As an herbalist I’ve been expanding my medicinal plant garden to support wellness naturally. Sourcing herbs from a reliable resource has been difficult but I’ve happened upon the Growers Exchange and have fallen in love with the variety of options!
Disclaimer
To note, I am not sponsored by Growers Exchange (where all the plants are from), but I am a regular customer and did pay full price for my plants. Why I, as an herbalist, love Growers Exchange is that they use chemical-free, organic gardening practice, grow with open-pollinated plant species, have a plethora of information about the plant on their website and sell variety’s that I have had difficulty finding locally or at all — like sweetgrass!
Also, this article is not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments.
Fall Haul from Growers Exchange
I’ve decided to share my fall haul of herbs with you! Fall is a great time to plant because the warm soil temperatures help encourage root growth more than it will in spring, when the soil is still trying to warm up. For reference, I live in hardiness zone 7.
With shorter days in fall and less harsh temperatures the plants can focus their energy on building a strong and healthy root system in preparation for winter more so that planting in spring when plants will focus on growing foliage and blooms.
Do pay attention to their shipping times, as there are times when you cannot simply order a plant and have the plants arrive within a few days. They ship to various zones at different times to ensure the plants will survive, which is a life saver for knowing when I should and shouldn’t plant as well as have happy surprise when I make a pre-order for spring.
My shopping list:
- Feverfew
- Nettle
- Marshmallow
- Catmint
- Goldenrod x 3
- Hypericum perforatum
- Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’
- Rosemary ‘Hill Hardy’
- Chicory
- Mullein
- Thyme ‘Lemon’
- Thyme ‘Carbon Wine and Roses’ x 2
- Skullcap
Total with shipping: $130.57 (with 30% off on an end of season deal)
An introduction to my new plants!
Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium
Family: Asteraceae
Not only does feverfew have a fragrant citrusy aroma, but its name quite literally means “fever reducer” and has had a robust history in herbal medicine. I love that I can easily smell this plant, and it is naturally insect repelling and keeps away moths, cockroaches, flies, ants, mosquitoes, mites, bedbugs and even mice! Making a great companion plant, this is a must-have in the garden.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used for as an antiseptic, as well as for the treatment of fevers, headaches, inflammation, and indigestion.
- Zones: 4–9 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full Sun to Part Shade
- Soil: Well-drained soil
- Water: Does not like overwatering
Nettle
Urtica dioica
Family: Urticaceae
A native plant to North America, this plant is well known for leaving you with a “sting” which is from a burning sensation that is from the toothed leaves and stinging hairs.
Young nettle leaves are rich in calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin A and C, lineolic acid, amino acids, and more! When harvested in spring they are often used as a spinach replacement, in pesto’s (goes well with dandelion and basil), and are delicious when cooked (which will stop the sting).
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used as an antihistamine as well as for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- Zones: 3–9 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full to Part Sun
- Soil: Moist and nitrogen rich
- Water: Keep moist
Marshmallow
Althaea officinalis
Family: Malvaceae
Belonging to the Althaea genus, a Greek word that means ‘heal’, Marshmallow has been used by Ancient Greek doctors to modern day herbalist to help treat and soothe everything from insect bits to constipation.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used as an anti-inflammatory, soothes mucous membranes with its mucilaginous compounds, is an expectorant.
- Zones: 3–9 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full to Part Sun
- Soil: Moist
- Water: Keep moist
Catmint
Nepeta mussinii
Family: Lamiaceae
A favorite to my feline friends because of the nepetalactone and a stunning garden aromatic, catmint is a gentle herb that is often an easy to grow gardeners favorite. Catmint is tolerant of poor soils, which is a plus for me who has naturally very clayey, nutrient poor soil.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used to treat colds, digestion complications, and even soothe anxiety and insomnia.
- Zones: 3–8 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full to Partial Shade
- Soil: Well drained soil
- Water: Likes to be dry, but light watering is still necessary.
Goldenrod
Solidago odora
Family: Asteraceae
Native to North America, this wildflower is often found in dry open areas and is beneficial host plant to caterpillars, a source of nectar for beneficial insects (like butterflies and moths), and is enjoyed as a food for birds who eat seeds in winter.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used as an anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antispasmodic, carminative, used to enhance immunity and lower blood pressure as well as treating wounds.
