Yarrow
Yarrow - 1 Litre Pot
Achillea millefolium
Hardy perennial
Uses - Yarrow has some edible uses in small quantities.
It is good for attracting predatory insects like hoverflies, they help control greenfly and other pest species.
Named after the Greek warrior Achilles who used it to treat the wounds of bleeding soldiers on the battlefield.
Height - Approximately 60cm.
Growing conditions - Yarrow likes full sun and is a good plant for dry ground.
Flower colour - White to pale pink.
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff - 9cm Pot
Galium odoratum
Sweet woodruff is a spring flowering plant with white cross shaped flowers, it likes shade and can be found growing in woodland under trees. It is great for ground cover and will spread. It has a lovely sweet hay like scent once dried and in days gone by was used as a strewing herb in the home to mask smells and used to stuff mattresses and pillows.
Curly Spearmint
Curly Spearmint - 9cm pot.
Mentha spicata crispa.
Use this curly leaved mint in all the usual ways, add to peas and tatties, slice into other cooked dishes or add fresh to grain based salads. For drinks use to make a refreshing herbal tea to aid digestion or try your hand at making a mint wine.
Curly spearmint is a hardy herbaceous perennial growing up to 60cm tall. The mauve flower spikes are attractive to pollinating insects. We recommend growing mints in large pots as they can quickly take over your garden, divide annually.
French Tarragon
French Tarragon - 1L Pot
Artemisia dracunculus
Half hardy perennial
Uses - French tarragon is used mainly in chicken, fish and vegetable dishes, also use to flavour vinegars and creamy sauces. Don't forget to freeze or dry some extra to use throughout the winter months.
Growing conditions - Grow in a pot with a gritty compost that drains very well. It will need to be brought indoors in winter. French tarragon does not like to sit in wet soil especially in cold conditions. I grow mine in the ground in the polytunnel and it does overwinter as long as it is not watered too much. It will die back completely in winter and regrow in spring. Position in a sunny, wind sheltered spot and cut back regularly to prevent flowering.
Height - 60-90cm. Spread - 60cm.
Flower colour - Green/yellow but very small and insignificant.
Mugwort
1 Litre pot
Artemisia vulgaris
Hardy herbaceous perennial
Uses - Use to make tinctures and teas. Can also be used when fermenting beer. Dried leaves can be made into a smudge stick or a few put into a mesh bag under your pillow it's said to induce vivid dreams.
Growing conditions - Plant in full sun or partial shade. Does not require very fertile soil and will grow happily in drier soils, but keep well watered until established.
Height approximately 1-2m. Spread - 1m +
Flower colour - Flowers are green/yellow/brown and insignificant. Remove flowering stalks before it goes to seed if you don't want it to spread itself around.
Good for pollinators - Yes
Korean celery
Korean Celery - 2L Pot
Dystaenia takesimana
May also be called Ulleung giant celery (it originates from the island of Ulleung), Seombadi, Dwaejipul, Korean giant celery and Korean pig plant.
Hardy perennial
Description and uses - A rare plant, growing to approximately 6ft tall, the shoots, stems and leaves can be used as a substitute for celery. Large white umbellifer flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
How to grow - Prefers a spot with a little shade can also be grown in full sun. Keep watered during extended dry periods and until established.