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ALECOST
(Balsamita vulgaris)
Perennial Height: approx 2’
Also called Costmary. It has a Balsam—like scent. The leaves are a good addition to pot-pourri. It has occasional medicinal and culinary uses.
BASIL
Sweet Basil
(Ocimum basilicum)
Annual Height: 1’ — 2’
Delicious and aromatic culinary herb, particularly good with tomatoes. Also has some medicinal uses and is s useful companion plant to some vegetables, especially tomatoes.
Purple Basil
(Ocimum basilicum purpurea)
More compact plant. Beautiful purple leaves.
BAY
(Laurus nobilis)
Perennial Height: up to 40’
A very slow growing tree which is often grown in pots. Very important culinary uses — indispensable in many types of cooking. A Bay leaf is an essential ingredient in a “bouquet garni”. We have a good selection of Kitchen Bays and can usually offer or obtain Pyramids or Standards.
BERGAMOT
(Monarda didyma)
Perennial Height: 2’— 3’
A very striking flower which retains its colour well when dried and so is good added to pot pourri and teas. Fresh or dried it is very effective in a flower arrangement. The leaf can be made into a tea for medicinal purposes.
BORAGE
(Boragino officinalis)
Annual Height: approx 2.5’
Beautiful star shaped flowers which are used in summer drinks and which can also be candied. Young leaves used in salads. Bees love the flowers.
CALAMINT
(Calamintha nepeta)
Perennial Height: 1’
An aromatic plant, the leaves of which make a soothing tea which is good for stomach complaints.
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CARAWAY
(Carum carvi)
Biennial Height: up to 2’
Caraway is a very popular herb with many uses in the kitchen - the seeds, root and leaves can all be used to good effect. In fact the seed can also be chewed to sweeten the breath - and to relieve flatulence.
CHAMOMILE
English Chamomile
(Anthemis nobilis)
Perennial Height: 9” - 12”
Flowering lawn chamomile.
Creeping foliage will make a lawn if clipped. Also sends up flower stems which can be used for chamomile tea. It also has medicinal and cosmetic uses.
Treneague
Perennial Height: 2”
Non-flowering, low growing variety which is the best type for lawns. Needs no trimming.
German Chamomile
(Matricaria Chamomile)
Annual Height: 18”
Self seeding. Hot suitable for lawns. Flowers used like the flowers of the English Chamomile.
CHIVES
(Allium schoenoprasum)
Perennial Height: 12” -15”
Very important culinary herb. Mild onion flavour makes excellent seasoning. Small round pale mauve flower heads.
Garlic Chives
(Allium tuberosum)
Perennial Height: approx 18” - 2’
Also called Chinese Chives. Flavour characteristic of garlic bit much milder. Use to give subtle garlic flavour where garlic itself would be too strong.
COMFREY
(Symphytum officinale)
Perennial Height: 4’
Bushy plant with beautiful flowers which droop in clusters. It has a vigorous floppy growth. The flowers are very popular with bees. Comfrey is a very versatile herb: it has a culinary use, several medicinal uses, cosmetic uses and it makes an excellent organic fertiliser.
Variegated Comfrey
As shove but with variegated leaves and lower growth
COWSLIP
(Primula veris)
Perennial Height: 6” - 9”
Popular and traditional. Unfortunately now becoming quite rare. Used in wine—making and skin lotions.
DYER’S WELD
(Reseda luteola)
Biennial Height: 3’
Striking and interesting plant. Traditional plant used for yellows.
ELECAMPANE
(Inula helenium)
Perennial Height: 5’ — 8’
This Is a herb with a variety of uses: the seed heads can be used to good effect in winter flower arrangements; the root can be cooked as a root vegetable but as it has a sharp bitter flavour it is more popular crystallised as a sweet; the root can also be burnt over embers to scent a room; the root can be applied as a decoction to alleviate acne and also as a general tonic or expectorant. The dried yellow petals are used in pot pourri for their colour.
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EVENING PRINROSE
(Denothara biennis)
Biennial Height: 3’- 6’
A plant with a most beautiful yellow flower. The root Can be boiled (it tastes like sweet parsnip) or pickled and used in salads. It is coming under increasing attention for its effectiveness in pre--menstrual syndrome, menopausal discomfort, psoriasis and its help in reducing thrombosis and controlling Multiple Sclerosis.
