1. Family: Borag i naceae
2. Species: Symphytum officinale
3. Origin: Eurasia
4. Plant: perennial
5. Height: up to 75 cm; space 1-1,5 m apart Soil any soil
6. Exposure: full sun to partial shade
7. Propagation: seed
8. Uses: medicinal, cosmetic

An ancient miracle plant, comfrey has a long history. It was brought to Britain by the Crusaders and was taken to America in the 17th century. Thought to be a panacea for many ills, the monks treated the sick and the lame with comfrey with astonishing results. Stories of its healing, bone-building qualities (it is also known as ‘knit-bone’) abound. When my black labrador was hit by a truck and his pelvis and back legs crushed, I gave him a daily small dose of comfrey tea even while he was in the veterinary hospital and he was able to walk in three months. This is just one of the many comfrey miracles I have witnessed over the years! The more I use comfrey, the more I am amazed at its remarkable virtues. Lists of components in its leaves, roots and even flowers are astonishing in their diversity. Vitamin content from A to C, B12, E and D, minerals such as the important potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, its remarkably high protein content and its breaking-down abilities in the soil as a compost maker are daily being confirmed and augmented. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Bible leaf • Alecost
2. Family: Compositae
3. Species: Tanacetum balsamita
4. Origin: Eurasia
5. Plant: perennial
6. Height: 10-40 cm; space 50-60 cm apart
7. Soil: well-dug, richly composted soil
8. Exposure: full sun
9. Propagation: division
10. Uses: culinary, medicinal, cosmetic

In the Middle Ages, costmary, with its beautifully scented leaves, was used to flavour, clarify and purify ale, hence the name alecost. It was also used as a bookmark in the Bible to keep the pages free of moths and fishmoths and to scent them with a minty camphory refreshing fragrance that helped to keep the congregation awake and free of hunger pangs during long sermons! It was used by the monks in various medicines and also applied to bee stings (many churches kept bees for their honey which the monks used for medicine and to make mead, conserves, wines and jams). Bees feeding on costmary had a delicious honey that was much prized, so most cloister gardens had a large planting of costmary. Costmary was added to the laundry rinsing water, and boiled with lavender to make a fragrant ironing splash to get out all those creases. The fresh fragrance left on sheets, pillowcases and petticoats is nostalgically unforgettable. Read the rest of this entry »

A bright and cheerful winter annual that no garden should be without, calendula is a wonderful healing plant. Early records of this herb go back to the Middle Ages when it seems to have been used in religious ceremonies. At that time, when many worshippers claimed that the Virgin Mary was adorned with the golden flowers, monks changed the name of calendula to ‘Mary Golden’ in her honour. So the common English name ‘marigold’ was born — and this, unfortunately, is where confusion has arisen ever since, especially in South Africa, where our ‘marigolds’ are in fact the strongly scented Tagetes erecta or African marigold, which does not have the same properties as Calendula species. Do not confuse them!

A. CULTIVATION Full sun and a well-dug bed, rich in compost, will ensure prolific flowering throughout winter and spring. Read the rest of this entry »

An ancient herb used by medieval monks and healers, the fragrant clove-scented carnation — or gillyflower, as it was then known — was much prized as a cosmetic and medicinal herb. Through the centuries it has been treasured in cottage gardens across the world, and can still be found in magnificent variation in some of the old gardens today. The carnation varies in colour from white to the palest pink, deep cerise to red, yellow to salmon and everything in between.

In France one of the most beautiful soaps is still made today using carnation petals (and smelling like a dream) in an ancient recipe that has never lost its popularity. Our grandmothers used carnation water to soften, refine and soothe rough skin. Hybridised carnations today remain one of the world’s favourite cut flowers. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Family: Solanaceae
2. Species: Capsicum frutescens
3. Origin: India
4. Plant: short-lived perennial
5. Height: 50 cm; space 50 cm apart
6. Soil: rich well-composted, well-dug soil Exposure full sun
7. Propagation: seed
8. Uses: culinary, medicinal, insecticide

The cayenne or chilli pepper is one of nature’s most remarkable medicines — a stimulant, antibiotic and antibacterial food, used with respect from the 16th century. Science has discovered that all the ‘hot’ foods contain mucokinetic agents, which are reputed to loosen mucus in the lungs thus assisting the respiratory system. Capsaicin, contained in the biting flesh, stimulates the release of endorphins — the body’s natural painkillers — to produce a sense of wellbeing. And that is why chillies, the hotter the better, are one of the world’s favourite foods! Read the rest of this entry »

1. Family: Onagraceae
2. Species: Oenothera biennis
3. Origin: North America
4. Plant: biennial
5. Height: 1 m; space 50 cm apart
6. Soil :well-dug, well-composted soil
7. Exposure: full sun
8. Propagation: seed
9. Uses: culinary, medicinal, cosmetic

Native Americans have used evening primrose since the 15th century, both as a food and a medicine Evening primrose is tough, drought resistant and one of the easiest of plants to grow. In our climate, the flowers remain open for most of the day with masses of new long pointed buds opening every evening. Evening primrose oil is rich in essential fatty acids and has astringent properties and skin-softening gamma-linolenic acid — a precursor of prostaglandin E — making it an ideal skin treatment. Read the rest of this entry »