Family | Zingiberaceae

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Gardening | Plant ID

The Ginger family

I have been experimenting with root plants. Gingers and turmeric are exotic. The foliage dies back but returns in the spring. Variegated ornamental ginger is a favorite so I have added this to the culinary ginger and turmeric. Variegated varieties abound in my garden basically drawn to add interest in a “dark” shady garden of native oak trees.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Zingiberaceae, the ginger family is a family of flowering plants made up of about 50 genera with a total of about 1600 known species of aromatic perennial herbs with creeping horizontal or tuberous rhizomes distributed throughout tropical Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Many of the family's species are important ornamental, spice, or medicinal plants. Ornamental genera include the shell gingers (Alpinia), Siam or summer tulip (Curcuma alismatifolia), Globba, ginger lily (Hedychium), Kaempferia, torch-ginger Etlingera elatior, Renealmia, and ginger (Zingiber). Spices include ginger (Zingiber), galangal or Thai ginger (Alpinia galanga and others), melegueta pepper (Aframomum melegueta), myoga (Zingiber mioga), korarima (Aframomum corrorima), turmeric (Curcuma), and cardamom (Amomum, Elettaria).

ZINIBER                                         

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or ginger, is widely used as a spice and a folk medicine.

Ginger

1896 color plate from
                          Köhler's Medicinal Curcuma              

Curcuma                                            

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Curcuma longa, Turmeric is a flowering plant in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (68 and 86 °F) and high annual rainfall to thrive. Plants are gathered each year for their rhizomes, some for propagation in the following season and some for consumption.

Curcuma alismatifolia, Siam tulip, is not related to tulips (tulipa). It grows well in climates with hot, high-humidity summers. The plant prefers sun to part shade and mildly acidic to neutral, moist, well-drained soil. Although this variety is more drought tolerant than most, especially in partial shade, Curcuma needs consistent moisture throughout the growing season in full sun and should never be allowed to dry out.

Curcuma alismatifolia
Holland Bulb company

Alpinia

Variegated shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet)

Alpinia zerumbet, commonly known as shell ginger among other names, is a perennial species of ginger native to East Asia. 

Ornamental shell ginger, Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata'

I grow this successfully in my woodland garden (zone 7b)

Hedychium                                                     

White Ginger Lily  (Hedychium coronarium)

The White ginger plant can reach five feet tall and in late July and through August produces a very fragrant white flower.  The scent is as lovely as the flower. 

                                                                                                                                                                                            

All material © 2024 by Hyden Photography

for 

Grassroots Horticulture

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What is my garden style? Simply Medieval

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#Medieval, #Medicinal, #Cloister, #Herb, #Ethnobotany, #Themed Garden

What is my garden style? Medieval.

Selections of many plants are by species. My interest is in biochemistry and history. Very practical, simply Medieval.

My herb garden is not always stunning, in fact, it is rarely pretty but it is more a place of experimentation. Culinary additives and food for butterfly larvae .... I don’t write about medicinal values in my blog but many people are aware of the benefits. Monasteries and cloister gardens were the places of inspiration and precursors to our modern medicinals.

Basil

Sweet basil and Thai basil are so rewarding to grow. They provide such a wonderful flavor to so many recipes including pestos. Sweet basil can reach 4 feet.

The purple basil, to most people, would be a nuisance, due to it prolific seeding, but I let it throw seeds into the lawn. When you walk across the yard the wafting licorice scent in the spring is a welcome greeting.   

Onion Family

Var.  society garlic (not chives)   

I have over 15 varieties of allium including basic green onions and garlic. Many of the onions are grown for ornament including gigantum and drumstick for the purple floral presentation in the spring. I have clusters of the variegated society garlic, Tulbaghis, not a true allium, planted along a bed on a hill. It helps break the wash of  water during rains and is more visually interesting than the liriope and mondo grass planted along other slopes to slow the rain. The sulfur in the onions has many benefits, too. Logic stands that If it repels humans it might repel our human nemesis, mosquitos.

