Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Catalog/Tender Perennial

Home: Catalog: Tender Perennial: Page 2

Herbs A-Z: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Not hardy in Ohio, but tough and hardy in warmer parts of the country where you live.

Lavender, Fern-leaf

Lavandula multifida

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Container, , Culinary, , Medicinal, , Ornamental

Need a lavender that rarely stops flowering year around, has nice blue flowers and tastes great too? So what's the catch? None really, except that it's not hardy below Zone 9. But northerners can containerize plants indoors where it happily grows & flowers. The gray green color falls in between green and silver fern-leaf varieties. $ 4.29

Lavender, Goodwin Creek

Lavandula x ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Grey'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 2 feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal, , Ornamental

Once this incredible variety started to

flower, it has hardly ever stopped. Stunning silver gray foliage with deep blue, fragrant flowers and all the looks of an english lavender.

A BIG thank you to Jim and Dotti Becker of "Goodwin Creek Gardens,"' who selected & introduced this variety. They rate this as hardy to Zone 6 (protected), otherwise Zone 7-9. $ 4.29

Lavender, Goodwin Creek 8in.

Lavandula x ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Grey'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 2 feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal, , Ornamental

Lavender, Green Fern-leaf

Lavandula minutolii

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Sun-P.Sun
Height: 1-3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal, , Ornamental

Leaves are much lacier and greener than ""Fern-leaf"" and flowers are stunningly purple! Hey! Short descriptions don't mean you should pass it by. $ 4.29

Lavender, Herb Companion

Lavandula dentata 'Linda Ligon'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to P.Shade
Height: 1 to 2 feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal, , Ornamental

""Thanks for the Memories""

The real thing! Stunning full white variegation. Highly ornamental, feathery, light leaaves with greamy white streaks and a touch of green. Beautiful blue buds enliven our summers. Folige will revert to more green, which should be removed. Tolerates morning shade, but flowers will become more whitish and is an O.K. house plant in a sunny window. Named in honor of an remarkable lady, whom we had the pleasure of meeting in 2000, Linda Ligon, founding editor of the ""Herb Companion"" magazine. $ 4.29

Lemon Grass

Cymbopogon citratus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2-3 Feet
Water: Wet
Soil: Organic
Common Uses:Culinary, , Tea

Tropical, water loving grass which is popular in commercial teas, because its bold, sweet lemon flavor is released by hot water. My Southeast Asian friend spoke of literally fishing for a meal and making a lemon grass fish soup, at work, during lunch hour. Overwinter as a houseplant, next to a sunny window, with saucer kept full of water. Do not purchase "East Indian Lemon Grass"- taste like nothing! $ 4.79

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citriodora (A. triphylla)

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7b 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun
Height: 3-6 Feet
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal, Potpourri, Soap Making, Tea

Bright green elliptical leaves give off the most scintillating lemon flavor in fruit salad, cake and sorbets. Difficult to overwinter, but summer's growth provides enough to freeze or dry for tea and winter treats. For the winter gardener, we recommend allowing it to receive 1-2 frost to kill leaves before bringing in for the winter & starting new. This will leave any spider mites, whitefly or aphids outside! $ 4.29

Mexican Bush Oregano

Polimintha longiflora

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: to 3 feet
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Culinary, , Ornamental

Pale lavender 1"" trumpets perform with glossy foliage throughout the summer. Quite a foxy companion on your patio with the extreme oregano flavor of traditional Southwest cooking. $ 3.79

Moujean Tea

Nashia inagnensis

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2 Feet
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Bonsai, , Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, , Tea

This tropical shrub looks like a tabletop gingko tree, suitable for bonsai and landscapes. Leaf and winter flowers (tiny cream colored buds) are added to tea blends to impart a vanilla flavor. Flowers form mini orange fruits only 1/8"". Ideal while playing a challenging game of ""Moujean"" (oriental board game) with friends. $ 4.79

Myrtle, Mini

Myrtus communis var.tarentenia `Microphylla'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 1-3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Late Summer
Common Uses:Bonsai, , Culinary, , Garden Railroads, Houseplants

Prized by topiary and bonsai enthusiasts for it's white flowers, solid green foliage and more upright form. Mini black fruits form in late summer. From the Mediterranean region, it is used sparingly to flavor lamb & other meats. Fine houseplant that is hardy to a warm Zone 8 with help. $ 4.79

Myrtle, Mini Variegated

Myrtus communis var.tarentenia `Microphylla Variegata'

Prized by topiary and bonsai enthusiasts for it's white flowers, white striped variegated foliage and semi-weeping form. Mini black fruits form in late summer. From the Mediterranean region, it is used sparingly to flavor lamb & other meats. Fine houseplant that is hardy to a warm Zone 8 with help. $ 4.79

OREGANO

Herb of the Year 2005

Oreganos fall under the "Mediterranean" category that is, herbs that generally love the sun, heat, and a well drained soil. The flavor is diminished by overfertilizing. We suggest an organic, balanced (like a 3-3-3 to 10-10-10 max.) fertilizer at planting with annual dressings. We carry mostly hardy oregano and Marjoram, a sweet annual oregano. Any of the culinary ones flavor summer vegies to winter stews & teas plus some relieve sore muscles in the bath.