FENNEL
(Foeniculum vulgare)
Perennial Height: 3’- 5’
Beautiful feathery foliage. Excellent culinary herb with aniseed flavour, most commonly used with fish but with other applications, too. Also used medicinally because of its digestive properties (and it has a reputation for helping eyesight). Both the seeds and the foliage can be used in cooking. The foliage freezes very well.
Bronze Fennel
As for herb fennel but a striking brown— reddish colour which is popular in flavour arranging.
FEVERFEW
(Chrysanthemum parthenium)
Perennial Height: l’6” - 2’
Bright green leaves and daisy-like flowers. It is a herb now attracting attention because of its reputation for helping with arthritis. Also known as Medieval Aspirin and it has recently gained a reputation for aiding migraine sufferers. It self-seeds readily.
Golden Feverfew
As above but golden-green leaves.
GOOD KING HENRY
(Chenopodium Bonus Henricus)
Perennial Height: approx 2’
Arrow-Shaped leaves and tiny yellowish-green flowers. The leaves can be used as a spinach substitute.
HEARTSEASE
(Viola tricolour)
Annual Height: 6”
This very sweet looking flower has many other names including “Wild Pansy"," Three-Faces-Under-A-Hood” and "Kiss-Her-In-The-Buttery”. It was once cultivated for official medicinal purposes - in Germany until 1926 and it still is official in some Eastern European countries. In the kitchen the flowers can be used in salads.
HEDGE HYSSOP
(Granola officinalis)
Perennial Height: 9-12”
Old medicinal herb now grown for interest. It is poisonous end should NOT BE USED FOR SELF-MEDICATION -leave that to the professionals as it still has its uses in homeopathy.
HORSERADISH
(Cochlearia Armoracia)
Perennial Height: 2’ - 3’
Vigorous growth. Harvest roots at any time from the established plant. Use in cooking to make horseradish sauce, or a little, grated, gives an interesting tang to sauces, salad dressing etc. It also has some medicinal and cosmetic uses.
HYSSOP
(Hyssopus officinalis)
Perennial Height: l -2’
An attractive evergreen bushy herb which makes a good edging plant and is attractive no bees. Has both medicinal and culinary uses -particularly good in soups and stews.
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IRIS, YELLOW FLAG
(Iris pseudacorus)
Perennial Height: up to 3’
Light green leaves and beautiful brilliant yellow flowers. Yields a good yellow dye from the flowers and black from the roots.
JACOB’S LADDER
(Polemonium coeruleum)
Perennial Height: 18” — 3’
Once used medicinally for headaches, to heal cuts and administered in cases of dysentery. Now grown as an interest herb or simply for its beauty.
LADY’S MANTLE
(Alchemilla vulgaris)
Perennial Height: approx 9”
A must in any garden. It has some medicinal uses. It makes a
beautiful edging plant and is very popular with flower arrangers. Very striking with the dew on it.
LAVENDER DWARF MUNSTEAD
(Lavendula nana purpurea)
Perennial Height: 1’
A traditional herb, very popular and highly scented. A common usage is to put dried lavender in pot pourri and herb cushions. Lavender has some medicinal and cosmetic uses but has also recently been regaining popularity as a culinary herb. This particular variety makes an excellent edging plant.
LAVENDER HIDCOTE
(Lavendula angustifolia)
Perennial Height: 18”
Makes an excellent low hedge.
LEMON BALM
(Melissa officinalis)
Perennial Height: 2’ — 3’
A must for a kitchen herb garden. Very fragrant lemon scented plant. It makes a pleasant herb tea which acts as a tonic. It is a useful addition to pot pourri and in the kitchen it is useful whenever a little lemon flavour is needed.
Variegated Lemon Balm
As for Lemon Balm but with the most beautiful variegated leaves.
LOVAGE
(Levisicum officinale)
Perennial Height: 3’ — 5’
An important culinary herb with a yeasty—celery taste. Excellent in pasta salad. As with many herbs it also has medicinal & cosmetic uses.
MACE
(Achillea Decolorans)
Perennial Height: 1’6”
This is NOT the outer covering of nutmeg, but a plant of the same name. The flavour of the leaves is vaguely similar to that of the spice. Flavours soups and sauces.
