A frost-tender, tropical, evergreen, PERENNIAL grass that is aromatic and grows up to 1.5m.
Prefers well-drained moist soil in a full sun position. Can tolerate very alkaline soils and drought to some degree.
Fragrant leaves and the heart of young shoots are cultivated for use in cooking and teas. The leaves and essential oils are used commonly as traditional home remedies.
A PERENNIAL growing to 1.2m with attractive pinnate leaves. Flowers are purple to pale whitish blue and followed by oblong pods containing several seeds.
Prefers moist soil and can grow in full sun or semi-shade.
The plant is cultivated for its edible root which is used as a flavouring and medicine.
Garden Lovage is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.8m. The plant is erect and tall with a basal rosette pinnately divided leaves, and flowers produced at umbels at the top of leafy stems.
Lovage smells somewhat similar to celery.
Prefers moist soil in full sun or semi-shade.
All parts of the plant is edible and it has domestic historical medicine use.
Love-in-the-Mist is an ANNUAL plant growing to 50cm tall with pinnately divided thread-like leaves and starry shaped flowers and large inflated capsules filled with numerous seeds. It is grown as an ornamental and comes in shades of blue, pink and purple.
A flowering ANNUAL growing to 50cm (T. patula) or 1m (T. erecta). Most species have pinnate green leaves and bright blooms in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights.
It prefers well-drained soil in a full sun position, and is tolerant of heavy clay soil.
Commonly grown as a companion plant in the vegetable garden, or a bright and cheery flower in the ornamental garden, marigolds are edible and some have medicinal qualities too.
A flowering ANNUAL growing to 30cm. Pinnate green leaves and masses of small bright blooms in golden, orange, yellow, and white colors, often with maroon highlights.
It prefers well-drained soil in a full sun position, and is tolerant of heavy clay soil.
Commonly grown as a companion plant in the vegetable garden, or a bright and cheery flower in the ornamental garden, marigolds are edible and some have medicinal qualities too.
Mexican Tarragon is a PERENNIAL growing to 80cm with an upright to bushy habit with many unbranching stems. Leaves are linear, shiny green and anise-tarragon scented.
Clusters of small golden yellow flower heads on the ends of the stems appear in late summer.
Prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Can grow in heavy clay soil.
A hardy mat-forming PERENNIAL growing to 40cm with bright golden-green leaves. Prefers a full sun position (brighter leaves) or semi-shade (leaves tend to be more green) and well-drained soil. Leaves are edible, and used much the same as marjoram and oregano to flavour Mediterranean dishes.
Origanum onites is a PERENNIAL growing 30cm by 60cm. Leaves are slightly bitter compared to oregano or marjoram, but with their strong thyme-like flavour are an acceptable culinary herb. Leaves are used fresh or dried. Has medicinal uses.
A tender PERENNIAL growing to 60cm with small simple, smooth and ovate leaves that have a sweet pine and citrus flavour. Small white flowers are loved by bees and bumblebees.
Prefers well-drained soil in semi-shade or full sun. Leaves are edible and used as a flavouring, and it has medicinal applications.