Interested in learning how to harvest healing aloe vera leaves? You’ve come to the right place. Our guide provides helpful tips to ensure you get the most out of your aloe plant. Whether you’re looking to use the gel for skincare or to make aloe vera infused smoothies, we’ll provide you with simple instructions.
Pretty dandelions are overcoming their “weedy” reputation. The leaves, roots, and flowers are full of good stuff on top of being delicious, and can be used in many ways, both as food and medicine. Here are 15 ways, from a coffee substitute to a healing tincture, to use these nutritious and health-promoting plants.
Uniquely beautiful, edible, and medicinal, bee balm makes a spectacular addition to any perennial garden. Just ask the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds when they come flocking to your garden en masse. Learn how to grow, harvest, and use this herbaceous perennial now.
Love echinacea? Go beyond the classic purple coneflower you know and adore and take a look at 17 of our favorite colorful series and cultivars that you can grow. With single or double blooms, available in just about every hue, flower arrangers and beneficial insects alike will go crazy for these perennial beauties.
Coneflowers are a triple threat. They’re easy to grow, undeniably pretty and they’re also useful in the medicine cabinet, as you probably know. You can even make use of echinacea in the kitchen, which may come as a surprise to you! Ready to add these North American native beauties to your garden? Read more now.
Did you know there are two different types of chamomile with different growth habits and uses? German chamomile has cheerful flowers just waiting to be turned into tea, while English chamomile is ideal for growing as a low-maintenance ground cover. Learn about the differences between English and German chamomile now.
Calamint is a fragrant perennial plant that makes an attractive member of an herb garden or flower bed. These bushy plants, covered with small white, blue, pink, or purple flowers, attract beneficial bees and butterflies, and are a delight to behold. Read more now to learn how to grow and care for calamint.
Many gardeners would agree that you can never have too much bee balm, a classic mid-border garden favorite. Luckily, it’s easy to propagate this long-blooming flowering herb via division, seeds, or cuttings. With proper care, you’ll have tons to sprinkle throughout the garden beds or give away to friends and family.
Common chicory has beautiful flowers, and it offers a multitude of culinary uses from brewed root beverages to sauteed leafy greens. It also brings a wide variety of health benefits with nutritious vitamins and antioxidants! Read on to learn how this powerful plant will make a great addition to your homegrown diet.
Have you ever thought of growing motherwort? Or do you already have an abundance growing wild in your garden, and you’re unsure of what to do with it? This hardy perennial herb has a reputation for reducing anxiety and supporting women’s health. Read more to learn how to grow, harvest, and utilize this powerful plant.
Angelica is a beautiful biennial herb that has been grown for centuries for its aromatic edible stems, medicinal roots, and large bold foliage. This majestic plant can be propagated in a number of different ways and is easy to grow once you know how to get it started. Read on to learn how to propagate angelica.
Calendula is an edible annual suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11. Its daisy-like gold, orange, and red blooms have a long history of culinary and medicinal use. Read on and learn how to harvest the flowers from your garden and brew them into tea. Learn to use them fresh and dried in this brief guide.
Evening primrose flowers bloom later than many other plants, are tolerant of many environmental stressors, and are just flat-out gorgeous. In our guide to growing Oenothera, you’ll learn how to propagate, cultivate, and maintain these wonderful plants, as well as how to keep them safe from pests and disease. Read more.
Horseradish has a famously pungent and spicy root, but most people don’t know that the edible leaves and flowers are every bit as delicious. The only way to get them, for the most part, is to grow your own. It’s incredibly easy, so long as you can provide a deep bed of loose soil and the right amount of moisture.
Explore the many benefits of anise as an herbal medicine. Learn about its traditional and modern uses and prepare your own remedies. Whether you’re looking to ease digestive issues, relieve coughs and colds, promote relaxation, and more, anise offers a versatile and natural way to support your well-being.
You may be familiar with the beneficial properties of nettle leaves, but did you know that the roots of this hardy perennial herb are also medicinal, and have some very special attributes of their own? Discover how to harvest, process, store, and use nettle root. Read more now.
Add some flavor to your spice rack this season with fenugreek. One of the oldest cultivated herbs, it has been used for thousands of years as a culinary spice, food, and medicine. Want to learn how to grow, harvest, and utilize this beautiful legume in your own garden and kitchen? Read the full growing guide now.
