|
Herbal Potpourri
Renowned Herbs
Common Ailments
Herbal Remedies
Free Newsletter
|
Beautifying Your Herb Garden With Perennial Herbs
Perennial herbs like any perennials live more than two years and do
not produce woody fibers. There are two types, monocarpic (bloom once
and die) and polycarpic (flower over many seasons).
By far the greatest
numbers of perennials are polycarpic with most blooming in the spring.
Perennial herbs might be anything from valerian root to scented geraniums.
Will Perennials Grow in my Garden?
Of course not all plants will grow in all places. Many perennial herbs
are self-seeding or spread themselves by putting out suckers. It is
quite possible to give these plants a permanent location in your yard
or garden and to tend them by pruning and cutting back overgrowth.
The primary issues in cultivation are your annual climate, the degree
of sunlight in a given area, and the composition of your soil.
Many perennial herbs like full to partial sun (six to eight hours
of sun per day is recommended for most herbs). Their tastes in soil
type and degree of watering vary although herbs rarely do well in
acidic soils and they tend to require adequate water but good drainage.
It is important to know the requirements of each plant in which you
are interested and to plan its positioning in your yard accordingly.
Consult a gardening guide (online or in book format) or talk to the
horticulturist at your local plant nursery.
What are some
Perennial Herbs and how are they Used?
Perennial herbs can serve multiple functions in your yard or garden.
Almost all have some traditional medicinal properties when dried or
otherwise formulated for use. Many of the same plants make good ground
cover or enhance your landscaping efforts with their native beauty.
An added plus is that several of these fragrant herbs will attract
bees, butterflies and hummingbirds into your garden. Although there
are many perennials from which to choose, you may consider some of
the following.
ANISE HYSSOP
Anise hyssop, a bushy and fragrant herb will thicken and spread into
a two foot area achieving a height of as much as three feet. It will
take full sun and will propagate itself by seeding. The long spikes
of purple blooms will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to
your garden and the foliage and flowers are used in tea.
BLUEBERRY
The low-growing blueberry bush sends out suckers to spread itself.
The shiny leaves turn vibrant red in the fall and during the summer
the plant’s small, white flower are replaced by edible berries.
It is sturdy groundcover that will stand full to partial sun and likes
acid soil that is well drained. Medicinally, blueberries are an excellent
antioxidant which will help to reduce the number of free radicals
in the body, substances widely believed to cause cell damage and to
contribute to human aging.
EVENING PRIMROSE
The shrub-like evening primrose plant (that comes in several varieties)
will spread over two feet and attain a height of six inches. Its flowers
may be yellow, white, or pink and blooms will be present throughout
the summer. Evening primrose likes full to partial sun and sandy,
dry, well-drained soil. The plant contains natural estrogens and when
boiled into an infusion or tea, is good for female ailments ranging
from pre-menstrual syndrome to menopause.
UVA URSI OF BEARBERRY
Uva ursi is a trailing evergreen shrub that thrives in humus-rich
soil. In the spring it puts out bell-shaped blooms that are either
pink or white followed by red or pink berries that are sour to the
taste. It is the leaves of uva ursi not the berries, however, that
are used medicinally to treat urinary problems. The plant has antimicrobial,
astringent, and disinfectant actions. Normally the leaves are crushed
into a powder which can be mixed with boiling water to form a tea.
Normally one heaping teaspoon of the powder is used per cup and allowed
to steep for fifteen minutes. The recommended dosage is four cups
per day.
Continue to : Best Perennial Herbs and Their Usage
Related Article
Top Spices, Roots and Edible Flowers – Are You Missing Out on Them?
Make Life Sweeter With Stevia
The Most In-Demand Herbs Of Them All
Herbal Tea – No Wonder They Are So Popular
Top Medicinal Herbs You Can Grow In Your Backyard!
 Bookmark
this Page  Email
this to your friend  Add
this page to del.icio.us
|
Suggest an Article
Haven´t found the article you are looking for, please suggest your article. We value all your suggestions and comments
|