POT MARJORAM
(Origanum onites)
Perennial Height: 1’
A classic culinary herb. The ‘pot’ in the name refers to its use and not where it is grown! Beautifully scented and flavoured.
SWEET MARJORAM
(Origanum majorana)
Perennial Height: 1’
Although a perennial it tends to be grown as a half—hardy annual in our climate, but it can be overwintered in pots indoors. It is similar to the Pot Marjoram for all the Marjorams are useful culinary herbs.
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MARSHMALLOW (Althea officinalis)
Perennial Height: up to 6’
This was the original source of the confectionery but the original has little in common with the sugary cubes of today. However the plant has several uses: the leaf is decorative and is added to posies, the seeds can be sprinkled onto salads, the flowers are edible, as are the leaves. The root and the leaves also have cosmetic and medicinal properties.
MULLEIN (Verbascum thrapsus)
Biennial Height: can grow up to 5’
A very striking plant with some medicinal uses, now generally grown as an interest herb. Among other things, it is called Aaron’s Rod and Witch’s Taper.
OREGANO (Origanum vulgare)
Perennial Height: 6” – 2’
Of the same family as the Marjorams and Golden Oregano. It has many culinary uses and is especially popular in Italian cooking.
GOLDEN OREGANO
Perennial Height: 1’6”
Handsome golden variety of Oregano (Oreganum vulgare) which is of the Marjoram family with the same uses. The striking colour of the plant adds a bright splash to the herb bed and also makes an excellent edging plant.
OREGANO WEBB’S WHITE
CURLED PARSLEY (Petroselium crispum)
Biennial Height: 10”
Parsley is one of the ‘fines herbes’, a constituent part of bouquet garni and is a must in any kitchen. All parts of the plant are useful and beneficial in medical and cosmetic uses as well as its invaluable uses in cooking. Chewing Parsley freshens the breath after eating garlic.
PINEAPPLE SAGE
(Salvia rutilans)
Perennial Height: 2’ — 3’
This is a member of the Sage family but its leaves smell strongly of pineapple and it has no real culinary uses except for putting the leaves in summer drinks. Despite this, it remains a very popular herb.
POPPY, OPIUM (Papaver somniferum)
Annual Height: 2’
This is a very beautiful poppy. It should only be used by trained medical staff, for it is dangerous except, however, the ripe seed which can be used in curries, bread or cakes.
PRIMROSE (Primula vulgaris)
Perennial Height: 3” — 6”
The primrose, is a real favourite, it is a beautiful flower used in both jams and cosmetics. The flowers can also be eaten raw in salads. Both flower and root can be used in pot pourri and can be infused to make a cough remedy. The leaf makes a medicinal tea.
POT MARIGOLD (Calendula officinalis)
Annual Height: 12” — 20”
A very popular and well used herb with various uses — the flowers give colour and a light tangy flavour to all sorts of dishes; dried they add colour to pot pourri and in an infusion they aid digestion. The leaves are used in salads and soups.
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ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Perennial Height: 2’ — 3’
Another of the classic herbs and another must for the kitchen. It has a subtle piquant flavour which can be used in a myriad of ways. Rosemary has many cosmetic and medicinal uses and there are many legends associated with this very popular herb.
Rosemary: Miss Jessup’s Upright
Perennial
This is probably the hardiest variety.
Prostrate Rosemary
(Rosmarinus prostratus)
Perennial Height: 6” — 9”
A Rosemary vith s delicate trailing habit which looks good hanging over a wall or growing in a rockery.
RUE (Ruta graveolens)
Perennial Height: 2’
Not generally used as a culinary herb. lt has a slight coconut flavour and is occasionally used very sparingly but nowadays it tends to be used as a decorative general interest herb.
SAGE (Salvia officinalis)
Perennial Height: 2’
Another of the classic culinary herbs with many uses in the kitchen as well as having various cosmetic and medicinal uses eg as a digestive, antiseptic, hair tonic among others.
Sage: Broadleaf
Similar to ordinary Sage but it doesn’t flower in cool regions.
Sage: Purple (Salvia purpurea)
A very striking plant which makes a good border.
Sage: Golden
Another of the Sage family which gives a bright splash of colour in the herb garden.
SALAD BURNET (Sanguisorba Minor)
Perennial Height: I’
This is a herb with delicate, pretty leaves which are added to salads because of their cucumber flavour; they also make an attractive garnish.