If you enjoy aromatic cumin in your kitchen, why not try growing your own? These easy to care for plants will attract beneficial insects to your garden and provide you with a harvest of fresh seeds. With a few handy tips you can grow cumin at home and add some excitement to your meals with this versatile spice.
Lavender is a versatile and beautiful herb that’s used extensively in the garden, in the kitchen, and for its fragrant dried flowers. Beloved by gardeners, propagation by seed is slow and unreliable – but stem cuttings give great results. Here’s all the info you need on how to grow lavender from cuttings.
Feverfew, with its long history of use as a medicinal herb, has recently made a comeback in modern gardens. You’ll enjoy its therapeutic properties, particularly as a remedy for migraines, as well as its attractive daisy-like flowers. To learn how to harvest and use this powerful plant, read more now.
You may think of common plantain as an irksome weed, but did you know that this underappreciated herb is actually edible and nutritious, highly medicinal, and restorative to compacted soil? Plus, it’s abundant and easy to grow! Read more now to get our tips for cultivating and enjoying this useful plant at home.
Yarrow is a perennial flowering herb with a long history of medicinal use, from treating wounds on the battlefield to modern herbal remedies. With feathery leaves and delicate flowers, it repels pests and provides ornamental interest in the garden. Read on to learn all about the history of yarrow and its many uses.
Pot marigold, also known as calendula, is an annual herb that blooms with spectacular yellow, orange, and gold flowers. With a history of medicinal use, the edible flowers can be made into a variety of herbal remedies, used in cooking, or brewed in a soothing tea. Learn how to plant and grow calendula in this guide.
Looking to add some life to your herb garden this year? Try growing lemon balm. This lovely perennial member of the mint family is a vigorous grower with a pleasant lemon-like flavor and a long list of medicinal, culinary, and other uses. Read more to learn how to grow and utilize this spirited herb.
Elderberry is truly an incredible plant, with a rich, complex history and a multitude of fascinating uses. It can be consumed in many forms including as a syrup, pie filling, or jam. Learn how to harvest and preserve the fruit of this shrub for medicine, food, or wine. Read more now.
Elderberries need extra nutrients if you want a healthy shrub, large flowers, and an abundant harvest. And that means fertilizer. But when is the best time to add fertilizer to your plants, and what kind should you use? Discover how and when to fertilize your elderberry shrubs with this guide. Read more now.
If you love the blossoms and fruits of the beautiful elderberry but don’t have space in the garden, why not grow it in containers instead? Elderberry is a vigorous grower and will thrive in pots as long as you keep a few tips in mind. Learn how to grow and care for elderberry shrubs in containers. Read more now.
These hips don’t lie! Roses offer utility that goes beyond their floral beauty, providing edible fruits as well. Rose hips pack a nutritional punch, bringing vitamins, antioxidants, and more to the table. A variety of culinary uses will make them easy to incorporate into your diet. Read more now to get started.
Borage is an easy to grow annual herb with tasty leaves long prized by chefs and herbalists. Its edible, star-shaped blossoms are beloved by bees and other beneficial insects and pollinators. This versatile herb can also be used as a cover crop. Learn how to plant and grow borage now in your landscape. Read more now.
Did you know that like the berries, elderflowers are both edible and medicinal? These tiny aromatic blossoms have a myriad of interesting uses. Head to Gardener’s Path for harvesting tips, as well as suggestions on ways to prepare and use elderflowers. Read more now.
Borage is an easy to grow herb with tasty leaves and pretty, edible blossoms that attract a variety of pollinators. It can also be used as a cover crop in the garden. It’s easy to start from seed, if you keep a few points in mind. Learn how and when to plant borage seeds to enjoy this herb in your landscape.
A robust woody subshrub, lavender is loved for its easy cultivation, beautiful purple flowers, and intense, sweet fragrance. English varieties are best for cold winters, French and Spanish types are good in high humidity, and lavandins grow pretty much anywhere. Learn how to grow lavender in any climate in this guide.
Comfrey is an easy to grow perennial herb with many benefits. It can be used to improve soil health and to attract pollinators to the garden. It can even be made into a topical herbal remedy to soothe inflammation and support healing of injuries. Learn how to grow and use comfrey in this guide. Read more now.
