Stunning in flower beds! Flowers the first season if started early (Jan-Feb). Lovely variety with large purple wing-like bracts resting upon a sea of dark purple flowerheads. Ht. 35-40cm/14-16.
A traditional source of molasses and sugar. Cool weather crop; roots attain maximum sugar content in the fall. Although the process is lengthy it is possible to extract molasses, and even sugar, at home from sugar beets grown in your garden.
Also against flu, inflamed kidneys, and diarrhea. While leaves form ground-hugging mats. Used for all respiratory problems including asthma, bronchitis, excess mucus, and cough. Flowers reach 30cm/12in.
Masses of flowers in spring are a mix of purple, pink and white. This is the flower of deceit, giving off its lovely perfume only in the evening. Leaves picked before the flowers appear are nutritious salad greens.
Feast for the eyes -- pleasing to the palate. Borage, Calendula, Heartsease, Nasturtium, Citrus Marigold. Herbs with edible flowers to add to salads, omelettes, desserts, and drinks.
Easy to grow -- rather like tomatoes. A fixture in Mexican salsa verde, the mildly hot green sauce served with tacos and chile rellenos. Tomatillos will keep well through the winter if stored loose in a cool place.
Impressive in fresh floral arrangements! Casablanca is also a fine garden flower for tall borders. (Honeyplant) Commercial variety for the cutflower market. Flowers look like white umbrellas mounted on strong, straight stems.
Prefers dry, well-drained sandy loam. (Chinese ephedra) Properties and uses are similar to those of but contains the additional anti-inflammatory compound, ephedroxane. Native of dry grasslands of Central Asia, Tibet, China and Mongolia.
Also used as a diuretic and to reduce excessive sweating. Chinese medicinal herb noted for strengthening the spleen and building energy. Animal studies suggest it strengthens endurance.
Seeds can be ground and used with near abandon like black pepper. (Fennel flower; Russian caraway; Black caraway) Commonly featured in Indian dhals and equally at home in Russian rye bread! Aromatic black seeds resemble fennel in aroma and taste something...
Purified ephedrine is very potent, and a common North American practice of adding it to diet formulas is potentially dangerous because ephedrine can raise blood pressure if used over a long period, and can even cause cardiac arrythmias.
Large tropical-looking foliage. Oil extracted from seeds is a commonly used laxative for temporary constipation and acute diarrhea. Caution: although the oil is safe, raw seeds are poisonous.
Tall (up to 2 metres) erect habit; rarely flowers in temperate zones. AIso effective mosquito control. Recent research suggests it has powerful anti-viral properties. Besides its nematodicidal and insecticidal properies, it destroys noxious weeds, including...
Wonderful for bath and shower as it invigorates the skin without harsh abrasion. (Loofah) Known as the ‘dishcloth gourd' because the dried over-ripe fruits can be used to scrub dishes.
It is frost tender, but will produce a crop in areas where the summers are warm and frost-free. It is grown for smoking in some parts of Asia. It is an annual growing to 1.5 meters (5 ft.) tall, flowering from July to September.
A cocktail of chemical constituents has been found to be medicinally active, including flavonoids, saponins and glycosides. One triterpenoid glycoside has been shown to have an antifungal effect against candida.
Sow in a sunny spot, where it will get lots of moisture. Well known as a source for high quality yellow dye since ancient times; pigments used for oil paint as well as dyeing wool, cotton, and silk up until the Middle Ages.
It is somewhat shade tolerant, but needs sun to bring out its best colour. It is easily grown from seed sown directly into the garden. Dusty miller not only makes all the other plants in your garden look better, it is a boon to those facing tough gardening...
Traditionally used since the Middle Ages for whooping cough and as a mucus-reducing cough remedy. Purple-rose flowers in spring. New research shows that it relieves the symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies without the drowsiness that antihistamine...
Prefers sandy soil. Interesting cactus, winter hardy in Ontario. May be eaten raw or dried, first discarding thick skins and seeds. Bears edible fruits (pears) having pleasant, sweet, somewhat acid taste.