SELF—HEAL (Prunella vulgaris)
Perennial Height: I’ — 18”
An old medicinal herb with a myriad of uses. It is also a herb which is deservedly gaining popularity.
SOAPWORT
(Saponaria officinalis)
Perennial Height: I5” — 3'
This is a lovely garden herb. It is very aromatic — bouquets of Soapwort can perfume a room. Its most important use is perhaps in the restoration of paintings and fabrics — it is now used by museums and restorers for this purpose.
SORREL. French
(Rumex scutatus)
Perennial Height: 2’
The leaves of this herb are used sparingly to flavour soups and stews. It also makes a pleasant sauce.
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SWEET CICELY
(Myrrhis Odorata)
Perennial Height: 2’ — 3’
This is a very attractive herb with fern—like leaves. All parts of the plant are used and all are sweet, indeed, one of its main uses is in cooking to reduce the amount of sugar needed.
TANSY
(Tanacetum vulgare crispum)
Perennial Height: 2’
Tansy is a very beautiful herb with green fern leaves and yellow button flowers. Also called ‘Poor Man’s Cinnamon’ it is regaining former popularity, especially in Tansy Cakes — traditionally served at Easter. It is also a useful insect repellent.
TARRAGON
(Artemisia dracunculus)
Perennial Height: 2’
There are two type’ — French Tarragon and Russian Tarragon. The French Tarragon is the one for use in the kitchen, but it is not as hardy as the Russian, which survives both hotter and colder climates. The flavour of Russian Tarragon, which has a coarser flavour, improves the longer it grows in one place, whereas French Tarragon ideally should be divided and replanted every third year.
TREE ONION (Allium cepa proliferum)
Perennial Height: 2’
An interesting herb which produces small onions at the tips of the leaves. It gives a fresh onion flavour the whole year round.
VALERIAN (Valeriana officinalis)
Perennial Height: 3’
Nature’s own tranquilliser — long known to be a sedative and to have several other valuable medicinal properties but it should not be taken in large doses over an extended period of time so administration of Valerian as a drug is perhaps best left to professionals, however it is also a useful addition to pot—pourri.
VERVAIN (Verbena officinalis)
Perennial Height: approx 3’
Another old medicinal herb with many properties eg Roman soldiers used to carry it in their packs for protection and it was once believed to ward off the plague. lt is used to treat depression and, in conjunction with other remedies, to treat skin complaints. In general a tisane made with the leaves and sweetened with honey is good as a mild sedative.
WALL GERMANDER
Perennial Height: I’
An attractive plant vith glossy dark green leaves and small rosy flowers. It was once a popular medicinal plant but now it is apparently only used as an ingredient of liqueurs and tonic wines. It also makes a good edging plant.
WELSH ONION (Allium fistulosum)
Perennial Height: I’
Use as you do chives for a mild onion flavour but Welsh Onion is available all the year round whereas Chives die down for the winter.
WILD STRAWBERRY (Fragaria vesca)
Hardy evergreen Height: 10"
An attractive little plant with the miniature fruits appearing throughout summer and autumn. The fruits can be eaten fresh or used for jams, cakes, pies, syrups and cordials. The leaf can also be used for many purposes.
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WOAD (Isatis tinctoria)
Biennial Height: 4’
This is another of the dye plants, giving a blue dye. It goes well in dried flower arrangements.
WOODRUFF. SWEET
(Asperula odoreta)
Perennial Height: 6” — 12”
An attractive low growing herb with the scent of new mown hay, it was once used as a strewing herb in the home and in church. The flowers and leaves make a good tea and it is used as flavouring in some wines. It is also used in perfumery and pot pourri and for scenting linen. It repels insects.
YARROW
(Achillea millefolium)
Perennial Height: 18” — 2’
A traditional medicinal herb with many applications but occasionally also used as a fresh herb in salads.
MINTS:
The Mint family is very large. Our current selection is as follows.
APPLEMINT
(Mentha rotundifolia)
Perennial Height: 2’- 3’
The scent is a mixture of mint and apples and it is particularly useful in the kitchen.
CATMINT/CATNEP (Nepeta cataria)
This has actually got some medicinal uses and it was once used as a mild hallucinogen. It is adored by cats who eat it (and roll in it). There is a smaller catmint: mentha mussinii which receives less attention from cats. It makes a good edging plant.
