Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Chives, Onion/Garden, Staro

Allium schoenoprasum 'Staro'


Chose this “Oniony Chive” because of its heavier, thicker leaves which makes harvest, fresh use and freezing easier. Freeze by snipping leaves into 2 or 3” lengths, placing it on a cookie sheet and “flash freezing” it for about 30 minutes or until stiff. Throw them in labelled “Zip-loc” bags. This insures being able to pull out the leaves individual.

Curry Plant

Helichrysum italicum (angustifolia)


Ornamental narrow gray leaves adorn this upright growing plant. We got it because it smells great, but it's at home as a white foliage feature in our moonlight garden. Has tiny bright yellow buds from July to September. Delightful curry scent, but don't confuse it with curry powder: a blend of cumin, turmeric, & assorted Mid-East spices. One of our retail customers uses it to flavor vinegar.

Echinacea, Purple

Echinacea purpurea


We chose this herb as part of our logo because of its beauty and multiple use: the quintessential herb. 4"" large, purple, daisy shaped blossoms are held upright on sturdy stems. ""Echinacea,"" is one of America's favorite medicinal herbs for the colds and flu. You can imagine my face when Mark pointed to the newly purchased Vodka saying "" It's for medicinal purposes,"" but he wasn't kidding. He made a tincture by stuffing a canning jar with coneflower leaves and filled it with 100 proof Vodka. We placed it in the closet and shook it daily for two weeks. Tasted awful, but seemed to work for us and we take it by the dropperful. We use it ONLY at the onset of symptoms, or when we're exposed to ""snotty"" folks, then we quit taking it, within 3 weeks. Pick leaves before it flowers and harvest flowers in their peak. Some folks believe the roots are the most therapeutic, but we've used all parts, in their prime.

Echinacea, Tennessee

Echinacea tennesseensis
This Echinacea does not stop flowering. We predict that this species, which was almost dug to extinction, (and was placed on the National Endangered Species list) will become one of America's most popular flowering perennials. What a great medicinal herb too. It is similar to Echinacea angustifolia in its medicinal chemistry. Smaller flowers than other ""Purple Coneflowers"", but the petals on this variety turn upright and are darker purple rather than droopy and washed out.

Elderberry, Black

Sambucus canadensis
This hardy small tree is loaded with 5"" white flower clusters in early summer which turn into small black tasty berries, rich in Vitamin C and used to make wine, jelly, and pies. Flowers can be used in a tea for colds, as a face wash, or battered and deep fried. Leaves can comfort minor bruises. Berries are best in pies (See our recipe) and immune building syrups, especially safe for children. The prime component of ""Sambucol"" (childrens' syrup) sold in health food stores.

Fennel, Bronze

Foeniculum vulgare `Bronze'


This beauty need not provide anything useful, but boy does it ever! Imagine fine feathery foliage with a bronze-red cast, tickling yellow hued ""Queen Anne Lace""-like flowers above. Does not produce a bulb but leaves and stems are tasty, finely chopped, added to salads, fish, and soups. A tea from the leaves or seeds eases our indigestion. After seeds begin to mature, cut entire stalks. Hang them upside down in a paper bag to finish ripen, and avoid self-seeding all over the garden.

Feverfew

Tanacetum parthenium


Clusters of 1/2"" white daisy flowers reach 6"" above green, deeply lobed leaves that forms a 2 foot tall by 2' wide rosette. Customers have tried fresh leaves hidden in a mayonnaise sandwich (to mask bitterness) for reducing the severity & frequency of migraines.

Feverfew, Mini Pompom

Tanacetum parthenium 'Plenum Florum'


We love medicinal herbs which are exceptional. Just being among them, heals our soul. Lilliputian white ""pompoms"" adorn this charming herb early summer through fall. We grow it from cuttings to insure fully double flowers, which seed grown plants cannot reliably produce.

Fig, Chicago Hardy

Ficus edulis 'Chicago Hardy'
Hardy up in Canada, not just Chicago! Each November, we recommend wrapping branches with burlap, as tight as possible, for earlier summer-fall fruiting.

Foxglove, Herold’s Yellow

digitalis ferruginia `Gigantea Gelber Herold'


A true giant among the perennial foxgloves, it can reach 5 feet if grown in a rich, acid soil with good summer water. Gigantic, yellow flowers are not to be passed up either.

Foxglove, Silver Fox

Digitalis purpurea 'Heywoodii'


Tall, short-lived foxgloves, step aside. We’re tickled with this compact cultivar which endures year after year and picture this- woolly white hairs covering the foliage and soft pink, speckled flower balanced above.

