Herbs

(Agastache foeniculum) This fragrant bushy 2-3’ plant is divine! Smelling sweetly of licorice and mint it greets the gardener/farmer, bee, butterfly, and hummingbird with long-standing dense blooms of deep violet 8-10” flower spikes. Long ago nicknamed, 'The Wonder Honey Plant, the beneficial insects, and pollinators it will introduce to your...

(Ocimum basilicum) This is one large, lovely, and lush Genovese-type basil. Growing to a height of 24", it produces large, tender, and sweetly fragrant leaves, remaining our basil of choice for making pesto and wherever basil is called for. Slow to bolt and quick to regrow after cuttings. Leaves up...

(Ocimum sanctum aka O. tenuiflorum) Considered India’s “Queen of Herbs” and cultivated for over 5,000 years for both religious and medicinal purposes. It is used in Aryuvedic medicine for its classification as an adaptogenic herb (tonic herb) that supports one's natural immune system while simultaneously relieving stress and bringing balance. An...

(Ocimum basilicum var. minimum) Greek basils are the adorable mini-topiary plants of the basil world. Leaves are much smaller than other basil varieties, making them perfect for garnishes or whole-leaf use in things like panzanella or caprese. The taste is somewhat sweeter and spicier than Italian largeleaf varieties, with plenty...

(Borago officinalis) Besides being extremely easy to grow, very hardy and edible, this flower, like Lime Green Nicotiana, virtually glows. Reminiscent of a shooting star in shape and a mild cucumber in taste, borage will produce continuous flower clusters that we and the bees both adore. The flowers, which are...

(Anthriscus cerefolium) Originally native to the Caucuses and spread widely by the Romans, Chervil is a lovely aromatic herb with a delicate, fern-like appearance and bright yet subtle aniseed flavor. Very popular in France, it is part of the herb mixture known as "fines herbes," a mainstay of French cuisine. Often...

(Coriandrum sativum) When we first started selling Pokey Joe, it had fallen off the commercial map and was a rescue job. The variety was brought to our attention by Scott Chichester of Nash’s Farm in Sequim, WA, who had continued to grow it and save their own seed. The quality...

(Verbascum thapsus) Mullein is one of those plants we see all the time on the sides of roads and in overgrown urban lots, but we don’t even notice it until it is in the context of a flower or herb garden. I can’t tell you how many people have exclaimed, “What...

(Anethum graveolens) Goldkrone is a vigorous slow-to-bolt variety that is excellent for both fresh leaf and (later) seed head production. Fresh dill is indispensable in our summer and fall kraut making, while seed umbels find their way into our various pickling projects. A lovely architectural plant in the garden, Goldkrone...

(Echinacea purpurea) Native to the North American plains, Echinacea has become a household name and the ambassador of herbal medicine for its use in stimulating the immune system. Purpurea is the easiest of the Echinacea family to grow, requiring no prior cold treatment for germination. A visually stunning perennial reaching...

(Plantago coronopus) The name translates from Italian to “star grass”, an apt description of this lovely plant. Native to Europe’s rocky coastline, it is a seaside plant that thrives in cool, wet weather (sound familiar?) and even saline soils. It is a survivor to the extreme and no offense to...

(Matricaria recutita) These little daisy-like flowers are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and have been used as a calming digestive tea for centuries. Cheery blooms sit atop low-growing (18”-24”) lacy foliage and will happily reseed if allowed to mature. Wonderful fragrance, both fresh and dried. Keep on cutting, and...

(Hyssopus officinalis) Lovely scented, perennial Mediterranean herb in the mint family. 16-24" tall and around with long stems of deep blue-violet flowers. Forms neat mounds and is easily shaped for borders. Dried aerial parts are medicinally used in cough syrups and teas for bronchitis, sore throats, colds, and flu. Leaves may...

(Althea officinalis) If any of you are prone to long-lasting coughs and sore throats in the winter months, you’ll want this perennial herb in your garden. Edible white/blushed with pink flowers and big soft leaves reaching a height of 6-8’ make this herb hard to miss & resist. Both the...

(Calamintha nepeta) Growing wild throughout much of central and southern Italy, Mentuccia has a low mounding habit similar to oregano with brilliant green, slightly fuzzy leaves. Starting as a distinct mound, it continues growing well into fall, becoming quite large and lush! The flavor is often described as a cross...

(Tagetes lucida) Dating back to at least the 16th century, it is native to Guatemala and Mexico and known by many names such as Mexican Mint Marigold, Sweet Mace, Winter Tarragon, and Cloud Plant. A tender perennial in warmer zones, with a flavor reminiscent of French tarragon but with a...

(Monarda citriodora) A member of the mint family, this perennial flowering herb is native across much of the United States and Mexico. Vertically stacked whorls of impossibly vibrant purple flowers prove irresistible to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and just buzz with pollinators (hence another common name for it, "bee balm"). The...

(Nigella sativa) Grown throughout the Middle East and also known as Blessed Seed, Herb from Heaven, Black Seed, Roman Coriander, Black Caraway, Black Onion Seed, Kalonji, Corek Otu, Ketzah, Chaveux de Venus, etc., and referenced in the Old Testament, ancient Islamic and Greek literature, found in Egyptian tombs... It is...

(Petroselinum crispum) Mersin is the modern name of a city and province in Southeastern Turkey, with a history of human activity reaching back to 6300 BC. Being the southern outpost of one of the few passes through the Taurus mountain range, the area has been an important locus of cultural...

(Silene inflata) We are seriously charmed by this culinary oddity. Guaranteed NOT to be the next big thing anytime soon, Sculpit (AKA “stridolo”) is for the adventurous lover of the esoteric. An aromatic leaf-herb all but unknown outside its native Italy, where it is revered, it is used to season...

(Trigonella caerulea) Long a fan of fenugreek as a pizza topping, our friend Sarah Minnick of Portland pizza staple Lovely's Fifty/Fifty had been sourcing the more common species (Trigonella foenum-graecum) from local farms around the city. Since that species requires too long a season to reliably produce seed in the...