Herb catalogue

Considered a holy or sacred plant in India, where it graces homes and shrines, and has been used over the centuries as a medicinal, culinary and tea herb. The leaves are very aromatic, a complex spicy scent. This variety has green leaves. A perennial in the tropics, grown as an annual in cooler areas. 300 seeds.

A basil that is used in Thai and Italian cooking. Good sized leaves that are highly aromatic with a licorice-basil aroma. An attractive basil with bright green leaves and reddish-purple stems, grows to 60-80 cm. Can be sown direct to garden or makes a great container plant. 300 Seeds.

A basil with a distinct cinnamon aftertaste. Olive green leaves with attractive purple growing tips and rose-pink flowers. Use as you would sweet basil in salads, pasta, pizza and tomato dishes. In a sunny, sheltered position it will happily grow to 70 cm. Sow direct to garden or grow as a pot plant.

Beebalm is a hardy perennial growing to 110 cm & has a long history of medicinal use where both the flowers and leaves have been used. The mostly red flowers were used by North Americans Indians to make tea which were used in treatments for colds, stomach aches and insomnia. The edible flowers and aromatic leaves are also used as a culinary addition. As the name implies, Beebalm attracts bees and other beneficial insects. Used as a cut flower. 35 seeds.

Spotted bee-balm is a hardy perennial growing to 90 cm, flowering in its first year. The whorls of yellow flowers have purple spots with showy pink/lavender bracts. The plant has a strong oregano scent and is popular with gardeners and herbalists, where it can be made into a tea. Native to the plains of north America it can handle sandy, coastal soils and frost. It attracts bees and other beneficial insects. Flowers can be used for cutting. Also known as horsemint. 50 seeds.

A hardy annual with attractive lavender coloured flowers and bright green leaves that have a minty scent when crushed. The leaves are excellent for making herbal teas, flavouring salads and add great flavour when cooked with fish or gamey meats. The flowers are two tiered and the seed heads can be dried and used in arrangements. 100 seeds.
 

A hardy perennial with aromatic foliage and lilac-purple flowers that are magnets for honey bees and other beneficial insects. Growing to 80 cm high it can be planted in a wide range of soils in full sun to part shade. A versatile plant whose leaves are used for tea, culinary and medicinal purposes. Also used as a cut flower. Handles dry conditions. 150 seeds.

A pantry staple for the cook who loves Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. While known as black cumin the seed is from the ornamental pods of a nigella species. The black seeds are used as whole or ground as a peppery, nutty spice (best toasted or roasted first). A frost-hardy annual plant with the classic white nigella flower, with bright-green, feathery and finely divided foliage. Grow in a sunny position with well-drained soil. Flowers and seed pods are ornamental. 100 seeds.

An annual herb with clusters of blue, star-shaped edible flowers. Borage flowers have a crisp, cucumber flavour that can be used in salads or as garnishes. They can also be floated in drinks, frozen in ice cubes or candied to decorate cakes, pastries, and desserts. A long flowering period and a good nectar producer for birds and bees. 30 seeds.
 

A hardy biennial that is used in Chinese and Western herbal medicine primarily for its blood cleansing and detoxifying properties. Young roots can be eaten raw while older roots can grow to 90cm and are usually cooked or dried. The leaves and young flower stalks can be used like spinach or asparagus. Grows to 1.5-2m, flowering in summer with a scarlet-purple thistle like flower. 35 seeds.

Native to the Mediterranean, this medicinal annual is also a good companion plant in the vegetable garden by suppressing weeds. The double orange and yellow flowers bloom for many months on 45 cm stems. They are a long-lasting, pretty cut flower. Plants do well with light soil and good drainage. 160 Seeds.

Easily grown from seed in spring and summer, this annual herb will self-seed every year. Use caraway seeds for cabbage dishes, fish stocks and to make fatty meals more easily digestable. Caraway tea is a good cure for an upset stomach. This herb needs plenty of sun and well drained soil and can be harvested in late summer. 150 seeds