Herb descriptions

Herb Descriptions

The suggestions, regarding medicinal uses for the following herbs, were gathered from various sources on traditional uses.

Some of the herbs below have been offered in past years (but may not be this year) and are included for your information. Please inquire about any herbs you are interested in and we’ll see what we can do about starting them for you.

P – Perennial,  A – Annual,  NP – Native Perennial,  TP- Tender Perennial

Herb Name Type Latin Name Traditional Use
Angelica P Angelica archangelica candied stems, tea from leaves, large plant
Anise Hyssop NP Agastashe
foeniculum		 anise flavour
from leaves for tea, pink flwrs
Arnica P Arnica
chamissonis		 bruises,
burns, inflamations
Balm, Lemon TP Melissa officinalis lemon flavour
from leaves, calming; soup/salad
Basil, Sweet Genovese A Ocimum basilicum large leaves, standard variety
Basil, Rubin Purple A  ditto purple leaves, fine flavour
Basil, Spicy Globe A  ditto small leafed, bush, more spicy flavour
Basil, Anise/Thai A  ditto licorice flavour,
SE Asian cooking
Bergamot, Wild P Monarda fistulosa leaves for tea, meat; lavender flowers
Borage A Borago officinalis young leaf tea, calming, flowers in salad
Calendula A Calendula officinalis flowers: skin lotion, in salad, orange-yellow
Catnip P Nepeta cataria calming tea, treat colds/fevers, attracts cats
Chamomile A Matricaria
recutita		 calming tea, digestion, white flwr,
reseeds
Chervil, curled A Anthricus
cerefolium		 slight anise flavour
‘parsley’, blood purifier
Chives, Regular P Allium schoenoprasum leaves in salad, onion flavour,
purple flowers
Chives,
Garlic		 P Allium
tuberosum		 leaves
in salad, garlic flavour, purple flowrs
Cilantro / Coriander A Coriandrum
sativum		 pungent leaves in salad, salsa, stews
Clover, Red P Trifolium
pratense		 cancer treatment; stomach, throat, red flwrs
Comfrey P Symphytum
officinale		 bone healing; animal fodder; vigorous
Dill A Anethum gravealens leaves and seeds in pickles, salads, soups
Echinecea,
broad leaf		 P Echinacea purpurea leaves for immune system, purple-rose flowers
Fennel,Sweet TP Foeniculum
vulgare dulce		 fish dishes, digestion, calms flatulence, bees
Fennel, Bronze TP Foeniculum
vulgare Rubrum		 ditto except bronze colour
Feverfew TP Tanacetum
partheneum		 migraines, arthritis, calming, white-yel flowers
Horehound P Marrubium
vulgare		 coughs, stomach, appetite
Lavender, Munstead P Lavendula
angulstofolia Munstead		 ditto except hardier than Lavender Lady, bush
Lovage P Levisticum
officinale		 celery flavour
in stews, soup stock, large
Meadowsweet P Filipendula
ulmaria		 contains ASA
for flu, arthritis, fever.
Mullein P Verbascum
thapsus		 cough, bronchitis, horseness,
tall, yellow flower
Nettle, Stinging P rtica dioica iron rich, herb companion, bio-dynamic aid
Oregano, Greek TP Oreganum vulgare
hirtum		 Italian, Mexican cooking, true oregano
Parsley,Moss
Curled		 A Petroselinum
crispum		 flavour
and garnish – soups and salads
Parsley, Plain Italian A Petroselinum
neoplitanum		 stronger flavour,
flat leaf
Peppermint TP Mentha x piperita refreshing tea, digestion aid
Spearmint P Mentha
Spicata		 excellent
for cooking
Pyrethrum P Tamaceti,
comeraro		 insecticide, daisy flower mix of colours
Queen Anne’s Lace P Daucus carota kidney, bladder, sores, ulcers, white flowers
Rosemary TP Rosmarinus
officinalis		 culinary/aromatic uses, winters indoors
Sage TP Salvia officinalis poultry stuffing, cheese and bean dishes
St. John’s Wort P Hypericum
perforatum		 flwr tops
– insomnia, depression, bedwetting
Stevia A/P Stevia rebaudiana leaves as sweetener –
fresh or dry.
Sorrel,
Garden		 P Rumex
acetosa		 soups,
slight acid taste, zesty in salads
Tarragon,
French		 P Artemisia
dracunculus		 subtle
licorice flavour, meat, poultry, eggs
Thistle, Milk A Silybum marianum seeds as liver tonic, glossy white veined leaf
Thyme, English P Thymus vulgaris French cooking, soups/stews, sm
pink flwrs
Yarrow P Achillea millefolium digestion, circulation, liver, bladder, kidney