Chives- Available –Allium schoenoprasum. Easy to grow and use, chives lend a mild onion flavor to any dish. Goes dormant in the winter, but always comes back. Edible flowers. $5

Cilantro - Available - $5

I’itoi Onion - Available - A special onion from the desert southwest and a traditional food for the O’odham peoples. During the winter, you can eat the plentiful greens (similar in flavor to chives or green onions). In the summer, the tops die back and you can dig the onions - like very small and flavorful shallots. This is a dividing onion, so save some each year to renew your supply. $5

Galangal - Available.- Alpina galangal (Greater Galangal) OR Alpina Officinarium (Lesser Galangal). Both are perennial members of the Ginger family, and classic Thai culinary herbs. The roots and stalks can be used in soups and stir-fries, lending a unique flavor. Once the stand is established, you can harvest parts of the plant by cutting it away with a sharp knife. Perennial to 3' tall with fragrant white flowers marked with pink. The main difference between the two varieties is that the Lesser Galangal is more spicy in flavor, and the leaves are more aromatic. Protect from frost. $12

Marjoram- Available – Origanum majorana. Another oft overlooked seasoning, somewhat milder and sweeter than its cousin Oregano. Remember to harvest the plant, flowers and all, to hang to dry in your kitchen for winter soups. Perennial, full sun. $5

Mint, Peppermint- Out of Stock–Mentha piperita. Wonderful spicy mint for teas and confections. There is not much difference between the regular peppermint and the Chocolate peppermint, but we maintain both cultivars and may substitute one for the other. Best to grow this in a pot as it does tend to run about. Mint prefers a wide shallow pot over a narrow deep one. Every couple of years renew your mint by turning the whole plant out of the pot, trimming back all of the aerial parts, cutting it into 4 pieces with a knife or garden clippers and replanting each of the pieces. Give one to a friend or neighbor. $5

Mint, Spearmint - Out of Stock – Mentha spicata. When you see a recipe that calls for “mint,” this is the plant that is referred to. Perfect for all things minty – teas, mixed drinks, salads, and so forth. As with peppermint, best to grow this one in a large pot. Cut it all the way down to soil level from time to time and it will renew. Additionally, it is necessary to refresh the plant every year by turning it out of the pot and dividing the plant into several pieces, shaking off the old soil and repotting it into fresh potting mix. Full sun to part shade and regular water. $5

Mint, Chinese - Out of Stock– Mentha haplocalyx. “bo-he” The official mint used in Chinese medicine. Distinct from spearmint, the Chinese mint has a mellow flavor and makes an excellent tea. $5

Mint, Orange - Out o fStock - A cultivar perhaps of peppermint, this has a strong bitter orange flavor, similar to bergamot. Large plant with purple flowers. $5

Oregano, Dittany of Crete. - Out of Stock –Origanum dictamnus. Endemic to the Island of Crete, this is a very showy oregano with round, silvery leaves and little pink flowers with showy bracts. Does well in rock gardens with full sun and dry soils. Or you can show it off in a nice pot where it will hang over the edges. Culinary, medicinal and ornamental. $8

Oregano, Greek - Out of Stock -. Origanum heracleoticum. One of the herb garden essentials, oregano is spicy and aromatic. Great for pastas and marinades, it also has disinfectant and antifungal properties. Perennial, full sun $5

Oregano, Zaatar - Available -. Origanum syriacum. A fine culinary oregano from the middle east, this is one of the traditional ingredients in the spice blend, Zaatar. Upright habit, silver leaves, and spicy flavor. Perennial, full sun. $5

Parsley- Available –Petroselinum crispum. A traditional garnish for nearly everything. Parsley is an easy to grow biennial. This means that it will go to seed in its second year. When it does, you can pull it out and replant or let the seeds ripen and fall to the ground. Little birds will thank you, and you will have a beautiful parsley patch. Full sun. $5

Sage, culinary- Available –Salvia officinalis This is the official species of sage for cooking with. Add to soups, pasta, marinades, and meat for a distinctive flavor. Also you can make herbal butters with the flowers in spring. Full sun, Perennial (though it does tend to be short-lived – expect 2-3 years for a sage plant). $5