Oregano

Lemon oregano has a phenomenal scent, grows gangbusters in zone 8 and survives through the winter. Lemon oregano is still nice to use in your Italian and Mediterranean recipes for a change.

The golden oregano is a beautiful chartreuse color. I like to use it under other tall plants as an accent. It will thrive and survive one summer and struggle others but I still like to use it throughout flower beds.

Rosemary

If you like to grill, break a few rosemary branches, soak them in water and use for shish-ka-bob.

Lavender

There are so many varieties to choose. English and French are popular but there is a trick to planting lavender. I plant lavender with Hummingbird mint or Giant hyssop, Agastache both require very little water.

Catnip

Nepeta Walker's Low is grown as a border plant and curiosity  in my garden. Catnip is supposed to act as an insect repellent. The low growing purple flowering silhouette fits in well at the edges of flower beds. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, graduated height style,  I have it planted with “tall” Peter’s purple monarda and “medium” white salvia greggi.

Fennel and Dill
Grown mostly for butterfly larvae. The dill and dill seed can be used in many recipes. I like to substitute it for salt when seasoning food. Fennel has a licorice flavor and is great in salads. I add dill to mashed potatoes on St. Patrick's Day.




Parsley and Cilantro
Both will do well during the winter but die back in the heat of the summer in zone 8.

Root Garden Bed

I have been experimenting with root plants. Gingers and turmeric are exotic. I put them all in one bed. The foliage dies back but returns in the spring. Variegated ornamental ginger is a favorite so I have added this to the culinary ginger and turmeric. Variegated varieties abound in my garden basically drawn to add interest in a “dark” shady garden, rather than cut down our native oak trees.

"Much as architectural elements from different periods and locales in medieval Europe were transported ...... the herbs, fruits, and flowers growing in the gardens were transplanted, traveling across time and space to their home at The Cloisters."²

References    

²"The Medieval Garden Enclosed | The Metropolitan Museum of Art ..." 2008. 19 Jan. 2014

;http://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/.

●  The Medieval Garden

https://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2013/10/24/transplanting-the-medieval-garden/

                 

●Kew Medicinal Plants
https://mpns.science.kew.org/mpns-portal/

https://mpns.science.kew.org/mpns-portal/version

https://www.kew.org/science/our-science/science-services/medicinal-plant-names-services


●Funded by World Bank, ENVIS is a decentralised information system network
http://envis.frlht.org/

●Ethnobotany http://naeb.brit.org/

●Pinterest
          Medizinal Pflanzen 1887
          Kohler's Medicinal Plants (1887)
          Medieval Gardens (c.400 - 1500)

©  Grassroots Horticulture

Themed Garden | Herb Choices for All Seasons

#Medieval, #Medicinal, #Cloister, #Herb, #Ethnobotany, #Themed Garden

Hot Season            

These are a few of the plant choices I have selected for my herb garden. 

Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)

I consider pineapple sage an annual in my ecoregion (7b). It is a perennial in zones 8 and greater. Pineapple scented sage grows naturally in oak and pine scrubforests at elevations from 8,000 - 10, 000 ft in Mexico and Guatemala. Propagation for the pinapple sage is the most successful from tip cuttings taken in the spring. Pineapple sage, (Salvia elegans) can be found in the nursery in the spring.The best luck I have had with salvias are plantings along the edge of a  retaining wall in part sun. The raised nature of the retaining wall allows for good drainage.

The fresh leaves of the lovely scented pineapple sage are used for tea, fruit salads and drinks. Crush a few fragrant leaves into hot or iced tea for a flavorful treat. The delicious flowers add color and flavor to salads and deserts.

