Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Thyme, Rose-scented

Thymus X 'Rose-Scented'
I confess. Occasionally I found out about Mark's new finds when I edit the catalog. His description inspired me to hunt it down and you know it is distinctly ""English Rose"" scented with larger foliage for kitchen prep east. Forms a delicious blue-green, fast spreading carpet for in between stepping stones, under Ebony Wonder Basil, or in rockeries... anywhere, it makes scents!

Thyme, Spicy Orange

Thymus X 'Spicy Orange'


A narrow leaved, blue-green creeping variety that is simply outstanding between stepping stones and two pieces of fish, butterfly chicken breasts, or in tea. You gotta try this one.

Thyme, Tufted

Thymus caespititus


Pink flowers adorn this enchanting ""collector's"" thyme, late spring to early summer. Distinctive, feathery foliage forms a perfect mound. Not always hardy in northern Ohio, but a very well drained soil can help to overwinter it. At home in a mixed or hypertufa container.

Thyme, Woolly

Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus 'Languinosis'


We have never seen flowers on this true variety of ""Woolly Thyme."" Too cold in northern Ohio? A popular groundcover which adores the sun even in between stepping stones, and is a natural for rock gardens and bonsai.

Valerian \ Garden Heliotrope

Valerian officinalis


Considered by many horticulturists to be one of the finest hardy perennials for the shade. Fragrant 5"" pinkish-white flower clusters in mid-summer perfume the early evening air. What irony then, that the medicinal roots should smell so bad. A cold tea made from dried 2 year old roots is used for colds, insomnia and nervous disorders.

Valerian, Miniature

Valerian supina
For those of you fond of the delicate, fragrant flowers of ""Garden Heliotrope"" a.k.a. ""Valerian"" but not the four to five feet stalks, well how about this proud, 2 inch small cousin that flowers pink most of the summer? Forms a neat, 1 foot in diameter, tight mat of 1/2"" leaves. Native to high European Alps meadows.

Verbena, Butterfly

Verbena bonariensis


Pinkish purple blossoms sway on top 3 foot slender stems, attracting the eye and horn of many drivers. It's a natural cut flower which also lures every butterfly in the neighborhood. Warning: it's a self-sowing annual which happens to be O.K. for us. Use bark or other mulch where you don't want it to self-sow.

Verbena, Homestead Purple

Verbena canadensis `Homestead Purple'


A hardy perennial that flowers like an annual, if you live in Zones 6/7 - 10. For us northern folk, it is an annual with outstanding bright purple blossoms that show off vibrantly from hundreds of feet away. Will form a 5 foot mat that trails over rocks ;amp; walls in one season which is why it graced the cover of our 1st catalog. Not all of our herbs have to be used from flower to roots. This one is for sheer enjoyment. Flowers from around June, continuously, through fall even after autumn frosts. Introduced to the nursery trade (along with ornamental Sweet Potatoes) by Dr. Allen Armitage, University of Georgia, who told me he wished he had a penny for everyone of these that have been sold. He would be retired. We're glad he's not!

Veronica, M & Mini Blue Carpet

Veronica spicata nana 'M & M Blue Carpet'
M & M Blue Carpet is a very sweet Mulberry Creek introduction selected from a seed grown variety that has extra small leaves, but all the same flower power as other veronicas. Bright blue buds pop up through the carpet of green leaves each summer. Slowly spreads to form a thick carpet. Plant about 6-12 inches apart for an eventually solid groundcover.

Veronica, Sunshine

Veronica repens 'Sunshine'


Tiny, pinkish spikes in June add another 75 watts to this already fluorescent gold leaved ground-cover. Needs full, hot sun for best color. Will also brighten any partially shaded pocket where thymes won't grow. Here the leaf color fades to lime green only to start over gold each spring.

Violet, World's Smallest

Viola verecunda var. yakusimana




It's BAAACK! Absolutely the world's smallest violet with a very long botanical name. Each heart-shaped leaf fits comfortably on the head of a pencil eraser. Tiny lavender & white flowers come out just above foliage during cooler weather. Will spread by seed, so use it between stepping stones in a moist shade. Never a nuisance.

Wild Indigo \ Baptisia

Baptisia australis


True blue, June flowers form on this, one of the longest lived perennials known. It even has delicious edible flowers (yes, we where surprised too!). Just strip flowers from stalks and pop into your mouth, green cap and all, for a fresh pea fix. After a short bloom, the unique foliage contrasts with neighbors all summer and then it turns purple after a freeze! Place it next to yellow conifers for excellent winter color. It's a nitrogen fixing legume to boot!

Woodruff, Tiny Sweet

Asperula suavis

• Exact 1/4 size version of ""Sweet Woodruff""! Just right in miniature, hardy, shade gardens and trough with mini hostas and primroses.

Yarrow, Mini Buttons

Achillea ageratifolia


Here's a yarrow that won't take over the border in fact, the blue gray, feathery foliaged, miniature rosettes spread slowly. Needs well drained soil, but frequent watering throughout growing season. Flowers are creamy white and 3"" high.