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…

I am not posting a photo of this plant because I can’t find one for officinalis and there are tons of Sarsaparilla varieties. Please see my notes at the bottom of this post for a picture of wild sarsaparilla, which is a different botanical plant (but used medicinally, as well).…

Botanical Name: Turnera aphrodisiaca, T. diffusa | Family: Turneraceae Common name(s): Damiana, Mexican Holly GROWING Shrub | Zone 9-11 | 3-6 feet tall | Serrated green leaves, yellow flowers, sweet-smelling fruit 4-6 hours of direct sun/day | Sandy, fast-draining soil HARVESTING Harvest leaves and stems while the plant is in flower. PREPARATION / DOSAGE Infusion: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over…

Botanical Name: Cnicua benedictus | Family: Compositae Common name(s): Blessed thistle, Holy thistle GROWING Annual; herbaceous | Zone 5-9 | 10-30 inches tall | Hairy leaves and stems. Stems are 5-sided. Yellow flowers with spider-web like hairs in them, April – September Full sun | Dry, stony, waste soil HARVESTING Harvest aerial parts while in flower and…

Botanical Name: Artemisia Vulgaris | Family: Compositae Common name(s): Mugwort, Moxa, Cronewort GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 4-8 | 4-5 feet tall | Spikes of whitish green flowers on top of purple stems. Green leaves have silver undersides. Full sun/partial shade | Any soil HARVESTING Harvest aerial parts any time during the growing season, preferably when blossoming (between July and…

Botanical Name: Achillea millifolium | Family: Compositae Common name(s): Yarrow, Chipmunk’s tail, Soldier’s woundwort, Milfoil, Nosebleed GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 3-9 | 2-3 feet tall | White* flowers in mid- to late summer Full sun/partial shade | Disturbed, well-drained, soil | Likes open, grassy areas HARVESTING Harvest aerial parts  mid- to late summer, while in flower PREPARATION / DOSAGE…

Botanical Name: Chamaelirium lutem | Family: Liliaceae Common name(s): False Unicorn, Helonias, Colic root, Devil’s bit, Fairy wand, Star grub root, Grub root GROWING Evergreen herb | Zone 5-8 | 1 foot, 8 inches tall | White flowers in May-June | Male and female plants, only females produce seed. Dappled shade | Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil…

Botanical Name: Mitchella repens | Family: Rubiaceae Common name(s): Squaw Vine, Patridgeberry, Twinberry, Deerberry GROWING Evergreen herb | Zone 4-9 | 1 foot tall | White flowers in late spring/early summer followed by red berries Partial to full shade| Consistently moist soil HARVESTING Harvest the aerial parts and berries in late summer. PREPARATION / DOSAGE Infusion: Pour 1 cup of…

Botanical Name: Viburnum opulus | Family: Caprifoliaceae Common name(s): Cramp Bark, High Cranberry, Snowball Tree, Guelder Rose, Squaw Bush GROWING Perennial; shrub | Zone 2-7 | 8-15 feet tall | White flowers in June followed by red berries which can stay on the bush throughout winter Full sun to partial shade| Well-drained, moist soil HARVESTING Harvest the bark between spring equinox (March…