Botanical Name: Ocimum sanctum| Family: Lamiaceae Common name(s): Holy Basil, Tulsi, Sacred Basil GROWING SOWING Grown as an annual in colder zones. Native to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China, Thailand, and Malaysia. Can be direct sown after the last frost or started indoors 6 weeks before planting.…

Botanical Name: Lobelia inflata | Family: Campanulacaeae Common name(s): Lobelia, Indian Tobacco, Pukeweed GROWING Annual / Biennial | zones 6-9 | 1-2 feet | pale violet-blue flowers, tinted pale yellow within, from July – August Found in open woods and fields and along roadsides. It’s common in the Eastern United States – west to…

Botanical Name: Hypericum Perforatum | Family: Guttiferae Common name(s): St. John’s Wort, Klamath weed GROWING Perennial, herbaceous | zones 3-8 | 24-30 inches tall | bright-yellow, star-shaped flowers which bloom around summer solstice. Full sun, partial shade; well-drained soil. Found in mountain meadows and along roadsides. Propagate by root division in spring or fall.…

Botanical Name: Humulus Lupulus | Family: Cannabaceae (older taxonomy: Moraceae) Common name(s): Hops GROWING Perennial, herbaceous, vining | zones 4-8 | 8 feet and taller | green stabiles, which are the hops’ flowers and look like papery green pine cones are abundant by late summer. There are male and female plants. For hops use, fertilization…

Botanical Name: Scutellaria lateriflora | Family: Labiatae Common name(s): Skullcap, (Virginian) Scullcap, Mad-dog Scullcap GROWING Perennial, herbaceous | Zones 4-8 | Partial shade | 18-24” | blooms July – Sept (small blue flowers) Likes to be wet in the spring. Stratify for a minimum of a week if starting indoors (or plant…

Botanical Name: Valerian officinalis Common  name(s): Valerian GROWING Perennial, herbaceous | Zones 4-7 | Partial shade | 3-4’ clumping | blooms late spring / early summer (white flowers with a touch of pink, very fragrant)** Woodland plant. Can tolerate sun as long as it stays wet. Direct sow. Space plants 12-15” apart.…

Botanical Name: Betonica officinalis (Stachys officinalis) | Family: Labiatae (Mint family) Common name(s): Wood Betony, Betony GROWING Perennial, herbaceous | zones 5-8 | 1′ tall | purple blooms from midsummer, on Woodland plant, prefers a moist / shady growing habitat. Will grow in clay. Not a rapid spreader. Seeds need to be stratified for…

Botanical Name: Nepeta Cataria | Family: Labiatae (Mint family) Common name(s): Catnip, Nebada (Spanish) GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | zones 3-7 | 15-24 inches tall | white, purple-spotted flowers on and off in the summer. Found in many environments. Full sun to shade, no special soil needs. Reseeds readily Companion planting: french or red-veined sorrels,…

Botanical Name: Matricaria recutita (German chamomile), Chamaemelum nobile (Roman) | Family: Compositae Common name(s): Chamomile, German chamomile, Roman chamomile (a.k.a garden chamomile) GROWING German chamomile (annual, to 24″), Roman chamomile (perennial, herbaceous, 8-10″) | Zones 4-9 | Full sun / Partial shade | blooms June – frost (white, daisy-like flowers) Likes well-drained soil. Flowers…