Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)
This aromatic perennial grows to between 12-24" (30-60 cms) and has many fine leaves. The flowers are long lasting and range from white to pink, forming flat clusters. Yarrow is common in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

According to legend, Achilles used yarrow to heal injuries on the battlefield and placing yarrow under your pillow at night would reveal a future spouse.

Yarrow actually is effective in stopping bleeding, probably the reason it was used by Achilles, and worth noting if you're an avid hiker or mountain biker. Crush or chew the leaves to release the astringent juice and apply to the wound. Also useful for lowering fever and blood pressure, when taken internally, but please consult a qualified naturopath or herbalist for correct doses before using it this way.

Yarrow grows quite well in most places but thrives in moist, well drained soil in a sunny position. It can be invasive and suits perennial meadows and borders. The blooms attract benficial insects like ladybugs to the garden and will last a long time as cut flowers in the home.

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Black Cohosh (Actaea Racemosa)
This hardy perennial grows in clumps and has a woody root system, with elegant multi-triangular leaves. Flowering in summer with glorious stems of tiny white blooms, black cohosh belongs to the buttercup family.

Native Americans used the root of this herb, traditionally for female complaints, hence the common name of 'sqaw root'. It has aslo been used as an insect repellent.

Black cohosh rhizomes contain oestrogenic and sedative substances, useful for treating menstrual and menopausal problems (maca can also be used for these complaints) and for pains during and post labour. These substances also stimulate the uterus and for these reasons it should NOT be used during pregnancy. Black cohosh can also be used to relieve asthma, arthritis and rheumatism. For more detailed information on how to use this herb, consult a herbalist or naturopath.

A magnificent ornamental, due to the elegant leaves and spectacular summer blooms, black cohosh enjoys moist, humus-rich soil and a shaded position in the garden. Plants can be grown from seed or by rhizome division in spring or fall.

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Garlic (Allium Sativum)
A hardy perennial with a rounded, pyramidal bulb, composed of smaller cloves, covered in a papery white skin, it has long, thin and flat leaves. During the growing season it develops a flower head which may or may not bear flowers.

Garlic has been grown and harvested domestically for so long that its origin is not clear. Not found in the wild, it may have been derived from central Asia and was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun (c 1360 BC). Hailed as a cure-all, there are dozens of complaints for which garlic is said to be effective, according to Pliny. Muslim legend paints a poorer picture, claiming that garlic sprang up from Satan's left footstep. On the plus side, it is supposed to protect against vampires!

Of course, garlic is most famous as a culinary herb and is responsible for adding flavour to meat, poultry, seafood, pasta and vegetable dishes world wide. Also added to oils, vinegars and salt it is a vital ingredient is many national dishes. Crushed or chopped garlic has the greatest pungency, whilst roasted whole cloves have a nutty, almost sweet flavour.

Fresh garlic contains a range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and sulphur compounds, which provide medicinal benefit. Studies support the traditional benefits as a guard against infection, both viral and bacterial, especially in the digestive system and respiratory tract. There is however controversy about the role of garlic as a tool to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, thus benefiting cardiovascular health. Anti-oxidant and anti-cancer benefits have also been reported but not conclusively proven.

If growing garlic, ensure full sun and moist soil for best results. Plant individual cloves about 1" (2.5cms) deep in fall or winter or seed in fall. Not particularly attractive, it may be best to plant in rows in a vegetable garden, although if planted amongst roses and other flowering bushes it can deter pests and disease!

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Chives (Allium Schoenoprasum)
A hardy clump forming perennial with cylindrical bulbs and hollow leaves. Flowers occur from spring to early summer in dense heads of mauve coloured bells. They grow wild in Asia, Europe and North America in damp ground, frequently beside streams and creeks.

The chives that are commonly used today are only a few of the many onion flavoured members of the allium family. Often grown in pots or boxes they can be grown in a layered soil configuration to give bands of colour. Usually referred to as 'five-coloured chives', they have the same culinary uses and nutritional value as their mono-coloured couterparts.

The mild flavour and bright green colour of chives is very useful in the kitchen, bringing life to bland foods such as potatoes and breads, eggs and soft cheeses. Mild flavoured suaces and soups can also benefit from the gentle touch of a few chives. Chicken breasts pan fried with chives and cream cheese are a simple and very tasty meal! When cooking with chives, always chop finely to release their flavour and aroma and because long pieces tend to be stringy. Add them toward the end of the cooking process as over cooking chives will destroy their flavour. Chive flowers are edible and can add some real colour to salads!

