Manfreda virginiana . . Rattlesnake Master
. . 24 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zone 5 . . Avg. soil, well drained . . L. Spring to E. Summer
Native
Long, succulent, yucca-like leaves, often spotted with purple, radiating from a central crown, and fragrant, purplish flowers atop a 3 to 5 ft. spike.
Found primarily in upland woods, particularly around granite outcrops. Also known as Agave virginiana.
One of several plants commonly named Rattlesnake Master. They were reputed to either repel rattlers or cure the effects of their bite.
#1371 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Mimulus ringens . . Monkey Flower
. . 24 to 36 in. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . Zones 3 to 7 . . Avg. to wet soil . . Summer
Native
Bushy plants 1 1/2 inch blue, lipped flowers. Summer. Light green foliage. Tolerates wet soil.
#1093 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Monarda didyma . . Bee Balm "Cambridge Scarlet"
. . To 4 ft. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zone . . Avg. soil, moist . . Summer
Native
Scarlet flowers arranged in circular clusters atop tall stems. Summer. Excellent butterfly and hummingbird plant. Somewhat resistant to powdery mildew. Vigorously stoloniferous in favorable conditions.
A tea made from the leaves was a popular remedy for nausea and digestive complaints.
#2144 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Monarda didyma . . Bee Balm "Red"
. . To 4 ft. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 4 to 9 . . Avg. soil, moist . . Summer
Native
Bright red flowers arranged in circular clusters atop tall stems. Summer. Excellent butterfly and hummingbird plant. Vigorously stoloniferous in favorable conditions.
A tea made from the leaves was a popular remedy for nausea and digestive complaints.
#1095 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Monarda fistulosa . . Wild Bergamot
. . 2 to 4 ft. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 3 to 9 . . Avg. soil . . Summer
Native
The pale lavender flower heads are slightly smaller than M. didyma. Also prefers somewhat drier conditions than M. didyma. Stoloniferous.
The aromatic foliage has a strong Bergamot-like scent. True Oil of Bergamot comes from a citrus tree grown in the Mediterranean region.
A tea made from the leaves was a popular remedy for nausea and digestive complaints.
#1097 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Opuntia compressa . . Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus
. . To 12 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 4 to 9 . . Avg., well drained soil . . Summer
Native
Large lemon yellow flowers in early summer. Flattened segments are prostrate and spreading. Spines not readily visible. Very hardy.
Quite hardy. This particular one came from a patch high in the mountains. Edible.
#1247 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Origanum sp. . . Italian Oregano
. . 12 to 18 in. . . Sun
. . Zone 4 . . Avg. soil, well drained . . Summer
Europe
Dark green, hairy leaves which form a mat in winter, and clusters of tiny, tubular mauve flowers.
Its aroma and flavor are not as strong as those of Greek Oregano. When grown in its native Mediterrean, however, it has a very pungent flavor, which is lost in cooler climates.
A standard in pasta and tomato sauces of all kinds. It did not really catch on a popular cooking herb in this country until World War II, when servicemen who'd "discovered" it returned with a taste for oregano.
Because it has a high thymol content, it is antiseptic. Although it was once used medicinally, its current use is primarily culinary.
. . . . The name comes from the Greek oros meaning mountain, and ganos meaning joy, thus: "joy of the mountain." The Greek historian Pliny recommended it for scorpion and spider bites.
#1799 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Ornithogalum umbellatum . . Star Of Bethlehem
. . To 12 in. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . Zones est. 5 to 9 . . Avg. soil . . Spring
Europe
Flowers have white petals and green sepals edged in white. Early spring. Grass-like leaves with a white midrib. Foliage usually disappears by summer. A vigorous plant that can become weedy.
#1288 . . Quart pot . . $4.25
Oxypolis rigidior . . Hog Fennel
. . 2 to 5 ft. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . Zones 3? to 9 . . Moist to wet soil . . Late Summer
Native
Attractive, narrow, light green foliage. Bright umbels of white flowers in late summer. When planted with Cardinal Flower on a stream or pond bank, the red and white blooms create a striking display.
