Herbal Herbs

Posted: 12/07/2008 10:45:00 am
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Author: Java[at]Saindra
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Filed under: herbal, herbs, plants

by Betty Barr Mackey, the Editors of Publications International, Ltd., Lynn Adams, MS

1. Artemisia, Wormwood

Artemisias, or wormwoods, are rugged perennial herbs with varied leaf forms that are usually selected for their silvery foliage color. The flowers are insignificant yellowish daisies. Some types are woodier or shrubbier than others. Size ranges from four inches to over four feet.

Herb Garden Image Gallery

Artemisias, or wormwood, are rugged perennial herbs known for their silvery foliage and yellowish daisies. Learn about artemisia.

The artemisia, also called wormwood, is a full sun perennial.
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How to grow: Artemisias tolerate drought, heat, and cold but not wet feet in winter. They grow in any decent garden soil with good drainage. Plants perform best in full sun and become somewhat leggy in partial shade.

Propagation: By division in early spring, also from seed.

Uses: Low-growing types of artemisia can be used at the front of borders and in rock gardens. Tall types are good toward the back in flower borders and can be massed by themselves.

Related species: Artemisia absinthium is the common herbal (but somewhat toxic) wormwood, called absinthe. A. ludoviciana is known as southernwood and white sage -- Silver King -- is a popular cultivar. A. frigida forms low mats and can be pruned to shape.

Scientific name : Artemisia species

2. Spearmint

Spearmint is a perennial herb and a refreshing member of the mint family. Often used in chewing gum, breath mints, and toothpaste, spearmint also makes a useful culinary herb.

Spearmint has rich green, tooth edged leaves that give off a wonderful fragrance when rubbed.

Spearmint has rich green leaves that give off a
wonderful fragrance when rubbed.

The toothed, rich green leaves of this perennial give off a wonderful aroma when rubbed. Though not a very large plant, spearmint should be grown where the roots can be contained, as they spread rapidly.

Spearmint Quick Facts:

Scientific Name: Mentha spicata
Common Name: Spearmint
Type of Plant: Perennial herb
Growing Zones for Spearmint: Hardy to zone 4
Growing Conditions for Spearmint: Preferably sun

3. Calamint

Calamint is a perennial herb and a member of the mint family. Great for the scented garden, it also attracts the attention of the local bee population.

Calamint both looks and smells delightful.

This low-growing herb has pleasant mint-scented leaves, and its tiny but profuse white or pale lilac flowers appear in late summer to fall. Calamint loves sunny spots, and although small in stature, it will spread.

Calamint Quick Facts:

Scientific Name: Calamintha nepetoides
Common Name: Calamint
Type of Plant: Perennial herb
Growing Zones for Calamint: Hardy to zone 4
Growing Conditions for Calamint: Sun

4. Licorice Plant

The licorice plant is an intriguing species in high demand for its unique foliage, and growers cultivate the plant all year long. It is related to strawflowers and comes from arid lands in South Africa.

Herb Gardens Image Gallery

Picture of trailing shrub, licorice plant.

The interesting foliage of licorice plant has made it a very popular annual.
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Description of licorice plant: Licorice plant is a mound-forming or trailing shrub, which, when grown as an annual, bears stems that reach about 20 inches long. They are covered with furry, silver, heart-shaped leaves, also available with cream or yellow coloration. If allowed to flower late in the growing season, it produces cream-colored flower heads.

How to grow licorice plant: Grow in well-drained soil of moderate fertility or ordinary peat-based potting mix in full sun to light shade.

Propagating licorice plant: Root cuttings of firm shoots in summer to winter indoors and then replant in spring.

Uses for licorice plant: Blend a single, silver-leaved plant in a pot with cool blue and purple or warm red and pink flowers. Try the golden-leaved form with warm orange and red flowers. You also can plant masses of either color in annual beds for the contrasting foliage and season-long color.

Licorice plant related varieties: 'Limelight' has yellow-green leaves and grows best in light shade. 'Variegatum' has cream-variegated silver leaves.

Scientific name for licorice plant: Helichrysum petiolare

5. Dill

Dill is a beautiful annual, which is edible as well as ornamental. The foliage, flowers, and dill seeds have a marvelous flavor while the upright plants, feathery foliage, and yellow flowers look great in flower borders or mixed gardens.

Description of dill: Dill has hollow, ridged, upright stems that reach to about 2 feet high and are topped with airy, umbrella-shaped clusters of tiny yellow flowers.

How to grow dill: Plant seeds in full sun and well-drained, average to fertile soil, thinning seedlings to 8 to 12 inches apart. Dill grows quickly from a ferny sprout to a tall flowering specimen. Once it sets seed, the plant quickly deteriorates, a good reason for replanting every couple weeks through the early half of the growing season.

Propagating dill: Plant dill seeds directly in the garden from late spring through the middle of summer. Self-sown seeds may emerge from around old plants if the soil is not disturbed.

Uses for dill: Dill makes a wonderful upright accent plant in large container gardens or mixed flower beds. Or use it for color and flavor in a decorative vegetable and herb garden.

Dill related varieties: 'Bouquet' is a compact dwarf, less likely to tip over in the wind. Compact 'Fernleaf,' an award winner, is slower to flower and set seed and therefore provides a longer harvest of the aromatic leaves.

Scientific name for dill: Anethum graveolens

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