LEMON CATMINT
CORSICAN MINT
(Mentha requienii)
Also known as Rock Peppermint, this is a small—leaved mint with a very strong aroma. It is very low—growing and spreads well. It fills cracks in paving slabs and releases its scent when walked over.
GINGER MINT
A very attractive mint with green and yellow leaves adding a nice splash of colour.
MOROCCAN MINT
A popular strong growing mint.
ORANGE MINT (Mentha piperita citrata)
Also called ‘Eau—dc—Cologne Mint’ and ‘Bergamot Mint’. It is one of the most attractively scented mints and it should be in every herb garden.
PENNYROYAL
(Mentha pulegium)
There are two varieties — one with prostrate and one with erect stems. Used as an insect repellant — ants do not like it and it was once used to eradicate fleas.
PEPPERMINT
(Mentha piperita)
One of the most popular mints — used in the kitchen and as a remedy for indigestion and for calming the nerves, amongst other things. It is also a good companion plant, being particularly good at repelling the Cabbage White butterfly.
PINEAPPLE MINT
Also called Variegated Applemint. Grown generally as a garden ornamental.
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SPEARMINT
(Mentha spicata)
The characteristic mint scent and possibly the most suitable for culinary purposes.
WHITE HOREHOUND (Marrubium vulgare)
A herb with old medicinal uses; in particular it used to be noted for its efficacy in lung troubles and coughs among others.
THE THYME COLLECTION
This is another large family of herbs. Most of them are decorative and grown simply for their beauty and because they spread out well and make good ground cover plants.
THYMUS ALBUS COMPACTUS
A bushy thyme with fine green fragrant foliage and white flowers.
THYME ANDERSON’S GOLD
A dwarf carpeting variety. It is aromatic and has bright golden foliage even through winter.
THYME ANNIE HALL
Very low growing with pretty flowers.
BASIL THYME
THYME BRASSINGHAM
Another very low growing plant with small leaves and flowers.
BROADLEAF THYME
Quite a bushy thyme which spreads exceedingly well but which is easy to control.
COMMON THYME (Thymus vulgaris)
This is the culinary thyme, another of the classic herbs. It is an essential ingredient in bouquet garni.
CREEPING WHITE THYME
CARAWAY SCENTED THYME
(Thyme herba barona)
THYME DOONE VALLEY
This is a creeping thyme with pale purple flowers and lemon scented bright green leaves with gold splashes.
ENGLISH WILD THYME
(Thymus serpyllum)
A creeping prostrate hardy perennial with a delightful aroma. It has white or rosy purple flowers and is ideal for rockeries or paving.
GOLDEN THYME
(Thymus aureus)
This bright golden form of thyme makes a scented mound.
GOLDEN LEMON THYME
(Thymus citriodorus aureus)
Bushy and strongly aromatic. The gold leaves contrast well other dark leaved species.
THYME LEMON CURD
(Thymus serpyllum citriodorus)
This is also a creeping thyme. It has pink flowers, long wiry branches and narrow, sweet lemon scented green leaves.
LEMON THYME
(Thymus citriodorus)
This is also used in the kitchen. It has a lemon scent and a milder flavour than Common Thyme and as such is very good with foods with a delicate flavour, it is sometimes used as an addition to a ‘fines herbes’ blend.
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THYMUS MICANS A creeping thyme with purple flowers. Lovely in pots as it cascades over the sides.
THYME PORLOCK
THYMUS RUSSETTINGS
A creeping mat-forming thyme with pretty flowers. Very good in paving.
EXTRA:
We can now also offer the following related products.
Plant feed
Bottles of our own Comfrey Juice. An all purpose organic plant feed, particularly rich in potassium.
Seeds
We have a small selection of herb seeds.
Herbs & Spice labels
Most attractive. Two ranges: a) popular range
b) gourmet range
Books
We now stock a range of selected books which we are constantly trying to extend.
Gifts
A selection of tea—towels, trays, bags, tote bags and bone china mugs, all with herb designs and all of which make pleasant and affordable gifts.
Sampler Kits
Attractive sampler kits of herb designs which can be made into a greetings card if desired. Everything necessary is included in the kit.
