants can be found at your local specialty nursery in the herb section, but they grow very well from seed as well. Either way, they should be planted directly outdoors after the threat of frost has passed. Sow seeds directly into the ground about ½ inch deep in clusters of 3 or 4 seeds and cover with nutrient-rich soil or compost. Plant borage plants or thin seedlings to approximately 15 inches apart. Borage can tower up to three feet in height, so it's essential to give the plant room to spread out. Proper spacing will help airflow, proactively combat against diseases such as powdery mildew and allow for the adequate spread of blooms. How Much Light Does Borage Need? A common question when planting and growing borage is, how much light does borage need? Plant your borage plants and seeds in full sun or partial shade. Plants will bloom more vigorously if they are planted in an area where they receive 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. How Often Should You Water Borage Plants? It can tricky to figure out exactly how often you should water borage plants. The answer is simple, water borage plants regularly. They are not drought tolerant and need plenty of water to thrive. However, try and avoid over-soaking them. The Best Temperature for Growing Borage Borage is relatively cold-tolerant, enjoying soil temperatures that are a minimum of 50°F. It can withstand light frosts. Kellogg Garden Organics All Natural Garden Soil Learn More Product Locator by Locally **Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. For a comparable product in these states click here. Common Borage Pests and Diseases Unfortunately, borage tends to be plagued with powdery mildew in damp conditions or in areas of high humidity. For the best chance of avoiding this devastating disease, space your plants adequately for proper airflow and be sure that your plants receive plenty of sunlight. Aphids and Japanese Beetles are drawn to borage plants and feed on their leaves. Aphids can be kept at bay with a strong spray of water from the hose, while the beetles can be easily handpicked off the plant and placed in a jar of soapy water to eliminate them. Borage Companion Planting Companion planting borage with vegetables and certain flowers can bolster each other and significantly improve your garden productivity. Borage is an all-around best friend in any garden bed for several reasons. Borage flowers attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden, which are essential for plant reproduction. Borage also benefits gardens by attracting beneficial insects for natural pest control of common garden pests. Additionally, borage releases calcium and potassium into the soil, which can help other plants like squash and tomatoes to combat diseases such as blossom rot. Interplant borage with: Tomatoes Cabbage Strawberries Grapes Peas Beans Cucumbers Squash Borage Uses and Benefits Not only does borage have a flower you can eat, but its leaves are also edible and can be used in a variety of ways. Its flowers have a refreshing taste that is reminiscent of cucumber. Pick blooms early in the morning and use them to brighten up a fresh salad, add some zest to a sandwich, mix into dips, and cook up in soups or stews. Harvest borage leaves when they are young for the best taste and texture. You can use borage fresh as salad greens or steam them up like you would spinach or kale. Another option is to dry the leaves and set them aside for use as a dried herb or seasoning. It can also be used to steep in teas and is a delightful treat when candied. How to Harvest Borage Seeds Borage plants do a fine job all on their own when it comes to propagating and spreading their seeds around. Once you have an established borage plant, you will likely always have a borage plant or several. You will often find new plants in the garden each year, and they are a pleasant surprise to see. Once you have borage in your garden, you will likely never have to reseed them again. If you intend to save the seeds, wait for the flowers to dry thoroughly on the stems, and allow the petals to die away. When the flower head is dehydrated and browned, remove the seeds from the center and store them in a paper bag or paper envelope until next spring. Share The Garden Love
Information on the health benefits, dosages and side effects of the herb astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) and the traditional uses of its root
Side effects, dosage, and benefits of the medicinal herb Andrographis paniculata and its historical, common and traditional uses as tea or extract
Botanical Name of Golden Seal: Hydrastis canadensis. Other Common Names: Goldenseal, eyebalm, ground raspberry, orangeroot, yellowroot, yellow puccoon, Indian dye, eye root, jaundice root. Habitat: Golden seal is found in the northeastern United States in shady woodland areas at the edges of forests in rich, moist soil. This plant prefers slightly acidic soils and will prosper in partial sun, or even shaded areas. Description: Golden seal is a small perennial herb. The woody, yellowish rhizome gives rise to a single hairy stem and top with two five to nine-lobed leaves that terminate in a single greenish-white flower. It grows to
Pau d'Arco tea provides many health benefits to the body. It has antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal & anti-inflammatory properties.
This hops plant guide covers everything from its beauty, the best way to harvest the plant, and how to use hops for insomnia and anxiety.