Oregano, Dittany of Crete

Origanum dictamnus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2-4in.
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Alpine Rockery, Container, Medicinal, Ornamental

Gray-white, round fuzzy leaves & reddish-pink, hop-like flower heads are a fine match. Most people don't realize it's an oregano. It's a natural in hanging baskets, strawberry jars, and other mixed containers. Herb of Fertility: So, here you go grandma wanna-bees. $ 3.79

Oregano, Italian

Origanum x majoranum

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 1-2 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Common Uses:Bees, , Culinary

Grows tall, upright, and productive, like Greek Oregano but has a flavor closer to sweet marjoram! You have to taste it to appreciate it. Excellent choice oregano for the scrutinizing gourmet. $ 3.79

Patchouli

Pogostemon patchouli

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: P.Shade-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1 Foot
Water: Wet-Normal
Soil: Organic
Common Uses:Bees, , Potpourri

Easy to grow houseplant in baskets or in the garden, just give it room. Scallop edged leaves are collected, then dried for potpourris. Bring into house before first frost and watch the flower clusters come out, knowing they will rob the leaf scent. To prevent "Patchouli" from flowering, it must have 12 hours of light. Grown commercially for oil in perfumes & incense. Groovy! $ 3.79

Root Beer Plant

Piper auritum (santum)

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9b-11
Light: Shade to P.Shade-P.Sun
Height: 3-20 Feet
Water: Wet
Soil: Organic
Common Uses:Culinary, , Fragrant

Let us explain. This is not the source for a rootbeer float but the fragrance is similar. The 8-inch heart shaped leaves are used to wrap fish or pork in Mexican and Indian cooking. A customer of ours from Central America (see our Culantro entry) told us she uses it like tamales. So, I steamed a corn bread/ stuffing-for-peppers blend, wrapped with root beer leaves. We ate the sweet leaves and all! Imagine Mark coming into our kitchen at the end of a long day and smelling that! Remember to find a moist large spot for this novelty herb and it will grow up to 4-5 feet, in the first growing season. $ 5.29

ROSEMARY

If rosemary grows well for a couple it is said that the woman rules the household or is it the man? Never mind, this is how you keep a rosemary alive, indoors, in winter, which is exactly where it needs to be in the North. (Of our three entrees in the C

Rosemary, Arp

Rosmarinus officinalis `Arp'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 3-4 Feet
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Flowers: Early SpringLate Winter
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal

Perhaps the hardiest of all varieties, however, our winter breezes are still too stiff. In the past, we wrote about it's rangey form, but frankly, this year it was thick & well branched. Go figure. If you're in zone 6 or warmer, it's worth a try outdoors in winter. Leaves & blooms enhance jams & orange sauce for poultry or lamb. $ 3.79

Rosemary, Arp 5in.+

Rosmarinus officinalis `Arp'

Rosemary, Blue Boy

Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun
Height: 2-3 Foot trailing
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Culinary, , Garden Railroads, Miniature/Faery Garden, , Topiary, , Jar Gem, , Topiary

The perfect miniature rosemary, for containers, miniature landscapes & of course, faerie gardens. A little bit larger than ""Baby P.J."". Light blue flowers, in winter, compliment short flavorful leaves on dainty compact wiry stems. Huntington Botanical Garden introduction. $ 3.79

Rosemary, Creeping

Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 2-3 Feet trailing
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Baskets, , Container, , Culinary, , Garden Railroads, Medicinal, , Topiary

This creeping variety has made a name for itself as the container rosemary. It looks natural in hypertufa containers & hanging baskets, & easily wraps around circular wire frames for victorian centerpieces. Fresh rosemary for Thanksgiving turkey, plucked from your table- impressive! $ 3.79

Rosemary, Focaccia with Olive Oil

serves 8

1 pkg. yeast

2 tsp. garlic, minced

1 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1-1/2 c. warm water

1/2 tsp. pepper, fresh ground

4 c. unbleached flour

2 T. fresh rosemary, finely chopped

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

6 T. fresh sage, finely chopped (OR LESS)

In a large mixing bowl or heavy duty mixer, combine the yeast, sugar, water and 1/2 c. of the flour. Mix well. Let the yeast �proof� (let sit) for 5 minutes. Add the olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, herbs and remaining 3-1/2 c. flour. Work ingredients together until dough is smooth & firm. Cover dough. Let rise in a warm place, until doubled, about 1-1/2 hrs.

Punch the dough down, knead it a few times into a smooth ball and then stretch it out on a very well oiled, large baking sheet. Drizzle a generous amount of the olive oil over the dough. Work the dough with the tips of your fingers to make dimples all over the surface. Cover the baking sheet loosely with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise again until it has doubled in size or about 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 5 minutes and then lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake an additional 30 minutes. Dip ripped pieces of focaccia in olive oil infused with �Italian herbs� (like dried oregano, chile peppers, onion & garlic granules, basil, marjoram, savory and thyme)

Rosemary, Golden Rain

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Joyce DeBaggio'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 1-2 Foot
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Container, , Culinary, , Medicinal, , Topiary

""Thanks for the Memories""

Attractive chartreuse and green striped leaves with subtle, lemony flavor, adorn this stocky upright rosemary. Variegation is most prominent in cooler weather and is gorgeous with blue buds. Mark's favorite variety for container growing, as it appears as a mini alpine tree. Named for Tom DeBaggio's wife, Joyce. Along with bay, rosemary is my favorite Christmas herb. $ 3.79

Rosemary, Gorizia

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Gorizia'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun
Height: 4 - 5 feet
Water: Dry-Normal
Soil: Loamy-Sandy Well Drained
Common Uses:Culinary, , Medicinal, , Topiary

""Thanks for the Memories""

We call it Godzilla. Tom DeBaggio found it from Gorizia, Italy. Huge broad leaves are twice the size of ""Garden Rosemary"". Light blue flowers in spring-summer are also larger than other rosemaries. DeBaggios describe flavor as ""gentle, sweet and a bit gingery."" Tempura anyone? Mark is using this variety for a 3 foot tall, triple spiral standard topiary. In just 3 years, it's finished! $ 3.79

[<<] 1 2 3 4 5 [>>]