Chives are a tolerant herb and will grow in a wide variety of soils from clay to fertile sandy. They are not fussy on pH levels and easily grown from seed sown in spring. Plants may be propogated by division in early spring. There are many other varieties of chives that produce different coloured fowers from white to pink. These differences make chives ideal for use as a colourful border plant in any garden.

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Aloe Vera (Aloe Vera)
Widespread throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions, Aloe Vera is a perennial succulent. Comprising a rosette of spiny-edged leaves that are grey-green in color and a spike of tubular yellow or orange flowers, it grows to about 2-3ft (60-90cm) high.

Aloe Vera was used by Egypt's famous temptress, Cleopatra, to beautify her skin and the bible mentions it as an ingredient for embalming. It became popular in Western culture in the 1950s as a soothing healant for sunburn, when made into a gel. Aloe is widely used today in cosmetics, where it is added to healing creams and lotions for burnt or irritated skin.

A simple aloe vera pot plant can be very useful around the home. Just break off a leaf, cut it length ways to allow the sap to excrete and apply it directly to minor burns, cuts, grazes and stings. It quickly soothes these injuries allowing for more comfortable cleaning and dressing of the wounds. Also able to be taken internally, the sap (or juice) can assist healing of ulcers. Asthma and alergy sufferers may also benefit by taking aloe supplements because it may help reduce the immune system reaction that causes attacks. Aloe should not be ingested by pregnant women or children.

For good growth, aloe needs a dry, sunny location with a minimum temperature above 46F (8C) and grows better in sandy soil. Rarely seeding, plants are best propagated by separating the offsets during growth periods.

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Marsh Mallow (Althaea Officinalis)
A tall hardy perennial, marsh mallow can grow up to about 6' (2m). It has a fleshy tap root and broad leaves with three to five toothed lobes. Lovely pale pink flowers, similar in appearance to hibiscus, appear in summer. As the name suggests, this is a plant found in wet places, marshes, bogs, ditches, throughout Europe, West Asia and North Africa. It can also be found in parts of North America.

The ancient Greeks used marsh mallow in medicine since before Christ. Theophrastus wrote that the root was soaked in sweet wine to produce a cough elixir. The sweet roots form a jelly when infused in water and are the original ingredient in the namesake confectionery. Marshmallow confectionery was developed in France. Made from the powedered root, soft lozenges were sucked to relieve coughs and sore throats. The dried roots were also used as a natural teething comfort for babies.

Seldom used in the kitchen today, the the roots can be used to make a soft jelly or for confectionery. Marsh mallow is still an important medicinal herb. The mucilage contained in the root soothes and softens tissue and controls bacterial infection. It can be effective against inflammation and ulceration of the digestive tract, urinary tract infections and cystitis. It is also a useful remedy for coughs and congestion because of its expectorant qualities. When made into a lotion or ointment, it can be used externally on inflamed skin or as a healing mouthwash.

Marsh mallow can be grown from seed sown in late summer or by division in fall or early spring. Although it prefers soggy, marsh-like ground, it will grow in most kinds of soil and will not be perturbed with heavy clay. The lovely pink flowers work well in border gardens.

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Dill (Anethum Graveolens)
An upright, hollow-stalked annual that grows to about 2-3ft (60-90cm) high. Dill has fine thread-like leaves and in summer produces stalks with heads of fine yellow flowers, followed by flat, oval shaped seeds. Found in the wild in warmer parts of Europe and Asia with a subspecies also growing in India. Indian dill is taller, has a pale stem and tastes different.

A traditional herb in the Middle East, dill has been important since biblical times. The Egyptians used it medicinally and it was found on the mummy of Amenophis II. A cooling carminative, dill is used in Ayurvedic medicine and has been for thousands of years.

Both the seeds and leaves of dill are used for culinary purposes and should be added with discretion because of their strong flavour. Fish and other seafood, potatoes (particularly potato salad), cheeses, sour cream, eggs and cucumbers can all benefit from a sprinkling of dill. Difficult to combine with other herbs and spices, it can be mixed with mustard successfully. Of course dill pickles (small cucumbers or gherkins pickled with fresh leaves and seeds of dill) are well known and very popular.