Botanical Name: Passiflora incarnata. Other Common Names: Maypop, passiflora, passionflower. Habitat: Passion flower is native to North, Central, and South America. This plant is mostly tropical, but some varieties may grow in colder climates. Passion flower prefers shaded, dry areas, such as those along fences and woods. It can be cultivated from a cutting or seeds in full sun with good drainage. Plant Description: The passion flower plant has a long vine which may grow to 9.2 meters in length. It has alternate, serrate leaves with finely toothed lobes. The white flowers have a purple center. The mystery of the
Botanical Name: Cuminum cyminum. Cumin should not be confused with black cumin (Nigella sativa), a similar and closely related species from Pakistan and India with slightly larger and bent seeds. Other Common Names: Cummin, Roman caraway, Egyptian caraway, comino (Spanish), spisskummen (Norwegian), roomankumina (Finnish), Kreuzkümme (German), cumin de prés (French), zi ran qin (Chinese), spiskummin (Swedish), spidskommen (Danish). Habitat: The original habitat of cumin is not known, but it has been theorized that it could have its origins in the Nile valley and from there it spread to other countries in North Africa, Southwest Asia, East Mediterranean and all the
Have you ever heard of anise hyssop? I hadn’t until a few years ago when a generous gardening friend shared an extra plant she had oversown. That first spring, I was hooked. My love story
Herbal aphrodisiacs have been sought, admired, & rumored for their effects on libido, but do they work? Learn what they are & how to use them in this post!
Pine needles can be used for a variety of ailments, as food, for making crafts, and even in the garden. Let us teach you 8 ways to use pine needles.
Looking for some herbal support for your mind? If so, here are eight herbs you need to know about that help to calm the anxious mind.
If you enjoy a pipe, have you considered creating your own herbal smoking blends? Not only are they enjoyable, but they can benefit your health too!
Botanical Name: Tabebuia impetiginosa, Tabebuia avellanedae, Tabelbuia heptaphylla. Other Common Names: Tabebuia ipê, ipê, ipê roxo, lapacho, tahuari, taheebo tree, tabebuia avellaneae, trumpet tree, ipê-contra-sarna, tajy. Habitat: Pau d’arco is found throughout the rainforests of Central and South America, although it may be harvested as far north as southern Florida. Plant Description: There are about a hundred species of this large tropical tree. It is a broad-leafed evergreen that may grow to 150 feet in height, and six feet in diameter. Some species produce large, white flowers, while Tebebuia impetiginosa produces purple or pink flowers. Plant Parts Used: Heartwood and
Botanical Name: Scutellaria lateriflora. Other Common Names: Blue, greater, hairy, hooded, American, European western, maddog and side-flowering skullcap. It is also called scullcap, helmet flower, blue pimpernel, quaker bonnet, hooded willow flower, mad-dog weed, mad weed, hoodwort and hoodwart. Habitat: This herb is often found in partially shaded, wetland areas. It prefers light shade to full sun and wet to moist soil with plenty of organic matter. This perennial plant is native to North America. Plant Description: Skullcap grows to a height of 45 to 60 centimeters tall. It has a light green to reddish-green square stem with occasional branches.
Botanical Name for Fumitory: Fumaria officinalis. One of the plant's English common name 'earth smoke' is a direct translation of the old Latin name of the plant, 'fumes terrae'. It refers to the shape and color the plant's gray-blue haze foliage which can from afar resemble smoke rising from the ground. Other Common Names: Common fumitory, drug fumitory, hedge fumitory, earth smoke, wax dolls, fumaria (Spanish), reykjurt (Icelandic), Gewöhnlicher Erdrauch (German), fumeterre officinal (French), jordrøyk (Norwegian), jordrök (Swedish), jordrøg (Danish), peltoemäkki (Finnish). Habitat: Fumitory is originally native to Europe and North Africa, but has been introduced to Asia, North America,
Botanical Name: Tussilago farfara. Other Common Names: Coughwort, bull’s foot, assfoot, farfara, horsehoof, foalswort, foal’s foot. Habitat: Coltsfoot can grow in damp or dry conditions and grows well in alkaline clay soil. It is usually found in places such as wastelands, on the side of the road or railway, hedge banks etc. It is native to some countries in Europe and Asia but has also been introduced and naturalized in North and South America. Description: It is a perennial herbaceous plant with yellow flowers that emerge in early spring and bear a close resemblance to the dandelions. The leaves appear
Botanical Name: Pueraria lobata. The plant genus Pueraria is named after the Swiss Professor M. N. Pueraria (1766-1845). It contains around 20 species of herbaceous or woody vines, all native to Asia. Other Common Names: Kudzu vine, Japanese arrowroot, ge gen (ge hua) (Chinese), bidari kand (Sanskrit). Habitat: Kudzu is native to India, China, and Japan. The plant is commercially cultivated in some parts of China. Kudzu was first introduced to the USA in the 1870s and was widely planted in the southeastern states up to 1933 as protection against erosion and a source of food and fiber. In no
Growing Nasturtiums. Everything you need to know about growing and what delicious things to make with this beautiful, abundant permaculture plant.