Chicory is nutritious, with leaves that add a bright zing to salads. The roots can be also harvested and roasted to make a mean cup of coffee. It’s easy to grow and has pretty blue flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. In this guide, you’ll learn how to plant and grow chicory in your garden. Read more now.
Looking for a plant that’s easy to grow, with more omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy green? Meet purslane. This juicy green “superfood” grows like a weed, and adds oomph to everything from salads to spanakopita. Our guide to growing Portulaca oleracea will teach you everything you need to know. Read more now.
Yarrow is a flowering perennial that grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9. Flattened flower heads called corymbs create a carpet of velvety color in late spring and summer. Choose from shades of pink, red, white, and yellow. Drought and salt tolerant, you’ll find this plant easy to cultivate. Learn how to grow it now.
Looking to add some depth to your garden this season? Try angelica. This long-cultivated biennial herb has a history of medicinal use, with edible roots, leaves, and stalks. Growing to a towering eight feet tall, these plants have an aromatic scent and impressive stature. Discover how to add angelica to your garden now.
Of all the plants in my garden, chamomile offers the most return on my investment. It is a vigorous and problem-free plant that produces a spray of beautiful flowers that can immediately be harvested to make a tasty tea. Gardener’s Path has all of the information you need to know about growing this fine addition in your own garden. Read on to learn more!
Catnip is an easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial in the mint family that is useful for humans and kittens alike. This plant is famous both for use as a soothing medicinal tea as well as an intoxicating herb to entice our feline friends. Continue reading for a detailed guide to growing and using catnip
Did you know pruning elderberry shrubs will help to produce bigger berries and larger harvests? Since Sambucus is so resilient, it’s easy to trim! Learning how to optimize the harvest of a medicinal plant like elderberry is beneficial for the home gardener who wants to increase their yield of homegrown healing herbs.
Learn how to make your own calendula-infused oil and how to use it! This fragrant flower that’s easy to grow is full of healing potential. Get creative with your oil and use it to make facial serums, balms, creams, or even body butter! Read our guide now for full instructions to start making this healing herbal oil.
Become a medicinal plant conservationist by growing goldenseal in your garden! If you have or can simulate a shady growing space for this woodland perennial, this is a notable herb to include in your cultivation plans. It shines as a medicinal species that is so popular, it’s currently at risk in the wild. Read more.
Lemon balm is an abundant aromatic herb that offers a multitude of healing benefits! The easy-to-grow herb provides plentiful harvests during summertime and the aerial parts make a delicious and calming herbal infusion that can be prepared hot or cold. Make a cup for yourself or a larger pitcher to share with friends!
Get creative with calendula flowers! You’ll be inspired to use this healing herb when you read our guide, with tips for making infused oils and teas as well as medicinal tinctures and salves. This vibrant flower is the perfect plant for those just starting on their herbalism path who want to grow their own botanicals.
Weeds can be wonderful. Don’t believe me? One bite of chickweed salad and you’ll probably be begging the notorious weed to visit your garden. Even the dreaded kudzu or garlic mustard can be welcome visitors once you know what to do with them. Learn about 39 common weeds that are both edible and have medicinal uses now.
Juniper has been used herbally for centuries. Even King Tut had some of the berries from the trees in his tomb. Whether you want to make a wound-healing salve or some tea to ease a cold, the needles and berries have the potential to help. Not all species are useful herbally, though. This guide has what to know.
Juniper berries are the unsung heroes of the spice world. They can flavor everything from drinks to savory dishes and even desserts. And they can also be used herbally, to make sourdough, and around the home. Whether you forage or purchase them, our guide will help you to make the most of the pungent fruits. Read more.
Juniper berries can be used herbally, in the kitchen, or around the home. But harvesting them requires knowing the right time and method for plucking the fruits. Additionally, you should know with certainty that the species you are harvesting is suitable for your purposes. Our guide provides the details. Read more.
Yes, juniper berries are edible. Well, most of them. Many species are not just safe to eat, they’re delicious. But some, on the other hand, can be toxic. In this guide, we’ll help you figure out which is which so you can harvest the good ones and leave the ones that are bad (for humans!) for the birds who love them.
