Compositae Perennial to 3'. Hardy to zone 4. A profusion of small sunflowers in the Summer thru Fall. Average soil and water needs. Dislikes shade. Protect the young growth, it's attractive to slugs.
Plants have a running root system and can be invasive. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions.

Beneficial: Rarely troubled deer or rabbits.

Uses: Tubers - raw or cooked, similar in flavor to Jerusalem artichokes, but lower yielding.
Seed: raw or cooked. An edible oil is obtained from the seed.

Origin: Central N. America. Dry prairies.

Compositae. Hardy perennial to 2'. Upright small shrub with numerous erect branchings. Silver evergreen, scented foliage and bright yellow flower heads.The whole plant smells of curry, especially after rain or when bruised.
Needs light, well-drained soil, sunny sheltered position. Intolerant of excessive moisture. Established plants are drought resistant.
Prune back to the old wood in spring to promote new growth. Great for a structured knot garden hedge. Plant 12 inches apart. Prune lightly in Fall. May die back in winter, but will re-emerge in spring. In areas of especially cold winters (below 22 degrees), bring in for protection.
Companion Use: Pollinated by Insects. Essential oils in plant repel pests and so is usually pest & parasite-free. Repels moths. Rarely troubled by deer.

Uses: Can be used to flavor jellies, curry mix or paste, and some gin drinks. A tea is made from the flower heads. Use in soups, stews, steamed vegetables, rice dishes, and pickles. Like bay leaf, remove sprig before serving.

Used pharmaceutically for respiratory and allergy problems. Blends well with rose, sweet orange or iris flower oils. Flowers can be used in dried arrangements, moth pomanders and potpourri.

Origin: Southern Europe.

Asteraceae
False licorice is a charming ornamental originally from South Africa.  It
has small, round, gray, woolly leaves that invite touching.  It is a
creeping plant that is most attractive when placed in hanging baskets, rock
wall pockets or at the base of larger potted plants.  Hardy to zones 8-9, it
is best to bring it in during Austin, Texas winters or place it in a very
protected location.  False licorice requires well draining soil and a sunny
site.  Central Texas humidity is its worst enemy, be sure there is good air
circulation around the plant.

Cruciferae. Hardy Perennial 2’. Tolerates poor soils. Grows well in damp, shady or grassy places. Established plants are drought resistant. A very ornamental plant. The flowers are very aromatic with a clove-like fragrance, this is especially apparent in the evening. They usually have very little scent during the day and thus obtained a reputation in folk-lore for deceit.

Companion: It is a specific food plant for the orange-tip butterfly. Scented flowers are pollinated by Bees, Flies, Moths & Butterflies. It is noted for attracting wildlife.

Harvest: For culinary purposes, the leaves should be picked before the plant flowers. For medical purpose, the leaves are best harvested when the plant is in flower.

Edible Uses: Young leaves - raw, are rich in vitamin C, and are used as a cress substitute in salads. The seed can be sprouted and added to salads. The seed contains 50% of an edible oil.
Medicinal Uses:The leaves are a treatment or preventative for scurvy, produces perspiration, and is diuretic.

Commercially cultivated for an essential oil from the seed, used in perfume Origin:

Belgium; France; Turkey

Cannabidaceae. Perennial Climber to 20'. Green cone-like flowers July - August. Easily grown in a good garden soil in sun or semi-shade. Prefers a deep rich loam and a warm sheltered position. Plants can succeed in dry shade if plenty of humus is incorporated into the soil. A climbing plant, support with a trellis.

Harvest: Female flowering heads in the autumn. Can be used fresh or dried.

Uses: Young leaves and young shoots - cooked, delicious. Young leaves in salads. Use before the end of May. The leaves contain rutin. The fleshy rhizomes are sometimes eaten.
A tea is made from the leaves and cones. It has a gentle calming effect on the body and the mind.

The FLOWERING HEADS are sprinkled with a yellow, translucent granular substance. Much of the hop's use as a flavoring and medicinal plant comes from this powder. The dried flowering heads of female plants are used as a flavoring and preservative in beer. Flowers are used to stuff pillows where the weight of the head will release the volatile oils, inducing calm and sleep.

