Botanical Name: Angelica sinensis (syn. A. polymorpha) | Family: Umbelliferae (syn. Apiaceae) Common name(s): Dong quai, Chinese angelica, Dong qui, Dang gui, Tang quei, Female ginseng Related: Angelica, which can be substituted in some cases GROWING Perennial | Zones 6-9 | 3 feet | White, umbrella-shaped flowers August-September and seeds ripen September-October Full sun to partial shade | Moist, well-drained…

Botanical Name: Caulophyllus thalictroides | Family: Berberidaceae Common name(s): Blue Cohosh, Squawroot, Papoose Root GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 3-8 | 1-3 feet tall | Leaves dark purple when they emerge then they turn green. Greenish-brown or yellow-brown flowers mid to late spring, turn into waxy yellow flowers that hang below the foliage. Partial to full shade| Moist, hummus-rich, acidic soil…

Botanical Name: Cimicifuga racemosa (syn. Actaea racemosa) | Family: Ranunculaceae Common name(s): Black Cohosh, Rattleroot, Squawroot, Snakeroot, Bugbane GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 3-8 | 3-9 feet tall | Small white flowers in wand-like racemes from May through August Partial shade| Moist, rich soil | Grows in woods and shrubby areas HARVESTING Harvest the root in Autumn PREPARATION / DOSAGE Decoction: Pour…

Botanical Name: Leoncrus cardiaea | Family: Labiatae Common name(s): Motherwort, Lion’s-tail GROWING Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 4-8 | 2-4 feet tall | Lavender flowers in whorls along the stem from June-September Full sun to full shade| No special soil needs| Grows near streams and rivers HARVESTING Harvest the aerial parts during flowering PREPARATION / DOSAGE Infusion: Pour 1 cup boiling water over…

Botanical Name: Vitex angus-castus | Family: Verbenaceae Common name(s): Vitex, Chasteberry, Chaste Tree, Monk’s Pepper, Hemp Tree GROWING Woody, perennial | Zone 6-9 | 2-10 feet tall | Lavender-colored spikes of flowers in mid-to-late summer (beginning in the second year). In colder climates, it may not flower or bear fruit. Full sun/partial shade | Well-drained soil| Likes some…

Botanical Name: Disoscorea villosa | Family: Dioscoreaceae Common name(s): Wild Yam, Colicroot, Rheumatism root GROWING Vine, perennial | Zone 5-9 | Up to 30+ tall | Heart-shaped alternate leaves (a set of whorled ones at the base) with small yellow-green flowers June – August. Aerial tubers in late summer. Partial shade | Likes moisture – damp woods, swamps, thickets…

Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus, R. strigosus | Family: Rosaceae Common name(s): Raspberry Leaf, Red Raspberry Leaf GROWING Shrub; biennial, deciduous | Zone 4-9 | 8-15 feet tall | Pale green leaves with gray/white underside. Mall white flowers on second year canes in May/June followed by fruit in June/July. | Canes have thorns. Full sun | Well-drained…

Botanical Name: Eleutherococcus senticosus | Family: Araliaceae Common name(s): Siberian Ginseng, Eleuthero Root, Devil’s Shrub | Purple (male) and yellow (female) flowers in early summer. GROWING Shrub; perennial | Zone 3-8 | 8-15 feet tall | flowers (purple for male, yellow for female) bloom in early summer. Pollination is by bees | oval blue-ish black berries Part…

Botanical Name: Panax Ginseng (and other Panax varieties) | Family: Araliaceae Common name(s): Ginseng GROWING (for this and the harvesting section, I am going to focus on American Ginseng, since that’s the variety I would grow) Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 3-7 | 4-24 inches tall, depending on maturity | prongs develop from a single stalk and have…