Plant Profile: Clary (Salvia sclarea)
Karen Clary is a biennial or short lived perennial native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region but has been introduced to a variety of locations around the world and naturalized…
Plant Profile: European Pennyroyal (Menta pulegium)
Native to Europe, North Afrcia, and the Middle East, this herbaceous perennial is also known as pennyrile, hillwort, brotherwort, run-by-the-ground, lurk-in-the-ditch, pudding grass, and pulegium. It is a member of…
Plant Profile: Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
This herbaceous perennial is native to the Mediterranean where it grows wild in the mountainous area of southern France, northern Greece, and the Balkans. It is a member of the…
Plant Profile: Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum graecum)
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…
Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Balm Wine
Balm, perhaps better known as lemon balm, is a herbaceous perennial and member of the mint family, Labiatae, that also includes basil, rosemary, and ajuga. It is native to the…
Plants of Colonial Williamsburg: Elecampane (Inula helenium)
Also called horse-heal, scabwort, and elfwort, and wild sunflower, elecampane is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It…
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…