Thank you for your interest in herb plants from MeadowSweet Herbs & Flowers. I've closed plant and seed order processing for 2024. Online orders for plants and seeds will re-open on Monday 6 January for shipping from the next Tuesday, 14 January.
If you are interested in my Mini Grow & Use Guides, please email me for processing at minette@tonoli.co.nz during the shop's vacation dates.
The gates sales table plant stand is always open and up and running, so feel free to pop past if you are in the Rangiora/Waikuku area to see a selection of the plants (not all plants in my inventory is available outside - if you want to come past for something specific, text me and we can see what we can work out: 0225251177).
Calendula is a popular flowering ANNUAL that grows to 60cm with oblong-lanceolate leaves and single flowerheads of bright orange or yellow. Flowers are pollinated by bees and it is a well-known companion plant. Calendula prefers any well drained soil but can grow in very poor soils and can tolerate very acidic or very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi shade but grows best in full sun. The plant can flower nearly year-round in favourable conditions, and the flower petals are edible and medicinal.
Calendula is a popular flowering ANNUAL that grows to 60cm with oblong-lanceolate leaves and single flowerheads of bright orange or yellow. Flowers are pollinated by bees and it is a well-known companion plant. Calendula prefers any well drained soil but can grow in very poor soils and can tolerate very acidic or very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi shade but grows best in full sun. The plant can flower nearly year-round in favourable conditions, and the flower petals are edible and medicinal.
A large PERENNIAL growing to 2m with at least a 1m spread. Cardoon is a thistle-like plant in the sunflower family and grows to be a stout plant with large, deeply lobed and heavily spined green to grey-green leaves. Flowers are violet-purple, produced in a large, globose, massively spined flowerhead.
It can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soil although it prefers well-drained soil in full sun. Somewhat drought tolerant it can grow in saline soil.
Flowers, leaves, roots and stems are eaten. Flower buds are eaten as a globe artichoke substitute. Some important medicinal use, and can be used as a dye plant.
Coreopsis is a flowering ANNUAL growing growing up to 1m. The abundant mahogony coloured flowers are noted for attracting pollinating insects. Coreopsis prefers a well drained soil in full sun, but it can tolerate some drought when well established. Self-seeds freely. Altough it is generally grown as an ornamental plant or dye herb, a tea can be made from the whole plant. It has some historic medicinal use.
An ANNUAL growing to 1m with grey-green branched stems and 1-4cm lanceolate leaves. Flowerheads are commonly in an intense blue, but with white, pink, purple and even dark, almost black varieties existing. Flowers are known to attract bees and other pollinating insects. Prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor, alkaline soils. Full sun position is best and tolerates some degree of drought.
Shoots and flowers are edible and it has a long history of use as a medicine, although rarely used today.
An ANNUAL growing to 1m with grey-green branched stems and 1-4cm lanceolate leaves. Flowerheads are commonly in an intense blue, but with white, pink, purple and even dark, almost black varieties existing. Flowers are known to attract bees and other pollinating insects. Prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor, alkaline soils. Full sun position is best and tolerates some degree of drought.
Shoots and flowers are edible and it has a long history of use as a medicine, although rarely used today.
A flowering PERENNIAL plant growing to 1.5m. A rigid stem carries large and toothed leaves thickly woolly on the underside. Yellow flowerheads are up to 5 cm broad. The root is thick, branching and mucilaginous. It grows in almost any moist soil in the full sun or semi-shade.
The leaves somewhat bitter but aromatic and edible. Roots are candied. Used as a warming and tonic herb, it is a well used medicinal herb.
A hardy flowering BIENNIAL growing to 1.2m. Basal rosettes spiral up to flowering stems with butter-yellow flowers that are noted for attracting bees and butterflies. Prefers well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
Flowers, leaves, oil, root and seedpods are noted as edible. Many medicinal applications, particularly seed oil.
A highly ornamental version of the common yellow flowering Evening of Primrose, these flower in shades of a dusky sunset with orange-pink tones. Evening primrose is a flowering BIENNIAL growing to 1.2m. Basal rosettes spiral up to flowering stems with flowers that are noted for attracting bees and butterflies. Prefers well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
A BIENNIAL/PERENNIAL growing to 1.8m with prickly stem and leaves and purple, dark pink or lavender inflorescence.
Grows well in almost any soil and can tolerate heavy clay soil. Prefers moist soil in a full sun position.
With some use as a herbal remedy, the plant is better known for the dried flower heads being used for carding wool and as a clothes brush for raising nap on woollen cloth.
An ANNUAL, or short-lived PERENNIAL, growing to 20cm. The small plant has a creeping and ramping habit with oval to heart-shaped leaves and distinct 5-petalled (2 upwards, 2 to the sides and 1 large to the bottom) purple, blue, yellow or white (or a combination of) flowers.
Noted for attracting wildlife, it prefers well-drained soil in a full sun position, but tolerates semi-shade well.
Flowers and leaves are edible and it has a long history as a medicinal plant.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive very bright pink flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive white and maroon centered flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive single flowers in various colours.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive double flowers in various colours.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive very bright pink flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive purple flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive deep pink to purple flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive white pink flowers.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
A flowering PERENNIAL, often grown as a BIENNIAL, in the mallow family, that can grow to over 2.4m in height. The plants have an erect, unbranched habit with large lobed or toothed leaf blades and very tall flower spikes bearing many attractive single flowers in white to off-white colour.
The plant does well in almost any well-drained soil in a full sun position, and can grow in semi-shade. Tall flower spikes may need staking.
The flowers, leaves, root and stem are edible and it has a long history of medicinal use.
An ANNUAL growing to 90cm with greyish-green foliage and deep-purple bracts. Thrives in almost any soil, and prefers full sun or very light shade. Noted for attracting bees.
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.
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.