SEEDS- contain gamma-linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid that is rarely found in plant sources.

FRUITS- The hairs on the fruits contain lupulin, a sedative and hypnotic drug. When given to nursing mothers, lupulin increases the flow of milk.
The fruit , as a poultice applied to ulcers, boils, painful swellings etc.
The female fruiting body contains humulone and lupulone, these are highly bacteriostatic against gram-positive and acid-fast bacteria.
An essential oil from the female fruiting heads is used in perfume.

Brown dye from the leaves and flower heads.

A brown paper can be made from the fiber. Harvest stems in the fall, steam the stems until the fibers can be removed. Cook fibers for 2 hours with lye and then hand pound with a mallet for a hour or so.

Skin contact with the plant causes dermatitis in sensitive people. Dislodged hairs from the plant can irritate the eyes.

Lai Mei Ts'Ao, Lei Ts'Ao, Lu Ts'Ao,
Cannabidaceae. Perennial Climber . Easily grown in a good garden soil in sun or semi-shade. Prefers a deep rich loam. A fast growing plant, with annual stems of up to 30 feet long being produced. Makes a great seasonal living wall, for Garden Rooms. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, will die to the ground in Winter. Mulch to overwinter. Feed with vitamin B in warm water 3 days in a row in the Spring to revive. A climbing plant, supports itself by twining, provide trellis.
The bruised leaves and flowers are refreshingly aromatic. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Flowers July-Aug.
Uses: Young leaves and young shoots - cooked.Use before the end of May.
Medicinal Use: Asia- Diuretic, genitourinary tonic

Range: E. Asia - Japan.

Eye Root, Ground Raspberry, Indian Dye, Jaundice Root, Orange Root, Yellow Root, Yellow Puccoon

Woodland plant, grown both from seed and from the golden rhizome. Partial shade, well drained, rich humus soil. Rootstocks set at least 8” apart, in the fall. Allow to grow for 2 - 3 years before harvesting, every 2 - 3 years thereafter. Transplant at any time.

Used to treat congestion and soothe inflammatory conditions of the mucous membrane that line the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and digestive tracts. High content of the alkaloid hydrastine, hydrastinine, and berberine.
Tea used in the treatment of indigestion, loss of appetite and liver problems.

An infusion of the roots is made into a wash for sore eyes and skin diseases. Can be used externally on arms and legs to treat disorders of the lymphatic system and blood vessels & has anti-convulsive effects on the uterus. Helps treat irritated gums, gum disease and canker sores.

Hypericaceae. Hardy, shrubby perennial, up to two feet. Bright yellow flowers in July and August. Prefers dry gravelly soils, fields, woods and meadows with full sun to partial shade. Drought tolerant once established. Useful as a ground cover, border plant, low hedge, erosion control.

The top of the plant produces bright yellow flowers- if you pinch the flowers, they turn red.  The plant also produces small, numerous black three-celled capsules.   

Harvest: Store in a dark, warm place until dry, or press for oil. The oil will turn red and will keep for two years in a dark container.
Parts Used: Herb tops and flowers. Used as a tea, extract, oil and in tablet form.
Uses: The plant has been used as an herbal remedy since the Middle Ages. It has a 2,400-year history of safe and effective usage in many folk and herbal remedies. Historically used as a nerve tonic. Studies have shown positive results in treating patients with mild to moderate depression.

The active constituents in the herb (there are over 50) include hypericin and pseudohypericin, flavonoids, procyanidins, pectin, rutin, choline and tannins. The tannins are responsible for the astringent effect for wound healing. Hypericin increases capillary blood flow and is a strong MAO inhibitor. In Germany, nearly half of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders are treated with hypericin.
Warning :Do not use if you are pregnant or lactating. St. John's wort should not be taken with any other antidepressants. Photosensitization is a side effect in animals. Anyone who is hypersensitive to sunlight or is taking other photosensitizing drugs should be cautious.