Savory, winter- Available–Satureja montana. Another often forgotten herb, Savory defines itself. Add sprigs of Savory to soups and broths for a wonderful rich flavor. Used fresh it is quite spicy and makes an excellent marinade. One of the Herbs de Provence. Perennial, full sun. $5

Thyme, Summer - Available-Thymus vulgaris. This is a fine leaf variety similar to a French thyme. Aromatic and spicy, thyme also makes a medicinal tea for the common cold. When harvesting, never cut deeply into the plant, just trim gently. Use fresh or tie in little bundles and hang to dry in your kitchen for later. Remember to eat the flowers. Perennial, full sun. $5

Medicinal Aloes - Of the many kinds of Aloe, there are just four species that are considered choice for medicinal use.

Aloe Vera - Out of Stock - This is the official Aloe for both internal and external use. Succulent perennial native to Africa. Soothing gel. Prefers a partly shaded environment and makes a great houseplant. Protect from frost. Also there are two basic types of the Aloe Vera - one with more speckles on the skin and which makes more ofsets or “pups” The other is more silver and forms a bigger rosette with fewer pups. Both are in 1-gal standard nursery pots. Only the speckled one with pups is currently available. $12

Aloe ellenbeckii -Available-  A beautiful, low-growing species of aloe with lightly speckled, pale green leaves and orange-red flowers nearly year round. Very lovely non-bitter, clear gel for eating or using topically. This is a really special plant. Best grown in well drained soil in shade or filtered sun, minimal water, protect from frost. Rare and wonderful. $15

Aloe arborescens - Out of Stock- Candelabra aloe. Highly medicinal aloe species native to southern Africa. The leaves are pale green, edged with soft spines and have a strong bitter flavor. Grows 6-8' tall with red flowers in winter. Protect from frost. $15

Aloe ferox - Available- This species can only be grown from seed and will develop into a small tree-like form with sturdy trunk and spiny leaves which, when cut, ooze a bitter yellow sap from the skin around the clear inner gel. 5” pots, $15

Apricot Sprite - Available - Agastache aurantiaca. A combination of all the things that we love - fragrant foliage makes a good tea, apricot colored tubular flowers are edible for people and good nectar for hummingbirds. A very tidy plant about 18” tall and with abundant flowers spikes through summer and fall. So cottage garden. For full sun to partial shade. See also Rose Mint for a pink companion. $8

Ashitaba- Angelica keiskei-koidzumi. Biennial or short lived perennial native to southern Japan. Stalks and leaves of this plant taste like a strong celery and are one of the few plant based sources of vitamin B12. Ashitaba contains plant based flavinoids called Chalcones. Super high plant nutrition/ food medicine. Prefers regular garden conditions with plenty of compost and regular water.

Basil, Holy / Tulsi Basil -Ocimum sp. We grow three kinds - Krishna, Vana and common temperate Tulsi . Provide a sunny location with good garden soil and regular water. Protect from frost. All are considered medicinal and the leaves and flowering tops can be used fresh or dried to make tea. If you do not specify, we will assume the Temperate Tulsi.

Tulsi, Temperate - Out of Stock - (Ocimum africanum) The most common variety and the easiest to grow, a self-seeding annual with pink flowers and fruity aroma. $8

Krishna Tuisi - Out of Stock - (Ocimum sanctum) Perennial, dark purple leaves. This one is considered to have the highest levels of medicinal compounds of the three offered here $8

Vana Tulsi - Out of Stock - (Ocimum gratissimum) Perennial, the largest plant of the three, with strong flavor of cloves and white flowers. Can grow to 3 feet tall and the leaves are pale green and soft to the touch. $8

Bee Balm, Sweet Leaf Bergamot - Monarda fistulosa. This is a perennial species of Monarda native to the eastern and central US. Showy flowers are pink and the plant makes a lovely tea. It will bloom in the second year and make a wonderful feast for local bees and butterflies.

Bee Balm, Scarlet (Oswego Tea), - Monarda didyma. Perennial species of Bergamot native to the eastern US with whorls of bright red flowers. Absolutely stunning! Great tea, and also an excellent pollinator plant. Prefers sun to part shade and average water.

