Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Aloe Vera

Aloe barbarensis
Forget the drug store skin care. Reach for a succulent tip off this medicinal and squeeze out a thick, cooling gell proven to heal burns, minor skin abrasions and rough garden hands. This is a premium medicinal variety, organically grown, originally from the world's largest Aloe grower. Here in Ohio, we plant it in the ground about June 1st and it doubles in size by the end of the summer with nice blue-green spiny leaves, rich in many more ""miracle"" properties than I have room to list here.

Aloe Vera 3-5 YEAR OLD

Aloe barbarensis
Forget the drug store skin care. Reach for a succulent tip off this medicinal and squeeze out a thick, cooling gell proven to heal burns, minor skin abrasions and rough garden hands. This is a premium medicinal variety, organically grown, originally from the world's largest Aloe grower. Here in Ohio, we plant it in the ground about June 1st and it doubles in size by the end of the summer with nice blue-green spiny leaves, rich in many more ""miracle"" properties than I have room to list here.

Aloe Vera 5”

Aloe barbarensis
Forget the drug store skin care. Reach for a succulent tip off this medicinal and squeeze out a thick, cooling gell proven to heal burns, minor skin abrasions and rough garden hands. This is a premium medicinal variety, organically grown, originally from the world's largest Aloe grower. Here in Ohio, we plant it in the ground about June 1st and it doubles in size by the end of the summer with nice blue-green spiny leaves, rich in many more ""miracle"" properties than I have room to list here.

Australian Mint Bush, Variegated

Prostanthera rotundifolia 'Variegata'
If we'd stop taking cuttings, we'd allow the dark pink trumpet flowers to be revealed, but the upright, variegated foliage is enough. Native to Australia where it reaches 4 to 5 feet, you'll want to prune it to maintain a bushy behavior. Tolerates bright to shade. Potpourri suits its eucalyptus/minty perfume.

Basil, African Blue

Ocimum X `African Blue'
Excuse it's leggy nature in pots. Give it room in the garden. It transforms into a mound of dark green leaves with purple veins & flower spikes. Culinary quality of Opal Basil, although stronger, with a hint of sweet camphor. Go easy! Best basil for indoors. Born at Companion Plants, Athens, Ohio.

Basil, African Blue, Variegated

Ocimum X `Variegated African Blue'
Claude Monet might have wept upon seeing its pastel presentation of white, lime, and dark green leaves. Almost as vigorous growth as ""African Blue"" with slighty milder flavor. Breathtaking in the herb garden. Don't assume, you'll feel the same way about it on your plate. We received this marvelous mutation from Scott Kresge (Emily Mae Garden Shop in Pen Argyl, PA). Thank you, Scott!

Basil, Aussie Sweetie

Ocimum x citriodora 'Aussie Sweetie'
""Thanks for the Memories""For those of you who don't read the cultural requirements below, this one gets 3-4 feet tall! Susan describes it as ""One of the most complex basil aromas and the strongest. The first sniff is loaded with cinnamon & has the background of allspice and cloves. Pumpkin Pie spice comes to mind."" And may we add it's just as good in a Cincinnati style spagetti sauce. Identical to Richters' ""Lesbos Basil"".

Basil, Cuban

Ocumum basilicum 'Cuban'


It’s a perfect 1-1/2 foot globe of spicy basil flavor laced with a touch of mint. Mark admits to being disappointed initially with this variety, as it does not like a cool greenhouse, but man did it take off during the summer. We sheared it once in August and by October it still had not flowered. This was definitely the most frost tolerant of any basil we grew last year.

Basil, Pepper

Ocimum selloi
Can you imagine this on your next salad? - fresh leaves with the smell & taste of bell peppers and basil! Definitely the sturdiest as well as the most polished of basils. To have the best flavor, grow in filtered sunlight to afternoon shade, to keep leaves tender and delicious. Emerald green shiny leaves form the perfect background for reddish pink flowers that never stop. Quite cold hardy too! For years, Madelene Hill has been promoting this rare beauty. We now join her in proclaiming this a “Must-Have” herb. See Pepper Basil featured in HerbCompanion’s Feb/March 2004 issue.

Basil, Rick’s Aussie Purple

Ocimum x citriodora
New in 2006
Wavy, wine colored foliage much like 'Ebony Wonder' meets the tall columnar growth of 'Aussie Sweetie'. This will be Mark's 2006 topiary project, which, if half as pretty as 'Ausie Sweetie' topiaries, will surely grace many church weddings and elegant reception halls!

