The word ‘dill‘ comes from the ancient Norse word dylla which means to soothe’, and bunches of dill were hung over the door to protect the home and ward off evil. Indigenous to Southern Europe, Western and Central Asia, dill has become naturalised in the Mediterranean areas and in the Americas, and is a familiar crop across the world. Revered, respected and much loved, dill seeds were found in Egyptian tombs 5 000 years ago, in burial sites in Rome, Britain and Ancient Greece, and are even mentioned in the Bible in Matthew as a tax payment. A soothing syrup was made of dill by the monks during the Middle Ages to ease colic, indigestion, coughs and colds, ‘flu, headaches, spasms and as a diuretic. Modern day research proves all these properties and dill remains a popular crop throughout the world. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Family: Caprifoliaceae
2. Species: Sambucus nigra
3. Origin: Eurasia
4. Plant: shrub or tree
5. Height: 4 m; plant 6-10 m apart
6. Soil: deep, well-composted soil Exposure full sun
7. Propagation: cuttings
8. Uses: culinary, medicinal, cosmetic

Since the early Egyptians discovered that the flowers improved complexions and soothed skin ailments, the elder has been cultivated for its myriad medicinal properties. Called ‘medicine chest tree‘ in Europe, the elder had been introduced to most parts of the civilised world by the 17th century. These ancient medicines are still used today in rural areas all over the world, and elder trees are still found in cottage gardens everywhere because, it was believed, they kept witches away!

Note that the variegated, or golden elders, are not the correct medicinal plants. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Family: Asphodelaceae
2. Species: Bulbine frutescens
3. Origin: South Africa
4. Plant: perennial
5. Height: 15 cm; plant 60-80 cm apart
6. Soil: any soil, but does well in rich, well-composted soil
7. Exposure: full sun
8. Propagation: pieces of plant break off easily

9) Uses: medicinal

The name bulbinella has confusingly been commonly used (often incorrectly) to name many of this large group of plants. There are several varieties of Bulbine frutescens. Some have long, thick, dark green leaves while others have pale, squat leaves that grow in a neat compact plant, but the most common one, found in so many South African gardens as a popular rockery plant, is the yellow- flowered, juicy-leaved bulbinella much loved for its soothing jelly-like juice that can be so conveniently applied with a mere squeeze of the leaf. Read the rest of this entry »

1. Family: Lauraceae
2. Species Laurus nobilis
3. Origin: Mediterranean region and southern Europe Plant tree
4. Height: up to 10-12 m
5. Soil: rich, well-dug soil
6. Exposure: full sun
7. Propagation: layering, cuttings if you are patient
8. Uses: culinary, medicinal, cosmetic

This ancient and revered tree has been used in medicine and in folklore — it is supposed to be a magical tree — since the beginning of time. It was sacred to the Greek god of prophecy, poetry and healing, Apollo, and his temple had a roof made of bay leaves ostensibly to protect against disease and witchcraft and the forces of nature! Perhaps this is why through the centuries a bay tree was planted as protection near the home. In the 17th century the famous herbalist Culpeper believed that ‘neither lightning nor the devil will hurt a man who has a bay tree near him’. A wreath of bay leaves was the mark of praise and esteem and excellence bestowed on athletes, poets and achievers across the world. Read the rest of this entry »