Plant Profile: Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Karen Coltsfoot is not the most popular medicinal herb but it may be the oddest; it produces its flowers long before it produces leaves but doesn’t produce any stem leaves. In…
Plant Profile: Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
A native of woodlands, damp meadows, and open and forested highlands in Canada and northeastern United States, Goldenseal was used by the American Indians to treat many problems from loss…
Plant Profile: Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
A native of Egypt and the Mediterranean anise has been known since ancient times. In the sixth century BC it was recommended for controlling epileptic seizures but by Roman times…
Plant Profile: Lily Leek (Allium moly)
A native of southern Europe, lily leek has long enjoyed a rich past. It is said to be the “Moly” that saved Ulysses from the charms of Circe as described…
Plant Profile: Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
This native of Europe and Asia has a long history rich with folklore and myth but it is also a striking garden plant. Growing 5-8 feet all, it commands attention…
Plant Profile: False Hellebore (Veratrum viride)
False hellebore is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the Melanthiaceae family that also includes Trillium. It is native to eastern and western North America and grows in wet…
Plant Profile: Woolly Yarrow (Achillea tomentosa )
This semi-evergreen, mat-forming perennial is native to the lowlands of Europe and western Asia and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, goldenrod and lettuce.…
Plant Profile: Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Agrimony is a perennial herb native to Europe and sothwestern Asia where it grows in moist woods, damp meadows, pastures, and along stream banks. It is a member of the…
Plant Profile: Chinese Ground Orchid (Bletilla striata)
Not all orchids are persnickety prima donnas and this one is definitely not. A native of Japan, China, Korea, and Burma, this hardy, terrestrial orchid was introduced into to England…
Plant Profile: Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)
With common names like Devil’s walking stick, and Hercules’ club this plant is bound to attract attention. It is a deciduous small tree or shrub with spines on its trunks,…