Plant Profile: Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum graecum)
Karen Also known as Greek hay, fenugreek is a herbaceous annual native to the Mediterranean and Middle East and dates back to 4000 BC in Iraq. It is a member of…
Plant Profile : Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
Cumin is a herbaceous annual native to the eastern Mediterranean east to India and has been known from ancient Egyptian times. It is a member of the dill family, Apiaceae,…
Plant Profile: Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita aka Chrysanthemum balsamita aka Balsamita vulgariata)
Costmary is a herbaceous perennial native to the Mediterranean and also known as alecost, balsam herb, bible leaf, and mint geranium. It is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae,…
Plant Profile: Hyssop (Hysoppus officinalis)
Hyssop is a small semi-evergreen subshrub up to 24″ tall native to southern Europe, the Middle East, and the area around the Caspian sea but has naturalized in parts of…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Also known as swine’s snout, Irish daisy, puffball, and peasant’s cloak, dandelion is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and…
Plants of Williamsburg: Salad Burnet (Sanguisorba minor aka Poterium sanguisorba)
Salad burnet is a herbaceous perennial and member of the rose family, Rosaceae, that also includes cherry, pyracantha, and lady’s mantle. It is native to Europe, northern Africa, western Asia…
Edible Flower: Tulips (Tulipa spp)
Tulips are spring-blooming perennial bulbs that do well in in many areas of the US. They grow best in areas where summers are dry and winters are cold so thrive…
Edible Flowers: Sunflowers (Helianthus annus)
Sunflowers are annuals native to North American but introduced into Europe in the sixteenth century by the Spanish. They are now widely grown for their oil and seeds. Sunflowers belong…
Edible Flowers: Cowslip (Primula veris)
Cowslip is an evergreen or semi-evergreen perennial native to Europe and Asia. It is a member of the primrose family (Primulaceae) along with shooting star (Dodecatheon maedia), oxslip (Primula elatior)…
Edible Flowers: English Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
Although known as English lavender this strongly aromatic shrub is not native to England but to the western Mediterranean especially the Pyrenees and northern mountains of Spain. It is a…