Perennial fruiting bramble
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
Traditional astringent: Tannin-rich leaves have a long record of use for mild diarrhea and as a gargle for minor m...
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From the Garden
Apothecary
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A field cabinet of plants grown, identified, harvested, and studied at Root & Brass, along with their traditional benefits, practical uses, preparation, and necessary cautions.
Garden Collection
The Plant Cabinet
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Cool season annual
Calendula
Calendula officinalis
Calendula is valued as a versatile garden and apothecary plant. Its flowers have a long history of topical use for so...
Annual or short lived perennial wildflower
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
California poppy is valued as a drought-tolerant ornamental and pollinator plant and has a documented history in trad...
Annual succulent
Common Purslane
Portulaca oleracea
Nutritious edible green containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid uncommon at relatively high l...
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Herbaceous perennial
Coneflower
Echinacea spp.
Respiratory research: Echinacea products may slightly reduce the chance
of catching a cold, but it remains un...
Perennial broadleaf weed
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion is useful as an edible wild green in ordinary food amounts, an early nectar and pollen source, and a tradit...
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Deciduous fruit tree
Frost Peach
Prunus persica 'Frost'
The ripe peach flesh is a nourishing seasonal food. It provides water, dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and natur...
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Evergreen succulent perennial
Hens & Chicks
Sempervivum tectorum
Topical tradition: Fresh houseleek juice has been used traditionally for
minor burns, insect bites, skin irri...
Biennial or short lived perennial
Hollyhock
Alcea rosea
Hollyhock contains mucilaginous compounds, especially in the flowers, leaves, and roots. In traditional herbal practi...
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Deciduous perennial vine
Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
The fragrant flowers provide nectar for moths, bees, and other pollinators and bring a calming sensory presence to th...
Annual broadleaf weed
Lady's Thumb
Persicaria maculosa
Lady’s Thumb has a long history as a folk herb and also provides ecological value as a flowering volunteer plant. Per...
Woody perennial herb
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender is traditionally valued for its calming fragrance and aromatic household use. Research on lavender preparati...
Flowering herbaceous plant
Mallow
Malva spp.
Many Malva species contain abundant mucilage, a slippery plant fiber that accounts for much of their traditional soot...
Warm season annual
Marigold
Tagetes spp.
Marigolds are valuable companion and pollinator plants. Their flowers contain carotenoid pigments, including lutein i...
Annual or biennial thistle
Milk Thistle
Silybum marianum
The mature fruits, often called seeds, contain a mixture of flavonolignans known collectively as silymarin. Milk this...
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Herbaceous perennial herb
Mint
Mentha spp.
Digestive tradition: Peppermint leaf preparations are traditionally used for indigestion and flatulence.
Clinica...
Annual herb
Pineapple Weed
Matricaria discoidea
Aromatic edible: Clean flower heads and young leaves can add a
pineapple-chamomile fragrance to teas and seasonal ...
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Annual or biennial broadleaf weed
Prickly Lettuce
Lactuca serriola
Prickly lettuce has a long history of traditional herbal use, particularly in preparations associated with calming, s...
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Perennial fruiting bramble
Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
Recognized traditional use: Raspberry leaf is recorded for minor menstrual cramps, mild mouth or throat inflammati...
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Evergreen perennial herb or groundcover
Thyme
Thymus spp.
Traditional respiratory use: Thyme herb is recognized as a traditional expectorant for a cough associated with an ...
Herbaceous flowering perennial / volunteer wildflower
Wild Aster
Symphyotrichum spp.
Asters are important late-season pollinator plants. Various North American aster species also have histories of tradi...
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Hardy herbaceous perennial
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow is valuable as a drought-tolerant perennial, pollinator plant, cut flower, and traditional herbal species. It ...