Why suffer through the miserable symptoms of a cough, cold, or the flu when you can find fast relief with an easy-to-make batch of soothing herbal tea? Prepared with fresh, natural ingredients, you can start feeling better in just 10 minutes with a steaming mugful of this brew. Find the step-by-step guide right here.
Coneflowers are daisy-like perennials for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 9. They bloom from late spring to early fall in an array of colors, and attract a host of pollinators and birds. Read on to learn if it’s beneficial to deadhead spent blooms to promote more flower production, or if you can skip this chore altogether.
Widely considered by herbalists to be a natural remedy for headaches, feverfew also happens to be an attractive landscaping plant. With white and yellow daisy-like flowers atop green feathery stems, this colorful herb is a fantastic addition to the garden. Learn how to plant and grow feverfew in this guide. Read more now.
Bee balm (aka Monarda) is one of the most popular plants in North American gardens, but it’s also one of the most likely to get out of control. Is it worth it? With careful placement, the right strategy and tools, and a bit of time, controlling bee balm is easy and worth the effort! Read more to learn our top tips.
If it’s well into summer and your bee balm plants still aren’t displaying their signature colorful fountainhead flowers, check out this guide to pinpoint whether the problem is your climate, soil fertility, irrigation, crowding, pests, or disease issues. Then, get them blooming in no time with these tips. Read more.
You may think of dandelions as invasive weeds, but did you know that the greens, flowers, and roots are edible? Delicious and nutritious, leaves can be added to salads, flowers made into a tea, and the roots can be used as a coffee substitute. Learn how to cultivate and harvest dandelions in this guide. Read more now.
Did you know that in mild climates calendula can thrive in the garden all winter long and may even survive a light frost? The spectacular orange and yellow flowers can bring warmth and light to the winter garden, even on the chilliest of days. Learn how to keep calendula plants blooming well into the winter months.
Dame’s rocket has naturalized in almost every state. This pretty phlox-like flower that grows along highways and in meadows is considered invasive. However, its leaves and seeds have culinary and medicinal applications. Should you grow it in your yard? Learn how to plant, grow, and control dame’s rocket. Read more now.
Are you looking for a perennial native flower to naturalize in your yard? Anise hyssop is the answer for sun-filled border gardens, where its lavender spikes create a showy swath of color throughout the summer months. Learn how to grow and care for this easy-to-grow, deer-resistant plant. Read more now.
If you are growing angelica in your garden, you may not know that all parts of the plant are edible. With a rich history of use in food and medicine, this fragrant herb has a variety of culinary and medicinal uses. Discover how to harvest and use the leaves, stems, and roots of your angelica plant. Read more now.
Chamomile is boisterous in the garden, self-seeding where you least expect it. Planting it in a pot can keep this herb under control. There are just a few things you need to succeed, including the right container, soil, and location. Read more now to learn everything you need to know to grow chamomile in a container.
Need a quick fix for barren ground? Plant yarrow. This low-maintenance, sun-worshiping perennial thrives in poor soil and rewards with vivid color. Choose low-profile or statuesque cultivars in colors like salmon pink, burgundy, neon yellow, and rusty orange from our list of 13 of favorites, now on Gardener’s Path.
Though often overlooked as an undesirable weed, stinging nettle is an astonishing plant with an abundance of uses, many dating back for thousands of years. Learn to appreciate this forager’s favorite and discover tips for growing, harvesting, and using nettle greens, with some bonus cooking tips too. Read more now.
Be the first in your neighborhood to plant and harvest epazote, the stinky but easy-to-grow and flavorful herb that’s beloved in Southern Mexican and Guatemalan cooking, and has a magical effect on bean dishes. To learn more about the requirements for growing this Central American native plant, read more now.
Highly aromatic with a piquant flavor, summer savory is an easily grown annual. It makes a fragrant, low-growing edging plant for the garden, is valued in the kitchen, and has some qualities that may surprise you. Join us for a closer look at how to grow this often underutilized herb. Read more now.
Mums, aster, and heather are flowering staples in your late fall or early spring garden, but winter pansies provide brilliant color straight on through the cooler seasons. They’re not even shy about popping up from under the snow and ice during warm spells in the winter months. Gardener’s Path has compiled this informative guide for you to read about about pansies and their care– read on to learn more!