Botanical Name: Thuja occidentalis. Other Common Names: Arbor vitae, American arbor-vitae, eastern arborvitae, white cedar, false white cedar, northern white-cedar, yellow cedar, tuja (Swedish), tuya (Spanish), thuya d'occident (French), Lebensbaum (German). The common name arbor vitae is from Latin meaning 'tree of life' and refers to alleged medicinal properties of the plant. Habitat: Thuja occidentalis is native to North America and eastern Canada. Today the tree has become very popular as an ornamental plant. It grows best in moist soil. Plant Description: Thuja is an evergreen conifer belonging to the Cupressaceae or cypress family. The tree can grow up to
Here are the Best Tea Herbs to Make a Tea Herb Garden. Grow them today for a healthy refreshing beverage for your family!
Yarrow and arnica tinctures are great mountain wellness to add to your first aid kit. Knowing how to use them is incredibly empowering!
Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium. Other Common Names: Common yarrow, carpenter's weed, knight's milfoil, noble yarrow, old man's pepper, nosebleed, staunchgrass, soldier's woundwort, sanguinary, devil's nettle, devil's plaything, bad man's plaything, yarroway, herb militaris, thousand leaf, thousand seal, field hop, millefolium, ladies'mantle, gandana, i-chi-kao, gearwe, yerw. Habitat: Yarrow is a hardy perennial that is native to Eurasia and widely naturalized in the United States. There is some debate as to whether the herb is circumpolar; that is, whether it is native throughout the temperate regions of the world. There are a related species found in America known as wooly and/or western
The medicinal benefits and uses of goldenrod flower and leaf for allergies, sinus infections, colds, and urinary tract infections.
Inside: This article is about the benefits of forsythia and how to use the early spring blossoms to make a golden herbal syrup for fun or for health! There are a few beautiful harbingers of Spring, but the sunny yellow blossoms of the forsythia are one of my favorites! When those happy blooms sta
Botanical Name: Tribulus terrestris. Other Common Names: Puncture vine, caltrop, yellow vine, and goathead, abrojo de tierra caliente (Spanish), gokshura (Sanskrit), ci ji li (Chinese), Burzeldorn (German), croix-de-malte (French). Habitat: Tribulus terrestris can be found in the moderate and tropical climates in Europe, America, Africa, Australia, and southern Asia. Its name comes from the extreme sharp thorns that grow from the seed. The Latin word “tribulus” is translated as “caltrop” which means a peaked weapon. It grows well in wild and uninhabited places and thrives in a moist sandy soil in full sun. It is considered a good forage plant
Mugwort is magical and mysterious. It has a long history of traditional use as a medical herb, cure-all, and culinary flavoring. Mugwort will boost your health and healing potential.
Sage companion plants can help improve the yield, health, and pest resistance of your garden crops! Learn more
Cleavers improves body function and overall health, making it the perfect spring tonic! Learn 3 ways to use cleavers for spring cleansing!
A simple recipe for how to make hawthorn tincture using berries and vodka. Hawthorn is a red berry that gently supports heart health, and that you can forage for in autumn. You can use the volume ingredient measurements in this folk method tincture or use the 1:2 ratio measurements in the notes below. Scale the recipe up or down to suit your needs.
by Jennifer Poindexter Have you ever pondered the history in your herb garden? Chances are you haven’t. Most of us become so busy with growing a garden that we hardly stop to think about the history behind each plant. One resource we can use, to learn a little more about our plants, is the Bible. […]
One of the most pleasurable jobs in any garden is choosing which plants to grow. It can be great fun to seek out new options and explore all the different possibilities for your garden. Hyssop
Botanical Name of Lady's Mantle: Alchemilla vulgaris and Alchemilla mollis The family name Alchemilla stems from the word 'alchemy', and refers to the belief in medieval times that water droplets forming on the lady's mantle leaves could turn base metals to gold. Alchemists believed that these drops had a mysterious and magical power that in addition to transforming common metals into gold could also be used in regaining youth. Other Common Names: Dew-cup, our lady's mantle, lion's foot, bear's foot, nine hooks, Frauenmantel (German), maríustakkur (Icelandic), almindelig løvefod (Danish), pied de leonis (French). Habitat: Alchemilla vulgaris is widespread in Britain
Wild Salads are back in full swing!
Dark, rich syrup infused with the essence of pine. Makes a little under 2 cups. This is a small amount, you can scale the recipe using the same proportions as needed. For large batches, just combine pine cones with approximately twice their weight in non-white sugar.
Planting medicinal trees and shrubs in your home landscape turns your yard into a holistic farm-macy! Here are ten wonderful medicinal to consider for your herbal medicine use!
