Botanical Name: Juglans nigra | Family: Juglandaceae | Similar: Junglans cinerea Common name(s): Black Walnut (nigra), Eastern Black Walnut, Butternut (cinerea) GROWING (profiling black walnut, not butternut) Deciduous tree | Zones 4-9 | 50 – 100+’ tall, when in the open it will grow wider with its branches closer to…

Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia, L. officianalus, and other varieties | Family: Lamiaceae Common name(s): Lavender, English Lavender, French Lavender, Spanish Lavender, Alhucema (Spanish) GROWING Perennial; woody subshrub | Zones 5-9, depending on the species | 24″ tall, varies per species, grows in mounds | Soft, fragrant leaves | Flowers can…

Botanical Name: Curcuma longa | Family: ZingiberaceaeCommon name(s): Turmeric, Jiang huang, HaldiGROWINGPerennial; herbaceous | Zones 10 – 11 (if grown inside, minimum temperature is 64 degrees) | 40 inches tall | Long, oblong green leaves (the undersides are lighter green) | Yellow-white flowers on long spikes | Seeds are sterileRhizomes are orange…

Botanical Name: Nepeta hederacea (syn. Glechoma hederacea, Nepeta Clechoma) | Family: Lamiaceae or LabiataeCommon name(s): Ground Ivy, Creeping Charlie, Ale Hoof, and many more!GROWINGHerbaceous; perennial vine | Zones 3-10 | up to 8 inches | Small lavender flowers in the springSun to shade | Likes damp ground, but really grows everywhere.HARVESTINGHarvest when…

Botanical Name: Cassia angustifolia, C. senna, C. acutifolia | Family: Leguminosae Common name(s): Senna GROWING Subtropical shrub native to India and Africa | 6 1/2 feet tall  | Big yellow flowers followed by legume-like pods Full sun | Alkaline soil (ph 7-8.5) with good drainage HARVESTING Harvest leaves before or while…

Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens | Family: Umbelliferae Common name(s): Dill GROWING Annual; herbaceous | 2-3 feet tall  | Feathery leaves, yellow umbel flowers, seeds in late summer Full sun | Well-drained, moderately rich soil | Regular watering, allowing soil to dry between waterings HARVESTING Harvest seeds in late summer, leaves throughout…

Botanical Name: Pimpinella anisum | Family: Umbelliferae Common name(s): Aniseed, Anise GROWING Annual; herbaceous | 1 1/2 – 3 feet tall  | Feathery leaves, yellow umbel flowers, ridged seeds in autumn Full sun | Light, well-drained soil | Protect from wind HARVESTING Harvest seeds, when ripe, in late autumn. PREPARATION /…

Botanical Name: Acorus calamus | Family: Araceae Common name(s): Sweet Flag, Calamus, Sweet Sedge GROWING Perennial | Zones 4-11 | 1-4 feet tall  | Cattail-like leaves, flowers angle out from a leaf-like stalk from May through August. Roots are jointed. Full sun | Grows at edges of ponds and in moist meadows…

Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare | Family: Umbelliferae Common name(s): Fennel GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | Zones 6-9 | 4-5 feet tall  | Yellow umbels bloom from July until frost and produce seed after blooming Full sun | Any soils, prefers well-drained HARVESTING Harvest the seeds in autumn. PREPARATION / DOSAGE Infusion: Pour 1…