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Herbs G - N

Gayfeather (liatris spicata) - "Goblin" 
   

HP.  Tall, linear leaves.  Rosy purple flowers appear in summer in a feather formation.  Ht 16 - 20 ins.  Antibacterial.  Dies down over winter.

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Herb Bennet (geum urbanum) 
   

P.  WF.  Also known as Wood Avens.  Tiny yellow flowers in summer followed by purple fruits with hooked bristles.  Roots were used in soups and ale.   Roots also act as a moth repellent if laid amongst clothes.  If you carry Herb Bennet you will not be harmed by venomous creatures!  Moist shade.

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Herb Robert (geranium robertianum) 
   

HP.  Wf.  Ht 9 - 15 ins (22 - 37 cm).  Food plant of bees, long-tongued hoverflies and small insects.  Leaves can be crushed to make compresses for bruises and wounds.  Can be taken internally for diarrhoea, peptic ulcers and bleeding.  Used externally for inflamed gums and herpes.  Plant in well-drained to dry soil, preferably shade (too much sun and the leaves turn red and the plant does not produce so many.)  Self-seeds well.
Holy Thistle (cnicus benedictus) 
   

A.  Very prickly with yellow flowers.  Common in medieval monastery herb gardens as a cure-all.  Fresh green leaves used to be eaten in sandwiches.  Plant stimulates the immune system.

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Hyssop (hyssopus officinalis) 
   

P.  Narrow leaves and spikes of dainty blue or white flowers mid- to late-summer.  Ht 3 ft (92 cm), bushy shrub. Used as a medicinal tea to relieve bronchitis and catarrh.  Can be used as a gargle.  Butterfly and bee plant.  Grow near cabbages to lure away Cabbage Whites.  Flowers can be added to pot pourri. 

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Jacob's Ladder (polemonium caeruleum) 
   

WF.  CG.  Beautiful lilac or white flowers and fern-like leaves.  Ht 2 ft (60 cm).  Used in ancient times as a remedy for fever, palpitations and hysteria.  Ancient physicians prescribed the plant in wine for relief from toothache, dysentry and insect bites.  Used in the 19th century to treat syphilis and rabies.  Boiled in olive oil the plant produces a black dye.  Plant in sun or shade.  prefers damp soil.

(Only 3 x 9 cm pots at moment)
Lady's Smock (cardamine pratensis) 
   
HP.  WF.  Used to be believed to be beneficial to the heart.  Leaves contain 15 times more Vitamin C than found in a lemon, so the plant was used as a remedy against scurvy.  Leaves have a peppery taste and have been used as a watercress substitute.  Sprays of delicate pale lilac four-petalled flowers.  Ht to about 2 ft (60 cm). 
Lavender Vera 
   

P.  Deep blue flowers.
Lavender, Hidcote Blue 
   

P.  mall blue flowers.  Ht 1 ft (30 cm).
Lavender, Hidcote Pink 
   

Lavender with grey-green leaves and pink flowers.
Lavender, Lady (lavendula augustifolia) 
   

P.  Good hedging Lavender with blue flowers.
Lemon Balm (melissa officinalis) 
   

HP.  Spreading but well-known herb which produces leaves strongly scented of lemon.  Culinary and medicinal herb. 

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Milk Thistle (silybum marianum) 
   

B.  Ht 4 ft (1.2 m).  Spiny green leaves splashed with veins of white.  Purple thistle flowers.  Very attractive plant.  Good for the liver, particularly if a lot of alcohol has been drunk or you are undergoing chemotherapy (although check with your doctor first if you can safely take it).  The seeds can be roasted to make a herbal coffe which acts as a liver tonic.  Full sun.  Any soil.

(Only 1 x 9 cm pot at moment)

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Mint, Bowles (Mentha rotundifolia) 
   

Ht 2 ft (60 cm).  Dense spires of pale lilac flowers.  Round woolly leaves.  Bee and butterfly plant - particularly the Gatekeeper and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies.

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Mint, Eau de Cologne (mentha piperita var. citrata) 
   

P.  Dark green and purple-tinged leaves and pinky-mauve flowers.  Ht 3 ft (90 cm).  Culinary and fragrant uses.

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Mint, Emperors (micromeria) 
   

Small-leaved mint with cream flowers.  Same culinary uses as common mint. 

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Mint, gracilis 
   

HP.  Ht 1 ft (30 cm).  Spicy scented.  Pinky flowers.
Mint, Mountain (pyrocanthemum pilosum) 
   

Although related to mint, this plant doesn't have invasive runners.  Use as you would peppermint.  Bee plant.  Can also be used as a mint substitute in cooking.  Shade/partial shade.

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Mint,. Ginger (mentha gentiles) 
   

P.  Ht 1 - 2 ft (30 - 60 cm).  Good for pot pourri.
Motherwort (leonurus cardiaca) 
   

HP.  Leafy plant with mauve-pink flowers.  Ht 4 ft (1.2 m).  Helps panic attacks.  Reduces blood pressure and angina attacks. Good for PMS and can help hot flushes. 

CAUTION - DO NOT TAKE DURING PREGNANCY OR IF ON BLOOD THINNING DRUGS

(Only 1 x 7 cmand 1 x 1L pots left)

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