Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Sage, Berggarten Variegated

Salvia officinalis 'Variegated Berggarten'
Mark gained this cool variegated plant from Scott Kresge (Emily May Garden Shop in Pen Argyl, PA) at the Herb Society of America's Cleveland Conference. Just as winter hardy as 'Berggarten' with clean, blue-green and white variegation on a leaf that is closer to the slender outline of straight S. officinalis. Prune out anything that reverts.

Sage, Garden Golden Variegated

Salvia officinalis 'Icterina'
Our stock plants survived -18 F degrees last winter, from which we took your cuttings. Leaves have brilliant yellow margins around green centers. These obedient golden mounds create a 7-8 month show, here, in front of ""Bronze Fennel"", ""Purple Ruffles Basil"" or, like one of our favorite beds, in the midst of other sages.

Savory, Winter

Satureja montana subs. montana
Winter Savory is ""Summer Savory's"" hardy, spicier cousin, as ""Greek Oregano"" is to ""Sweet Marjoram."" Use care with the robust flavor of this salt and pepper alternative. The German name ""Bohnen-kraut"" translates to ""bean herb."" Flowers are white like a summer ""Candytuft"".

Savory, Winter Dwarf

Satureja montana subsp. montana 'Nana'
A dwarf version of ""Winter Savory"", with small, glossy leaves and delicate white flowers. Such a sweet, creeping herb, that's simply irresistible to faeries or in a rock garden. Alpine variety with all the same uses as the parent plant, but less to harvest. For gardeners and collectors with minimal space.

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, Baby P.J.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Baby P.J.'
To our knowledge, this is the smallest rosemary cultivar in the world. From H & H Botanicals in Michigan, this is a chance seedling of ""Blue Boy"" which is about 1/3 smaller than ""dad."" Incredibly small leaves and flowers, but still great to eat! Cute R Us!

Rosemary, Golden Rain

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Joyce DeBaggio'
""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.

Rosemary, Gorizia

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Gorizia'
""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!

Rosemary, Hill Hardy

Rosmarinus officinalis `Madalene Hill'
""Thanks for the Memories""Madeleine Hill did not introduce this hardy variety (she introduced 'Arp'), rather it was named in her honor, by Tom DeBaggio. Long ago we were impressed with it's healthy and hardy growth habit. Not hardy in our open fields, but then all hardy rosemaries have a difficult time overwintering here. Plant against a south wall and protect from brisk winds with something transparent (not mulch!). A well drained, gravelly soil is also critical to prevent spring root rots.

Sage, Fruit-scented

Salvia dorisiana
Fragrant, fuzzy foliage tickle shocking, lipstick pink, 1"" flowers by December. It is a big grower that benefits from frequent tip pinching during the growing season to prevent legginess. If not in a frost free area, dig up or grow in containers to bring inside for a Christmas display. Leaves & flowers are used like ""Pineapple Sage"".

Sage, Tangerine

Salvia elegans 'Tangerine'
Same great flowers as ""Pineapple Sage"", but foliage smells of melons, plants are shorter (for us it grown only two feet) and it flowers from at least May until you allow it to freeze. Inside, it will flower all winter. I just made a luscious honeydew sage syrup for herbal sodas. Even in the winter, you can tell this is one refreshing herb. I can't wait for sun teas!

Sct. Geranium, Chocolate

Pelargonium quer. X tomentosum
Fruit and Nut ScentedClarification: the name refers to the streaks of chocolate colored, ""bleeding"" veins on each rough, textured leaf rather than the flavor. Bronze Fennel, nearby in the full sun, is a dramatic partner and brings out the darker variegation.

Sct. Geranium, Chocolate Peppermint

Pelargonium tomentosum x 'Chocolate'
Fruit & Nut ScentedCross the silky giant ""Peppermint"" with a fast growing ""Chocolate"" and here is the result. Kids love the fuzzy leaves and chocolate colored blotch in the center but do not expect a chocolate flavor. It is all peppermint. Looks great planted at edge of walls.

Sct. Geranium, French Lace

Pelargonium crispum 'French Lace'
New in 2006
Lemon ScentedCould this be the most variegated plant in the world? Perhaps. French lace is an upright sport of 'Prince Rupert' that shines as a tree in a mixed container or stands alone as a small specimen topiary.

Sct. Geranium, Lemon Meringue

Pelargonium x 'Lemon Meringue'
Lemon ScentedI admit that some catalog authors can stretch beyond imagination in describing their beloveds, however this is not the case when I say, this is the most euphoric lemon scent of all our herbs. It truly smells like lemon meringue pie. This smaller leaf variety, with pink blossoms, can be baked on the bottom of cakes (first grease pans and dust with flour, lay out leaves, bake, then invert pan after it's cooled), candied to decorate desserts, or added to teas. Different scent than ""Mabel Grey"". Buy both of them.

Sct. Geranium, Mabel Grey

Pelargonium x ‘Mabel Grey’
Lemon ScentedCompared to “Lemon Meringue,” we conclude “Mabel” has a stronger, less sweet flavor from larger leaves and overall plant size. We volunteer at Joshua’s school, a classroom pairing up typical and “developmentally challenged” children. Scented herbs open up these children’s eyes and mouths in ways the teachers can’t imagine. This is one of their favorites.

Peppers- Chiles, CAJUN BELL

(72 days)- Very hot for pickles, chile, salsas; dries well Heirlooms, to the best of our knowledge, are marked with an * asterisk. Attention California Residents

Peppers- Chiles, HUNGARIAN HOT WAX*

(90 days)- Very hot and named for the famous sauce it makes. Heirlooms, to the best of our knowledge, are marked with an * asterisk. Attention California Residents

Peppers- Chiles, JALAPENO EARLY

75 days)-Very hot, sausage shaped for pickling; dries. Attention California Residents

Peppers- Chiles, SERRANO ALTIPLANO

(62 days)- 3” by 1/2” of heat! ready for hot sauces & salsa Attention California Residents

Peppers- Ethnic & Speciality, BANANA SWEET

(85 days)- Make authentic mole sauce; fresh or roasted. Heirlooms, to the best of our knowledge, are marked with an * asterisk. Attention California Residents

Peppers- Ethnic & Speciality, CORNO DI TORO RED*

(72 days)-Italian heirloom; 8"" fruits; salads or grill. Heirlooms, to the best of our knowledge, are marked with an * asterisk. Attention California Residents

Peppers- Ethnic & Speciality, ITALIAN SWEET

(70 days)- Roast, saute, fry or stuff this italian treat. Heirlooms, to the best of our knowledge, are marked with an * asterisk. . Attention California Residents

Peppers- Ethnic & Speciality, PAPRIKA FEHER OZON*

(80 days)- 3” fruit with a bit of heat; harvest red, dry & grind Attention California Residents

Peppers- Ethnic & Speciality, PIMENTO ROUND OF HUNGARY*

(72 days)- Italian; yellowish, mild heat; pickled at salad bars Heirlooms, to the best of our knowledge, are marked with an * asterisk. Attention California Residents