Brahmi - Available –Bacopa monnieri. Creeping perennial groundcover native to India with tiny white flowers. The small leaves are very bitter and used medicinally in small amounts, sometimes it is just what you need. Protect from frost. Warm shade with rich garden soil, although they will tolerate some clay.

Chrysanthemum, Chinese - Chrysanthemum morifolium. This is the official Chinese medicinal chrysanthemum, Bo-ju-hua for making tea. A long-lived evergreen perennial with creamy white flowers with yellow centers. It is the flowers that you use for tea either fresh or dry. Very lovely, with the peak bloom time in the fall. Perfectly frost hardy, give part shade in warmer areas or full sun along the coast and regular garden conditions with adequate water.

Comfrey - Here are the two kinds that we offer. They do best with summer water and are not picky about soil type :

True comfrey - Symphytum officinale - Available. This one can be planted from seed and is a little bit slower growing, with gorgeous purple flowers in spring

Comfrey, Russian - Symphytum x uplandicum. Out of Stock. This is a hybrid variety which can only be propagated from crown divisions and will not produce viable seed. Very robust plants are perfect for orchard understory.

Cotton, perennial - Gossypium arboreum. An ancient cultivar of true cotton which has been in cultivation in India for so long that it has no known wild counterpart. Tree cotton grows into an evergreen bush up to 5’ tall and wide. Flowers are white, shading to pink once pollinated and the emerging cotton is a long staple, white fiber, very soft cotton. Grows true from seed, protect from frost.

Family Doctor Plant - Callisia fragrans. A perennial tropical plant native to Mexico and grown as a friendly house plant world-wide. The leaves and stems are edible and refreshing, though they have some fibers in them that can be spit out. It has significant medicinal properties. The plant has a whimsical look to it with a central column of leaves that form a sort of rosette and little side shoots coming of the main stem. The side shoots can be cut and rooted to make new plants. Perfect for a frost free shade garden or indoors in a bright room. Makes a great houseplant!

Greek Mountain Tea - Sideritis syriaca. A low growing perennial with soft silver leaves and yellow flowers in whorled spikes that can be used for tea. Full sun and good drainage with minimal water. Native to the Peloponnese mountains.

Gynostemma - Jiao-gu-lan - Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Perennial vining member of the cucumber family native to Southeast Asia and Japan. A very graceful climber for a trellis in a partly shaded location. Can be grown in a sunny window indoors. Leaves and stems can be eaten fresh or dried for tea. Traditional Chinese Medicinal plant.

Helichrysum - Helichrysum italicum. Perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region of Europe. Silver foliage with small yellow flowers on a tidy plant one to two feet in diameter. Drought tolerant for full sun and well drained soils. Highly valued aromatic medicinal.

Ma-huang, Chinese Ephedra - Ephedra sinica. Native to China, this is the official species used in traditional Chinese Medecine. This plant occupies a liminal space of legality, as you are allowed to grow it, to have and sell seeds, but unless you are a licensed practitioner of oriental medicine, it is illegal to buy or sell the cut stems. This is a powerful plant that should be used with great respect. Ma-huang is dioecious (male and female flowers on different plants), slow growing and extremely heat and drought tolerant. Plant in full sun, well drained soil. Frost hardy. The plants that we offer are two years old, grown from seed of our own production. 1-gallon pots.

Marshmallow – Althaea officinalis. A European perennial member of the Mallow family, this is the official species. Velvet soft leaves and light pink flowers on a plant that grows to 4’ tall and tolerates moist ground, poor drainage, and cool wet winters. While the whole plant has medicinal properties, it is the root that really is something special. It can be dug in its second or third year and used fresh or dried for a cooling, mucilaginous beverage or poultice. The original “marshmello” was a candied version of this root, often given to children to sooth coughs and sore throats.

Silver Mullein, Arctic Summer - Verbascum bombyciferum. European native plant, medicinally interchangeable with the common mullein. Giant rosette of fuzzy silver leaves in the first year followed by a 5’ multi-branched flowering stalk covered with yellow flowers the size of quarters. Bees love it. The leaves and flowers are medicinal.

Peony, Chinese - Paeonia suffruticosa. Long lived perennial native to China and other parts of Asia. Giant white flowers grace this small deciduous shrub around the spring equinox. Grows best in part shade, slightly acidic soils with moderate summer water. Roots are used in Traditional Chines Medicine. It is an honor to be in the presence of this beauty. Grown from seeds planted in 2021. 1-gallon.

