Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Horehound

Marrubium vulgare
Grayish green, crinkled leaves and tidy little mounds, surprise you in the spring. Summer flowering results in a rank floppy appearance which can be controlled by pruning tips and garish white blossoms. For sore throats, we use 9 fresh leaves with 1 tbsp honey. To make your own candy, refer to Leslie Bremness' """"The Complete Book of Herbs"""". (My first herb book that I really studied and still enjoy.)

Horseradish

Armoracia rusticana


Along with coriander, nettle, horehound and lettuce, this is one of the 5 bitter herbs of Passover. Dig and wash roots in the fall as frost kills leaves. Use potato peeler (and goggles!) to remove skin and grate roots through food processor. Add vinegar for traditional sauce. Use quickly to avoid bitterness. Avoid aggressive growth, by harvesting outside edge roots.

Hyssop, Blue

Hyssopus officinalis `Blue'


Blue flower spikes appear throughout the growing season. This miniature semi-evergreen shrub is extremely hardy and ideal for hedges and borders. It is easily clipped but be aware of bees- it's an important source of pollen for them. Overlook the bitter fragrance as it flavors heavy meats and liqueurs quite nicely, or so I have read.

Hyssop, Pink

Hyssopus officinalis `Pink'
Semi-evergreen, nice bloomer and bee attractor. Like ""Blue Hyssop"" but with tasteful pink flowers. Another ""poor man's boxwood"" hedge.

Hyssop, White

Hyssopus officinalis 'Albus'


A white flowering variety for the moonlight garden.

Lady’s Mantle, Parsley- Leaf

Alchemilla episila
Smaller and more compact than “Thriller,” yet I wouldn’t consider it dwarf status. Instead, “Parsley leaf” is a very clean, shade loving mound from which arise the yellow flowers in summer. And guess what? The deer hate the taste of this too!

Lady’s Mantle, Thriller

Alchemilla mollis `Thriller'


Brighter yellow flower clusters distinguish this variety from the normal ""Lady's Mantle."" Makes a classy cut flower filler; a refreshing change from ""Baby's Breath"". Combine with ""Astilbe"" and lilies. Medicinally used as a poultice to stop bleeding or as a heart tonic and mild sedative tea.

Lamb’s Ear, Helen Von Stein

Stachys byzantina 'Helen von Stein'


Lady bugs rejoice! After many tries, we finally received the real thing. Six to ten inch fuzzy leaves give this variety its other name ""Big Ears"" and a warm winter home for beneficial lady beetles in the North. Holds up better in the heat and humidity, maybe because it is not as fuzzy, albeit just as fun to pet.

Lavandin, Edelweiss

Lavandula x intermedia 'Edelweiss'


A new variety to the herb world which is similar to ""White Spike Lavandin"", except that the plants are more compact and flower petals, a brighter white. Previously listed as 'Cathy Blanc'

Lavandin, Fred Boutin

Lavandula x intermedia `Fred Boutin'


The most silvery foliage of any ""lavandin"" type, along with alluring violet-blue flowers. Their strong scent leads to medicinal use, as well as fragrant potpourri or soothing, blues-chasin' baths.

Lavandin, Grosso -Fat Spike

Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso'
After an ""Herb Companion"" article rated this the best overall variety, we had to offer it. The experts and we agree. 'Grosso' earned finest overall appearance, color, size, flavor and fragrance plus it's hardy to Ontario, Canada! Even three weeks after we cut off the first crop of flowers, the whole area still had the marvelous fragrance. Dry easily, to preserve appearance and fragrance for a long time. No wonder it's the most popular lavender in France by far.

Lavandin, Hidcote Giant

Lavandula x intersectional 'Hidcote Giant'


Very large, light violet flower heads on long, 2-1/2 foot stems is what gives this fragrant lavender a giant reputation. You'll enjoy its productivity as you harvest for potpourris and large wands.

Lavandin, Marge Clark

Lavandula angustifolia 'Marge Clark'
From H & H Botanical in Michigan and named for the incredible herbalist who passed away suddenly a few years back, this is a superb seedling selection with very dark purple flowers and nice plant shape. An improvement over ""Provence"" with darker flowers. Rebloomed occasionally throughout the season.

Lavandin, Richard Gray

Lavandula x intersectional 'Richard Gray'
Similar to ""Sawyer's Woolly"" except that the leaves as well as the entire plant appear shorter and the shade of silver is, well, kicked up a notch!

Lavandin, Silver Frost

Lavandula x intermedia 'Silver Frost'


Lone Ranger, here is your new horse. I can not fathom that lavender foliage will be able to get more silvery white than this variety. Very tightly packed leaves lay on top of one another, like pages in a book. Flowers have silvery/violet buds with light violet petals. From Andy van Hevelingen in Oregon.

Lavandin, White Provence

Lavandula x intermedia 'Alba'


Someday I'll see France for myself but until then I can dream & admire these pure white flowers waving softly in our lavender field. Tall stalks tower above silvery foliage, July through August.

Lavender, Croxton’s Wild

Lavandula angustifolia 'Croxton's Wild'


We dropped the lavender commonly known as ""True English Lavender"" for this European introduction. If you desire a tall, wild looking, silvery, shrub with thigh-high masses of light, lavender-blue flowers, we think you will enjoy this ""true lavender."" Buds in your blueberries? You decide. Tom DeBaggio introduction.

Lavender, Cynthia Johnson

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Cynthia Johnson’


Hardy To Zone 4 @ -30 degrees! Cross your fingers and order early because the last time this was offered, we sold out in a month. Dark blue-purple flowers in tight clusters on taller stems than “Hidcote” appear about a week later, contributing to a longer blooming season. A Rice Creek introduction - Thank you Cynthia Johnson!, who ever you are.

Lavender, Hidcote Type

Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' Type


This very dwarf cultivar (shorter than 'Munstead') with dark blue/purple flower spikes, upscales any container, border, or hedge. Along with cooking, it's also terrific in potpourris where only buds are desired. Intentionally selected and grown from cuttings, for finest plants.

Lavender, Karen Langan

Lavandula angustifolia `Munstead-type'
We selected from our “Munstead” seedlings the one plant that had the darkest blue flower buds, most silvery foliage & repeat flowered in the fall. Seed grown varieties vary in all those features. Finally, Mark named this variety after Karen for having put up with me for all these years. Believe me, this is the least she deseves it!

Harvest stalks before first flowers open. Use fresh or dried for arrangements, tussie-mussies, and wands. This is the very best lavender for long hedges and general landscaping.

Lavender, Melissa Pink

Lavandula angustifolia 'Melissa'


Horticulturists are always looking for colors that aren't ""normal"" for the species and we love contradictions like this PINK LAVENDER. White and flower stalks bloom from June through July for a delicate fragrant summer performance. Use like the other ""normal"" lavenders.

Lavender, Seal Seven Oaks

Lavandula angustifolia 'Seal Seven Oaks'


Lavender is so easy on the eye and disposition, why not extend the season? ‘Seal Seven Oaks’ bloom about 2 weeks earlier than other cultivars with light purple and violet clusters of flowers on long stalks.

Lavender, Twickel Purple

Lavandula angustifolia 'Twickel Purple'


Among the many lavenders, ""Twickel Purple"" distinguishes itself in its growth habit. Two foot stems fan out around the plant culminating in narrow, dark purple-violet spikes above.

Lemon Balm, Citronella

Melissa officinalis ‘Citronella’.


This strongly fragrant variety does indeed smell of ""citronella."" Let's hope it enhances lemon balm's inherent insect repelling qualities.