Dill has a calming, toning effect on the digestive system and acts as a mild diuretic. The main therapeutic use is for ease of indigestion, colic and wind. Gripe water uses an extract of dill. Reportedly useful for increasing milk production in nursing mothers, it has the added bonus of being passed to the baby to help prevent colic.

Easily grown from seed, dill should be sown directly into the garden in spring. It can be grown in larger pots but does not transplant well, so should not be raised in seedling trays. Dill thrives in sunny spots in well drained soil and if happy, will self sow for next season. Several different flavoured varieties are available these days, some better for leaf production, some for seed production. Choose one or more depending on your preferred taste or preferred use.

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Horseradish (Armoracia Rusticana)
Robust and hardy, this clump forming perennial has a stout tap root that can reach 2ft (60cm) in length and 4" (10cm) in width. Large, glossy, green leaves up to 20" (50cm) in length grow from thick stalks and branched stems of tiny four petalled flowers are produced in summer. Originating from south east Europe to west Asia, horseradish is now naturalized in many parts of the world, including North America.

Cultivated for over 2,000 years, horseradish is popular in Germany, crushed with vinegar and used as a sauce or compliment to meat or fish. With migration, horseradish sauce has spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world over the last 500 years.

Young horseradish leaves are mild and pleasant tasting and are good in salads, particularly with smoked fish or meat. The fresh roots can be grated and used alone or with grated apple as a condiment. Vinegar and cream or oil mixed with the grated root makes a great accompaniment for roast beef, deli meats and hard boiled eggs. Horseradish sauce is best served cold because heating destroys the natural oils responsible for the pungent flavor.

The olis in horseradish are very similar to those in mustard and are therefor similarly pungent, irritating and stimulating. Used in moderation, horseradish has beneficial effects like improving circulation and digestion and as an anti-bacterial for prevention of food poisoning. It can speed the removal of toxins from the body and is useful for treating gout, colds and flus. Gastric irritation can occur if excess amounts are ingested, so it should be avoided by those with digestive disorders or gastric ulcers.

Think carefully before planting horseradish as it tends to grow rampant and is virtually impossible to eradicate. For these reasons, a large pot is the best place, unless you plan to harvest for sale. It is easy to propagate from root cuttings as the tiniest pieces will sprout, hence the difficulty in eradication. Plant cuttings deep in the soil in winter for best results. Young roots taste best so it's better to resow regularly than to have old clumps sitting around.

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Mistletoe (Viscum Album)
This evergreen parasitic shrub grows mainly on apple, hawthorn, maple, poplar and rowan trees throughout Europe and is an introduced species in North America. Pairs of yellow-green, narrow leaves about 2" (5cm) in length grow from symmetrically branched stems. White, sticky berries follow the inconspicuous yellow flowers that bloom in spring.

Mistletoe has been held in awe for millenia, probably due to its unique method of growth. Mistletoe that grew on oak was considered most sacred to the Druids. Priests would gather it by climbing the oak tree, cutting the stems with a golden sickle and catching them in a white cloak so they never touched the ground. The Christmas tradition of kissing under the mistletoe originated in Norse legend. Balder, the Norse god of peace, was killed by an arrow made from mistletoe. The arrow was then entrusted to the goddess of love, Freya, so that anyone passing beneath should receive a kiss. Commonly regarded as good luck to hang around the house, offering protection and ensuring love, mistletoe is often banned by modern churches because of its pagan ties.

Since before Christ, mistletoe has been used as a remedy for epilepsy and tumors. The unique chemistry contains substances that inhibit tumor growth and stimulate the immune system, whilst having a tranquilizing effect. Mistletoe is a very potent herb and the berries are highly toxic, so it is unsuitable for self medication. Herbalists may prescribe it for cardiac disorders, epilepsy, tumors, rabies, insomnia or hyperactivity and even tranquilizer addiction withdrawal.

Due to the potency and toxicity of mistletoe, there is no culinary use for this herb.

Berries collected in spring are best for germination of mistleoe. Christmas berries are generally too immature and the seed fail to grow. Rather than removing the seeds, simply squash the whole berry into a crevice in the bark of a suitable, mature host tree. The best spot is a high branch where there will be enough light for the new plant. Mistletoe seedlings are slow growing and may not produce fruit for five years. Even then, it is only the female plant that bears fruit, so it's best to have a colony of plants in a localised area. Apple orchards are perfect because there is no harm done to the tree and the mistletoe grows at a good height for harvesting.

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