Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Ginger, Galangal Orange

Alpinia officinarum (Lesser)
This 2 foot grassy "Lesser Galangal", native to China, harbors medicinal underground rhizomes used traditionally to warm the body and calm indigestion and nausea like attributes of its cousins, turmeric and ginger.

Ginger, Galangal White

Alpinia galanga
Many like the sweeter, less medicinal flavor of this, "Greater Galangal," especially in Thai food, though there's plenty written of it healing rheumatism to ulcers, bad breath, throat infections, gas and more.

Ginger, Miyoga 5" pots

Zingiber mioga
Elegant, cardamon or (forgive me) sweet corn like leaves can hide the delicate sweet & spicy flavorful flowers (shredded as a miso soup garnish) and shoots at its base. Protect from afternoon sun and seek out recipes from its native Japan and South Korea.

Ginger, White / Traditional 5" pots

Zingiber officinale
Ease nausea on your next airplane or boat ride by chewing on the roots of these underground rhizomes. Ginger's related to turmeric, cardamom, and galangal, all of which are powerful, stimulating, warming, edibles. Dig it up in the fall to use in tea, stir-fry and cookies.

Lavender, Fern-leaf

Lavandula multifida


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.

Lavender, Goodwin Creek

Lavandula x ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Grey'
Once this incredible variety started toflower, 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.

Lavender, Goodwin Creek 8in.

Lavandula x ginginsii 'Goodwin Creek Grey'
Once this incredible variety started toflower, 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.

Lavender, Green Fern-leaf

Lavandula minutolii
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.

Lavender, Herb Companion

Lavandula dentata 'Linda Ligon'
""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.

Lemon Grass

Cymbopogon citratus


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!

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citriodora (A. triphylla)


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!

Mexican Bush Oregano

Polimintha longiflora


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.

Moujean Tea

Nashia inagnensis


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.

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.

Oregano, Dittany of Crete

Origanum dictamnus


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.

Oregano, Italian

Origanum x majoranum


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.

Oregano, Micro Silver

Origanum microphyllum


Incredibly small, silvery, powerfully flavored, miniature variety of oregano with deep purple flowers in the late summer. Mark was taken aback when he saw these half starved alpines at a Michigan nursery. We have since multiplied and norished them in hipes that you will help us introduce this phenom to other gardners, but be sure to tell them it is not a thyme, it is oregano!

Papaya, Dwarf Waimanalo 5" pots

Carica papaya
Produces sweet, slightly acidic, melon textured, yellow and orange fruit when it's only 4-5 feet. These 2 year olds may attain that by Christmas given enough warmth, sun and good drainage outdoors and an indoor winter home. We grow it for the fancy foliage because honestly, papayas are dioecious, that is, male and female parts are on different plants, though some can produce fruit with just one plant. Since we don't know the sex until they flower, and they may or may not need a partner, I suggest you just enjoy its beauty and hope for the fruit!

Patchouli

Pogostemon patchouli


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!

Root Beer Plant

Piper auritum (santum)
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.

Rosemary, Arp

Rosmarinus officinalis `Arp'


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.

Rosemary, Arp 5in.+

Rosmarinus officinalis `Arp'


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.