Foxglove, Spanish Peaks

Digitalis thapsi
Toss out the stakes. Reach for this short, woolly gray leaved foxglove. 2"" purple-rose flowers have sweetly spotted throats. It flowers for about one month, in June, before other foxgloves and repeats in the fall for us. As a native of east Portugal & western Spain, it will tolerate a higher soil pH. The foxglove of faery gardens.

Garlic, Hard-neck Music

Allium Sativum
GROWN IN A 4 PACK TRAY
For those of you who forgot to plant your cloves last fall, we offer a ""cold treated"" hard-neck garlic. It produces about 6-8 cloves per bulb that are easy to separate and peel, with a touch of heat and real garlicky flavor. You'll receive a 4 pack of sprouted large cloves which should be put in the ground immediately, about 8"" apart. In the spring, we remove our flower heads (scapes) that curl above like a pig's tail. Saute them in butter and stink up the kitchen to garlic high heaven. Harvest in July when bottom 3 leaves have dried up. Save the largest cloves for planting next fall, as they will yield the biggest bulbs. Southern growers need to cold treat their bulbs next winter.

Germander

Teucrium chamaedrys


Rose-pink flowers compliment this shiny border shrub. Also known as ""Poor Man's Boxwood,"" it is mandatory in any knot garden. A preferred bonsai candidate, since it takes pruning very well.

Gota Kola, Variegated

Hydrocotyl sibthorpioides



If conditions are right you can site this polite spreader anywhere. Its variegated, round leaves brighten a shady path (where hardy), or cozy up to ""Impatiens"" in a shady annual basket. Grown in full sun, tuck them in wet soil, around wet bogs and pond edges. We don’t know if it contains the brain strengthener constituents of the non-variegated Gotu Kola but the leaves taste exactly the same.

Gotu Kola

Hydrocotyl asiatica minor


Scratching her head, a customer told me, ""I just read about Gotu Kola but I can't remember what it was used for."" I smiled and gently replied, ""it's said to improve brain function, particularly, memory."" I have read, (though I can't remember where) ;), you can add 1 tsp dried leaves to 1 cup boiling water daily; or stronger when used for a wound wash to reduce inflammation. Northerners, take indoors or protect.

Hops, Golden

Humulus lupulus `Aureus'
CAN NOT SHIP TO WASHINGTON STATE.Young golden leaves mature to dark green, giving a two-tone appearance. Tiny hop blossoms are used for sleep pillows and pilsner-style beers. Site in afternoon shade to prevent sun scald. It forms into a thick climber hiding chain link fences. ‘Munstead Lavender, Dazzling Pink Chives and Golden Hops” created our most vivid trio of all.

Hops, Golden 2year

Humulus lupulus `Aureus'
CAN NOT SHIP TO WASHINGTON STATE.Young golden leaves mature to dark green, giving a two-tone appearance. Tiny hop blossoms are used for sleep pillows and pilsner-style beers. Site in afternoon shade to prevent sun scald. It forms into a thick climber hiding chain link fences. ‘Munstead Lavender, Dazzling Pink Chives and Golden Hops” created our most vivid trio of all.

Hops, Golden 2year

Humulus lupulus `Aureus'
CAN NOT SHIP TO WASHINGTON STATE.Young golden leaves mature to dark green, giving a two-tone appearance. Tiny hop blossoms are used for sleep pillows and pilsner-style beers. Site in afternoon shade to prevent sun scald. It forms into a thick climber hiding chain link fences. ‘Munstead Lavender, Dazzling Pink Chives and Golden Hops” created our most vivid trio of all.

Hops, Newport

Humulus lupulus `Newport'
Beer makers know what I mean when I say: Alpha Acids 9.8 to 17% with mild aroma and pungent, resiny flavor. Drinkers appreciate it is a bitter variety for any beer style. Growers like that it is mildew resistant. All our hop varieties eventually produce brachts known for their contribution to beer but they are also dried for sleep pillows or sipped in tea for insomniacs.

Hops, Newport 2 year

Humulus lupulus `Newport'
Beer makers know what I mean when I say: Alpha Acids 9.8 to 17% with mild aroma and pungent, resiny flavor. Drinkers appreciate it is a bitter variety for any beer style. Growers like that it is mildew resistant. All our hop varieties eventually produce brachts known for their contribution to beer but they are also dried for sleep pillows or sipped in tea for insomniacs.

Hops, Sterling

Humulus lupulus `Sterling'
For those of you familiar with the popular “Saaz” variety, here is an alternative pilsner-style hop. Its stats include an aroma that is mighty fine if not a touch spicy with an alpha acid of 6 – 9%.

Hops, Sterling 2 year

Humulus lupulus `Sterling'
For those of you familiar with the popular “Saaz” variety, here is an alternative pilsner-style hop. Its stats include an aroma that is mighty fine if not a touch spicy with an alpha acid of 6 – 9%.