#1115 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Phalaris arundinacea cv. . . Ribbon Grass "Picta"
. . 24 to 36 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zone 3 . . Avg. soil . . None
Europe
Deciduous, flat blades, about 1/2 inch wide, and 12 inches long, with longitudinally striped white alteranting with green, and hints of purplish-red, particularly in fall. It is both attractive and effective when used as a ground cover, or for erosion control along stream banks and open slopes.
Rhizatomous, it spreads by runners, swiftly, like any grass, and if used as a garden specimen, may need containment. It is best grown in either very wet, or very dry conditions, as growth will be slower and more dense. If grown in rich loam, the plantings may open up, and become vigorous, and the leaves may lose much of their variegation.
#1838 . . Quart pot . . $4.50
Plantago major v. atropurpurea . . Red Leaf Plantain
. . 4 to 6 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 3 to 5 . . Avg. to poor soil Eurasia
A form of the Common Plantain having foliage tinged with red. Low growing clumps of wavy, ribbed leaves. More decorative with the same herbal uses--a "must" for a medicinal herb garden.
The young spring leaves are edible.
The juice in the leaves is used as a Poison Ivy and insect bite remedy. The seeds have a laxative effect, a related species being an ingredient of Metamucil. Also good for freshening the breath, just chew a leaf.
#1483 . . Quart pot . . $4.50
Pleioblastus auricomus . . Variegated Bamboo "Kamuro-Zaza"
. . 3 to 5 ft. . . Sun to full shade
. . Zone 6 to 11 . . Avg. soil Japan
A small bamboo bearing brilliant, linear yellow leaves accented with green stripes. Moderate rate of spread due to short rhizomes.
Can be used to brighten up a dark corner or woods edge. Will grow, though slowly, where it gets no direct sunlight.
#1712 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Polygonatum biflorum . . Solomon's Seal
. . 12 to 24 in. . . Mod. to dense shade
. . Zones 4 to 8 . . Avg. soil . . Spring
Native
Pairs of pendulous white flowers on long, arching stems in spring. Blue-black berries follow in early fall. Smooth, light green leaves line the sides of the stems.
A long-lived woodlander that adds a textural accent to the shady garden.
The young shoots and roots are edible. Caution--False Solomon's Seal, Smilacina racemosa, is toxic.
It has many medicinal uses, both historical and contemporary.
. . . . Also, has been used as a Voodoo conjure in some cultures.
#1104 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Poteranthus trifoliatus . . Fawn's Breath
. . 24 to 36 in. . . Sun to lt. shade
. . Zones 4 to 8 . . Avg. soil, well drained . . Late Spring
Native
Long, white, slightly twisted petals give the plant a delicate appearance when in bloom. Open habit with sparsely leaved, reddish stems. Spring.
A rather slow growing, well behaved plant. This surprisingly showy native likes a well drained spot and seems very tolerant of poor soil.
Fawn's Breath is also known as Indian Physic and American Ipecac because of its strong emetic properties.
#1074 . . Quart pot . . $5.00
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium . . Narrow Leaf Mountain Mint
. . To 36 in. . . Lt. shade
. . To Zone 4? . . Avg. soil . . Summer
Native
Very narrow, almost linear leaves. Bushy. Scent differs from the other Mountain Mints. (Hard to describe how it differs--probably less like peppermint than the others.) Some recent references list this species as P. flexuosum.
#1407 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Pycnanthemum virginianum . . Virginia Mountain Mint
. . 18 to 36 in. . . Sun to mod. shade
. . To Zone 5 . . Avg. soil . . Summer
Native
Lanceolate to linear-elliptic leaves.
Strong peppermint aroma.
The Chippewa Indians used a tea made from the leaves as a treatment for fevers.
#1508 . . Quart pot . . $4.75
Last Modified: 5/3/2004
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