Traditional Herbal medicine for repairing nerve damage and reducing pain and inflammation. Has been used to relieve arthritis, menstrual cramping, sciatica. It soothes the digestive system, is a treatment of incontinence and bed-wetting in children.. The blossoms have been used in folk medicine to relieve ulcers, gastritis, diarrhea and nausea. Externally it is used on cuts as a disinfectant and to relieve inflammation and promote healing. The oil can be applied to sprains, bruises and varicose veins.
Natural orange dye from flowering tops.
Caution: There are many varieties of St. Johnswort available, but only one is recommended for medicinal use. Be careful. Extended use may diminish effectiveness.
Origin: It is a native plant to Europe and has been naturalized to the United States.

Labiatae. Perennial to 2 feet. Moderate water needs until established, partial sun, well-drained, alkaline soil. Drought tolerant. Mulch to overwinter. Transplant to 1 foot apart for hedging. Cut back to 8 inches after flowering. Can be grown indoors. Narrow scented leaves and beautiful blue spike flowers 2 inches in length. An attractive hedging plant in knot gardens.

Companion plant: cabbage & grapes. Deters cabbage moth. Plant near vines to improve yield. A great butterfly & bee plant.

Harvest: flowering tips in the morning. Lay cuttings on cheesecloth and place in shady, airy spot. Store dried herb in air-tight container.

Uses: Slightly bitter, minty tasting leaves can be used sparingly in salads, fruit cocktail, pies, soups, stews and game meats. Benedictine monks used hyssop to flavor their liqueurs.

Regulates blood pressure, purifies the blood & promotes circulation, excellent aid for the eyes, hoarseness, lungs, mucous buildup, nervous disorders and skin problems. Infuse as a tea to relieve mild respiratory problems. Hyssop contains a mild expectorant. Cold tea for expectorant qualities, hot tea for congestion. To clear sinuses, try a tea made of equal amounts of hyssop and culinary sage. Mix with horehound for bronchitis & coughs. Gargle with leaf tea to soothe a sore throat.
The tannin in hyssop help control oily skin. Use hyssop tea as a toner.
Origin: Antiquity. Southern Europe. Many references in the Old Testament of use by Moses, David and Solomon; used medicinally by the ancient Greeks.

Compositae. Perennial to 3 feet. Partial shade. Grows best in moist shady spots in ordinary garden soil, tolerant of neglect. Clumps of large, wide, velvety leaves to 2 feet long with tall stems and a profusion of yellow flowers in Summer. Great ornamental value.
Divide in fall of the second year and every other year thereafter, replant direct into their permanent positions. Take root cuttings in winter. place them in a warm greenhouse, over the winter and they should grow well. When first dug up, the roots smell like ripe bananas, but as they dry they take on the scent of violets.

Companions/Pollinators: bees, butterflies, self pollinating

Harvest: Best in the autumn from plants that are two years old, and it can be dried for later use.

Uses: Leaves & Root- crushed, dried. Uses: Leaves - cooked. Used in China in lozenges, syrups and candy. Tea can be used as remedy for coughs.
Root - candied and eaten as a sweet. It contains up to 44% inulin (a starch that cannot be digested by humans). It usually passes straight through the digestive system, though it can ferment and cause gas problems for some people. Inulin can be converted into a sugar that is suitable for diabetics to eat.
Has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. Especially effective in treating coughs, consumption, bronchitis and many other complaints of the chest and disorders of the digestive system. Cleanses toxins from the body, stimulating the immune and digestive systems and treating bacterial and fungal infections. The root is antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, mildly expectorant, gently stimulant, tonic. An extract of the plant is a powerful antiseptic and bactericide, particularly effective in the treatment of TB. The root contains alantolactone, in a 1:1000 dilution it kills Ascaris in 16 hours.
External wash for skin inflammations and varicose ulcers, but has been known to cause allergic reactions.
A blue dye is obtained from the bruised and smashed root, mixed with ashes and Vaccinium myrtillus berries. The root yields up to 2% of a camphor-scented essential oil, used as a flavoring.
Craft- Aromatic leaves and flowers can be used in dried or fresh flower arrangements and in potpourri.
Warning: This plant should not be used by pregnant women.
Origin: Native of Europe, Northern Asia and North America. In use since ancient Greek times. Used as a potherb by the ancient Romans but rarely used at present.