Berggarten Sage, Garden Sage, Common Sage

Salvia officinalis

Lamiaceae Family

Origin: Mediterranean basin

Catnip

GOLDEN OREGANO

RUBMIN

LAVENDER

FOR

bASIL VARIETIES OFFER DIVERSE FLAVORS AND SCENTS

This year we have expanded the varieties of herbs we are growing. Sweet basil is so easy to grow in our 7b-8a hardiness zone garden. This basil cultivar is the best choice for anything Italian like soups, sauces, and pesto. Other varieties include Italian large leaf, lettuce leaf, Genovese, and Napoletano basil. Plants height is 14 to 30 inches tall. They are prolific in hot, sunny locations. 

If you harvest the top four leaves often, the plant will continue growing and producing the best sweetly flavored leaves for culinary use. These are the varieties of basil we are having success with so far: sweet basil, Aristotle, African blue basil, lemon basil, lime basil, cinnamon basil, lettuce leaf basil, Thai basil, spicy bush basil, and purple ruffles basil.

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Growing Basil

Basil is an easy to grow and often used culinary herb. Mediterranean  food is now becoming a very healthy choice for people watching their diet. Place in a sunny spot with good soil.

African blue basil

Ocimum kilimandscharicum × basilicum

African blue basil is a sterile perennial hybrid, with purple coloration on its leaves and containing a strong portion of actual camphor in its scent. This basil species is native to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Ethiopia. 

Cinnamon basil (Mexican spice basil)

Ocimum basilicum 'Cinnamon'

Also called Mexican spice basil, with a strong scent of cinnamate, the same chemical found in cinnamon. 

Lettuce leaf basil

Ocimum basilicum 'Lettuce Leaf'

The lettuce leaf basil has leaves so large they are sometimes used in salads.

Thai basil

Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflorum

The Thai basil has a scent of licorice, small to medium leaves and purple flowers

Lemon basil

Ocimum americanum

Lemon basil contains citral and limonene, and smells very lemony. It has a sweet flavor.  It can be found under alternative names, hoary basil or Indonesian basil. 

Lime basil

Ocimum americanum

The Minimus Basil

Aristotle basil  (Ocimum minimum  'Aristotle')

rounded bush form with small delicate leaves

Neat, compact mounds of small leaves with a most delicious flavour make Basil 'Aristotle' a stunning ornamental, edible pot plant. The aromatic foliage adds flavour to all manner of dishes, particularly Italian recipes. This Greek basil is perfect for growing on the kitchen windowsill or in containers outside the back door. Height: 20 inches.

Variegated Flax Lily (Dianella tasmanica 'Variegata') Mexican Sage, Purple Basil, Holly, Autumn Sedum, Louisiana Iris

This Herb Garden includes fresh Garden Greens for Salads and Soups

Cool Season            

Fennel with umbrella-shaped flowers

Fennel, parsley, cilantro

All Season            

 Lemon Oregano | Origanum vulgare

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LEMON OREGANO

FORT WORTH B

This is an herb that has performed extremely well for me throughout each season, for several years. Oregano is a perennial herb and a native of the Mediterranean region frequently used in Italian dishes.

Plant outdoors 12 inches apart after all danger of frost has passed. Oregano needs only a moderately fertile soil to thrive.  

When flowers appear, oregano is ready to be harvested. About six weeks after planting, trim oregano shoots to within one inch of the center which will stimulate lush, bushy growth. 

The oregano will spread and establish additional roots. You can then dig the rooted oregano with a trowel to share with friends.

Propagation

Pinch off a few sprigs of  basil, mint, or lemon verbena. Place the sprigs in a canning jar or get fancy with a hollow stem goblet and add water. The roots should form within two weeks if you change the water often. 

If placed in a window with a southern exposure your room  will smell awesome. 

If you like the idea of a themed garden here are some other ideas: 

 Native, Desert, Rock, Butterfly, Wildlife,  Childrens, Elizabethean/Shakespearean, Herb, Medicinal/medieval/cloister, Victorian/parterre/knot, English, Chinese, Japanese, Color, Night (using white), and Cutting gardens

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©  2020 Hyden Photography for

eGrassroots Horticulture e

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