Medicinal Plants Ideas, Tips & Guides

Do you think it’s even possible to have too many lavender plants?A fragrant favorite in flower be

How to Harvest Aloe Vera Leaves

One of my all-time favorite herbs, stinging nettle has been grown and foraged for food, and used in textiles and medicine, for thousands of years across many parts of the world.You may be aware that you can harvest and

Looking for a new, versatile crop to enjoy? Why not try your hand at growing fenugreek?Not only does this herb make an attractive addition to

Cumin, Cuminum cyminum, is probably my all time favorite culinary spice.Since I use it in just about everything that I cook, I am

Always searching for a natural treatment to help alleviate pesky migraines? The answer may be found in feverfew, a plant with a famous history of soothing stubborn headaches.An ancient medicinal,

Why would anyone bother to grow plantain?Largely ignored by the modern gardener, and often regarded as an irksome

With its long history of medicinal use, I find yarrow to be one of the most incredible and fascinating common garden plants.An herbaceous perennial and member of the

Step outside your door and look around at your lawn and garden. You probably see a few common weeds. Now look again. You might also be looking at dinner or the ingredients for a poultice to ease that rash that’s been nagging you.It’s easy to disregard weeds as a troublesome nuis

Though they are not widely known, elderberries are one of the most versatile and productive plants in the garden world.Native to many parts of the United States, they h

Borago officinalis, commonly known as borage or starflower, is one of a host of herbs with origins in the Mediterranean region.It’s a member of the Boraginaceae family of plants, wh

Nothing reminds me of summer quite like the fresh, citrusy scent of lemon balm.We link to vendors to help you find relevant pr

If you want a beautiful plant and a full harvest of tart and tangy elderberries, adding fertilizer is a task you can’t put off if you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor to the fullest.Fertilizing will not only help your plant

When I told my husband I was planting purslane in the garden, I suspect he thought I’d lost my mind.No doubt he was thinking back to the years whe

Roses are a symbol of romance and passion, but did you know this plant can also be a source of nutrition?Rose hips are the edible a

As the late summer sniffles simmer down and crisp fall winds begin blowing through the air, it is time to think about preparing for the impending cold and flu season – which, for me, includes harvesting and preparing my favorite winter remedies.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy

The only thing more marvelous than enjoying a homegrown harvest of berries picked at their peak ripeness is when those berries are of a variety that’s difficult to find in the store.That’s why I love growing currants,

Coneflowers started out in the wild as humble prairie wildflowers, but these days, they’ve made the transition to must-have cultivated garden essentials.Some people grow these stunners for thei

After battling finicky allium, ramp, and delphinium seeds this year, I was thrilled when it was time to turn my eye to planting borage.Borage is one of those plants th

Dame’s rocket, Hesperis matronalis, is a fragrant, edible member of the Brassicaceae family of plants, which includes arugula, broccoli, and mustard.Native to Europe and Asia, it was originally brought to

You may have heard talk about the benefits of elderberries, or even come across elderberry syrup on the shelf of your local health food store. But you likely never heard anything about the flowers.We link to vendors to help you find relevan

On late summer mornings, one of my favorite rituals is to wander through my garden, and pick a few of the vibrant pot marigold flowers to make into a refreshing tea.Each day I am pleasantly surprised to see a collection of new b

Calendula, Calendula officinalis, aka pot marigold, is an annual flowering herb in the aster family that’s suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11.We link to vendors to help you find releva

Calendula is one of my very favorite herbs to grow in the garden. The bright, cheerful flowers provide a splash of color in the autumn months and bring light to even the dreariest of chilly days.On crisp fall mornings, I like to stroll through

Goldenseal, Hydrastis canadensis, is a prized medicinal plant native to North American woodlands.Because this perennial has been among the top best

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) should be pruned as part of your regular garden maintenance routine, just like other fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, to encourage abundant berry production while supporting overall health.We link to vendors to help you f

Not just another pretty face in a lush and lazy garden, yarrow (Achillea) earns its keep in the worst soils with the least amount of water.If you’ve got barren areas crying out for color, it’s yarrow to the rescue!

When it comes to herbal remedies, some species get all the attention.It’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t heard of echinacea.

Growing and gathering herbs for healing remedies is empowering, and it’s the best way to ensure the freshness and quality of plants you use in your kitchen and apothecary.Cultivating medicinal plants is a great way t

As cheerful and innocuous as the lowly dandelion is, it ranks among America’s most hated plants. People will resort to almost anything to get rid of them, from prying them up by their seemingly endless taproots to dousing them with toxic chemicals. The things we’ll do for a pure lawn.But as most modern herbalists know,

Calendula-infused oil is a must-have in my herbal apothecary or first aid kit. I gather enough flowers throughout the growing season to infuse for use in my favorite herbal serums, creams, balms, and salves.We link to vendors to help you

Lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, is a staple in my herb garden for a few reasons.Firstly, this easy-to-grow aromatic plant provides plentiful harv

Show of hands – who’s ever heard of epazote? If you’re a fan of southern Mexican or Guatemalan food, you may be familiar with this ingredient, which is comprised of the leaves and stalks of the epazote (eh-puh-ZO-tay) plant.This plant is considered a weed by some, but proudly

Whether it’s the blooms of an evening primrose, a pizza delivery place with extended hours, or a 24/7 gas station during a well-hydrated road trip, anything that’s “open late” can be an absolute blessing.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products

With its highly sought after berries and incomparably fragrant blossoms, elderberries are worth growing in the garden.Sure, you can buy elderberry plants. But it’s so easy to propa

As a member of the notoriously fast-spreading mint (Lamiaceae) family, bee balm (Monarda spp.) is about as easy to propagate as it gets.This is a good thing b