Rehmannia, Chinese Foxglove - Rehmannia glutinosa. Perennial creeping groundcover native to China and perfectly frost hardy. The rhizomes are a highly regarded medicinal ally in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Flowers are a dusky rose color and occur from spring through summer. Full sun to part shade and moist but well-drained soil. Winter dormant.

Sage, Chinese Red - Dan-shen. - Salvia miltiorrhiza.  Perennial sage with purple flowers in spring and early summer. The dark red roots are highly regarded in Chinese Medecine. Harvest after the second year. Full sun, average soils and moderate water. Frost hardy and very pretty in the landscape. $8

Self Heal - Prunella vulgaris. European native medicinal plant with purple flowers. A low, creeping groundcover for sun or part shade and regular water. Tolerates clay and poorly drained soils. Good medicine, super cute and very easy to grow.

Spilanthes - Acmella oleracea. Tropical perennial native to South America. Also known as "Toothache Plant" or "buzzbuds".Eating the leaves or flower buds  gives a very lively sensation in your mouth - tingly and numb - and increases salivation. An excellent swish-and-spit mouthwash, or poultice for sore gums. The plant has many healthful properties and interesting culinary possibilities. Very fun in the landscape as well, the yellow flower buds look like little eyes. Protect from frost or grow as a summer annual. Full sun, regular water.

Stevia- Stevia rebaudiana. The leaves of this plant are many times sweeter than sugar but have no glycemic index. Easy to use - chop or steep the leaves fresh for teas and smoothies or dry them and crumble them into your cooking. The plant prefers rich, well drained garden soil, plenty of water, and lots of sun. It goes dormant in the winter so cut it back nearly to the ground in the fall and dry the leaves for later use.

Sweetgrass -Heirochloe odorata. This is a perennial grass for moist soil and sun to part shade which spreads slowly by rhizomes. Sweetgrass grows in many places across the world from North America to Europe and Asia and has multiple traditional uses including most famously making braids which can be burned to release a sweet aroma. The best time for harvest is midsummer and once dried, the braids or leaves remain fragrant for a long time.

Turmeric - Curcuma longa. Winter dormant perennial. Source of the bright yellow root (rhizome) which is commonly used as a spice in Indian cooking. Very famous and increasingly recognized as a powerful anti-inflammatory. The plant emerges from a winter dormancy in March or April, sending up shoots which unfurl into big green leaves, and later booming with white flowers. Around November or December the leaves turn a golden yellow and fall over. Do not worry! This is the natural cycle of the plant. At this point it is time to harvest the golden rhizomes. You can dig down around the base of the plant and break off pieces or pull the whole thing up and save some of the pieces for replanting in the spring. Dormant roots will sprout best in soil temperatures of 80 degrees. Turmeric does quite well in pots, or in loamy garden soil with part shade.

Violet, Fragrant “Charlotte”– Viola odorata. This is the true fragrant violet of “roses are red, violets are blue” lore. Slowly spreading perennial for part shade – oak woodland, north side of house. The flowers give the classic fragrance of sweet violet perfume and the whole plant has medicinal qualities for internal and external use (poulticing). It blooms in the winter when not much else is happening. Frost hardy. Edible flower. These are from plants that my grandmother planted here on our land many years ago, and I have named them after her.

Wormwood - Artemesia absinthium. Perennial shrub to three feet tall and wide with silver foliage, native to Europe and Asia. This is a bitter herb with traditional medicinal uses, most famously as an ingredient in absinthe. Full sun to part shade and relatively drought tolerant but does need a bit of summer water. You can cut the plant back in fall or winter after the flower spikes have started to fade. As with all of the artemisias, the flowers are not particularly showy, just cute little buttons on the ends of the stems.

Yarrow - Achillea millefolium.   Native to most places in the world and used medicinally wherever it grows, yarrow is indispensable in the apothecary garden. Clumping perennial has white flowers in spring and summer. Excellent for attracting beneficial insects to your garden. Leaves and flowers are edible and medicinal. Full sun, average soils. The yarrow offered here is from wild-type seed collected locally and propagated here on the farm - it is especially juicy and beautiful.