- Zones: 4–9(Perennial)
- Sun: Full to Partial Sun
- Soil: Well drained soil (Grows well in clay soils!)
- Water: Keep moist
St. John’s Wort
Hypericum perforatum
Family: Hypericaceae
A healing and soothing herb with bright yellow flowers, St. John’s Wort has been vastly studied for its ability to soothe depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders and is often kept in modern pharmacies as medicine. As a stunning groundcover option, this plant will have bright yellow blooms.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antispasmodic and antidepressant
- Zones: 4–8 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full to Partial Sun
- Soil: Drought tolerant and can handle any soil (Grows well in clay soils!)
- Water: Keep moist
Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
I purchased two separate variants because I am a Rosemary lover and each type has slightly different qualities and colors of bloom! I love a variety of color in the garden so I chose both!
- Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’ Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’
- Rosemary ‘Hill Hardy’ Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Hill Hardy’
Family: Lamiaceae
A popular culinary herb, rosemary is brilliantly fragrant with an upright and robust aroma and flavor.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: With many variants and species Rosemary has a wide variety of uses including its pain-relieving, anti-fungal, astringent, antimicrobial, mucolytic, as well as skin and hair loving properties.
- Zones: 7–10 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full Sun
- Soil: Well-draining soil
- Water: Gently watered on the dry side
Chicory
Cichorium intybus var. intybus
Family: Asteraceae
A delicious coffee substitute (the chicory root), and a yummy salad green (the leaves) chicory is a versatile plant that is hardy and adaptable in gardens with violet-blue blooms and makes a great replacement for spinach.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used as a anti-inflammatory, carminative, anti-fungal, antioxidant and analgesic. Chicory is high in inulin which is beneficial for intestinal flora.
- Zones: 3–8 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full Sun
- Soil: Well-draining soil
- Water: Moist to dry
Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Important to herbal medicine since ancient times, mullein which is often spotted growing from gutters, storm drains, and roadsides the hairy leafed plant also provides hundreds of seeds adored by finches. The vibrant yellow blooms attract bees and butterflies.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used to treat pulmonary issues, inflammatory disease, asthma, coughs, and headaches.
- Zones: 4–10 (Biennial)
- Sun: Full to Part Sun
- Soil: Any (including poor gravely soil)
- Water: Moist to dry
Thyme ‘Carbon Wine and Roses’
Thymus ‘Caborn Wine and Roses’
Note: I bought two of these 🙂
Thyme ‘Lemon’
Thymus citriodorus
I purchased two separate variants because each type has slightly different qualities and colors of bloom! I love a variety of color in the garden so I chose both as they will be ground cover.
Family: Lamiaceae
A well-known Mediterranean herb thyme has become a culinary staple with the lemon variant testing of lemon! For the traditional medicinal uses I will focus on Thymus citriodorus.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, antifungal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Thymus citriodorus has lipid-soluble essential oils and is a great expectorant and has also been used to reduce uterine contractions.
- Zones: 5–9 (Perennial)
- Sun: Full Sun
- Soil: Well-draining soil
- Water: Gently watered on the dry side
A bonus surprise in the Thyme?!
Upon removing the thyme from the shipping planter, I discovered a moth pupa hidden away in the soil! The pupa was alive and wriggling and was relocated to a safe place where it could hatch . . . and it did hatch, and I missed it 🙁
Unfortunately, I don’t know what species of moth the pupa was and was hoping to catch it hatch so I could give an update.
Skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
Family: Lamiaceae
A native plant that can be found growing in swampy, boggy areas, Skullcap was named after the flowers resemblance to helmets worn by European soldiers.
- Traditional Medicinal Uses: Used to ease menstrual pain, skullcap is a sedative that aids sleep, anxiety, and stress.
- Zones: 4–10 (Biennial)
- Sun: Full to Part Sun
- Soil: Any (including poor gravely soil)
- Water: Moist to dry
Conclusion
I was incredibly pleased with my shipment of plants from Growers Exchange and after surviving their first frost and heavy rains in the first two weeks after their arrival, they are thriving!
While I prefer planting in fall, to allow for root growth, that will not stop me from adding another batch of plants to the garden in spring as my goal (in addition to having a medicinal herb garden) is to eventually remove every bit of grass from my space and fill it with ecologically friendly plants catering to native fauna as much as possible.