Bay Leaf 5”

Laurus nobilis


'Fess up - How many of you are guilty of dried out, ancient bay leaves? Leaves loose 50% of their flavor in just 6 months. Reward yourself with sweet, fresh leaves. The difference is amazing! Fresh bay adds full flavor to stews, sauerkraut, beef, pork and coupled with red wine, are the secret to terrific spaghetti sauce. Grow directly in the ground for maximum growth. Dig up and repot in the fall for an ideal houseplant.

Butterflyweed \ Bloodflower

Asclepias curassavica


Irrepressible orange and red star flowers in 4” clusters caught customers' attention all summer. This easy to grow, South American species, is also a favorite of Monarch Butterflies in the garden or any large mixed container. We combined this with Sweet Potato `Blackie’ - WOW!

Calendula, Resina

Calendula officinalis 'Resina'


HERB OF THE YEAR 2008 Healing skin & lip salves, Easter eggs and wool dyes, antiseptic tinctures and salad embellishments can all feature Calendula flowers. Yellow blossoms are what you can expect from 'Resina' with a few orange blossoms with light centers.

Cardamom

Elettaria cardamomum


Tropical plant which is the source of the very expensive Cardamom seed. It is one of the easiest herb houseplants since it's nearly impossible to overwater. Must reach mature height before it will flower. Leaves also have a very spicy fragrance.

Cilantro, Vietnamese

Persicaria odoratum
(RauRam) In only a short while, this cilantro impersonator is becoming a favorite. It looks like a weed, related to “Smart-weed,” (then again, aren’t they all?) and grows like one in the right situation, but will not flower. We have it year round because it’s dug up in the fall and planted in hanging baskets to overwinter. Use like “Cilantro” in Southwest, Asian & Mexican cuisines.

Cuban Oregano, Compact Grey

Plectranthus sp


Survivor Series: A favorite cooking variety of the local Puerto Rican community; Leaves look just like our ""Vick's Plant,"" except they are more gray and stems are very compact, forming a mound (as opposed to long and trailing), however the flavor is more minty-oregano & the scent, less ""Vapor Rub.

Cuban Oregano, Golden Ruffle

Plectranthus (Coleus) amboinicus 'Golden Ruffles'


How about a “Survivor” for the shade? In fact, that’s where it’ll produce the best color. Much like the “Variegated,” but, with a warmer gold and green variegation and scalloped edged, thick leaves that “wave like a football stadium cheer.” (Mark,-the king of bad metaphors) More ornamental, than flavorful, which must’ve been lost during the selection process.

Cuban Oregano, Marble Ruffles

Plectranthus marginata 'Fosteri' sport
Another ""survivor"" boasting dark green & chartreuse leaves, scalloped edges and a minty-oregano flavor, like Golden Ruffles. However, the color holds up to full sun. Actually shimmers as a groundcover carpet with red coleus growing up through it. Make a terrific ""Survivor Series"" basket by combining it with any of the Ice Plants and Society Garlic"".

Cuban Oregano, Variegated

Plectranthus (Coleus) ambionicus
One of the best basket plants we've ever grown: it is hard to kill and tasty too! We admit it. We'd forget to water our own baskets on the porch for a week, but it was no problem. Use fresh in Mexican cooking as you would oregano. Break apart a large fleshy leaf and add to a chicken salad along with pineapple sage. The green and white variegation is a joy to use in the landscape, mixed container, moss basket or as groundcover. Makes great sunny window houseplant.

Culantro

Eryngium foetidum


A retail customer of ours from Nicaragua, shrieked for joy when she spotted her favorite home country herb. Very rare. We selected this from ""Companion Plants"", due to its Cilantro flavor claim but we never imagined it could wound us. 3"" long green leaves form a rosette from which comes an almost non-stop source of miniature green thistles creating a beautiful rounded mound. Although it looks fiercesome, the leaves cook down easily and can be used year round. Flowers stalks are used the same until they become too mature. It is best grown in with afternoon shade and lots of water. Except in the ""Pacific Northwet"" where it can be grown in ""full sun"".

Curry Plant, Dwarf

Helichrysum italicum microphyllum
A true miniature form of ""Curry Plant"", which is perfect for miniature container gardens, bonsai, and rockeries. Tiny, short needled leaves are easily pruned into mini hedges. Know someone with an outdoor model railroad? What a darling, fragrant addition!