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Herbs A - F

Angelica (angelica archangelica) 
   

B.  Known as dong quai in Chinese herbalism.  Ht 4 - 5 ft (122 - 152 cm).  Large leaves and large umbels of yellow flowers in summer.  Young stems are candied for cake decoration.  Makes an effective disinfectant.  Old herbals recommended wearing a piece of Angelica root around the neck or in the pocket to ward off invisible arrows from elves!  Herbal uses - migraine, vertigo, anti-inflammatory, coughs, colds, pleurisy, urinary disease.  Good plant for damp spots.  Food plant of the Swallowtail butterfly.  Hoverfly and bee plant.  Prefers some shade. 

CAUTION - DO NOT USE IF DIABETIC AS IT WILL INCREASE SUGAR LEVELS IN URINE

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Bergamot "Panorama" (monarda didyma) 
   
P.  Whorls of flowers in shades of red to salmon.  Fragrant plant loved by bees; indeed, it is also known as Bee Balm.  Makes a good pot pourri ingredient.  Vapour from leaves can ease a cold.  Anti-inflammatory.  Sun or partial shade, damp soil.  Ht 18 - 36 ins (35 - 90 cm).
Black Cohosh (cimifuga racemosa) 
   

P.  Spires of creamy-white bottlebrush flowers.  Ht 5 ft (1.5 m).  Flowers July to September.  Relieves asthma, rheumatism, tinnitus.  Regulates blood pressure,.  Native American Indians used it for "women's problems".  Partial shade, moist soil.  Dies down over winter.

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Borage (borago officinalis) 
   
A.  Excellent bee plant.  Lovely starry blue flowers and black anthers.  Flowers often used to decorate glasses of Pimms.
Bronze Fennel 
   

Same as foeniculum vulgare but leaves have a distinct bronze tinge to them.  Very striking specimen for any border, let alone the herb garden.

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Cardoon (cynara cardunculus) 
   
HP.  CG.  Very tall, very striking plant, growing to about 6 ft.  Large, deeply-cut leaves and large mauve thistle heads.  Good for gall bladder and liver function.  Relieves fluid retention and urinary tract infections.  Can be eaten as a vegetable.   Plant also yields a yellow dye.
Chamomile, Lawn (chamomaelum nobile) 
   

HP.  Flowering variety but just as good as the non-flowering - only disadvantage is it has to be mown.  Plant 4 ins apart.  Available as plugs - please see Plugs section for details of how to order. 


Chervil (anthriscus cerefoilum) 
   

A.  Frondy leaves and small white flowers.  Use as flavouring in soups and salads.  Leaves can be made into a poultice for aches and piles. 

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Chicory (cichorium intybus) 
   
HP.  WF.  Beautiful sky blue flowers.  About 1 ft (30 cm) or so high.  Contains vitamins B, C, K and P.  Used in remedies for gallstones and other bladder problems.  Root is used as a coffee substitute.  Leaves can be boiled to produce a blue dye.
Chinese Motherwort (leonorus sibericus) 
   

P.  H.  Ht 3 ft (90 cm).  Spikes of crimson-lipped pink flowers and dark green divided leaves.  reduces blood pressure, regulates menstruation, clears out toxins.  Good for eczema and abscesses.

(Only 2 x 9 cm pots left)

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Cistus ladanifer 
   

HP.  Sticky leaves and papery white flowers with yellow centres and purple splotches.  Grows into a shrub about 6 ft (2 m) high.  Used in perfumery.  Sun.  Ideal for chalk and poor, dry soil.
Clary (salvia sclarea) 
   

B.  Ht to 4 ft (1.2 m).   Large, wrinkly dark-green leaves and spikes of mauve/pink "flowers".  Used for eye problems.  Lowers blood pressure, relieves wind and colic.  Sun.

CAUTION - do not use during pregnancy
Curry Plant (helichrysum italicum) 
   
HP.  Bushy habit with silver-grey leaves that smell of curry.  Small yellow flowers in summer.  Ht 2 ft (60 cm).  Doesn't mind poor soil.  Sun.
Emperor's Mint (micromeria) 
   

P.  Smaller leaves than common Mint.  Same uses. Ht 2 ft (60 cm). 

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Evening Primrose (oenothera biennis) 
   
B.  Bright yellow flowers June to October which are particularly attractive to moths.  Ht 2ft 6 ins (80 cm).  Birds like the seeds.  Food plant of the Elephant Hawk moth.  Many medicinal uses, such as treating PMT, dermatitis, high cholesterol and psoriasis. 
Fennel (foeniculum vulgare) 
   

P.  Ht about 6 ft (2 m).  Tall stem, tendril leaves and yellow umbels of flowers in summer.  Many culinary uses due to its aniseed flavour - although don't confuse this plant with the bulbous rooted Florence Fennel.  Good hoverfly and bee plant.  Plant used to be eaten to hold hunger pangs at bay when food was scarce.  Yields a yellow dye.  Was used as a medieval strewing herb.  Many other herbal uses.  Even makes a good face pack!

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