Herbs F

Herbs by Common or Folk name 'F'

Fennel
Foenicum vulgare

An old culinary classic, this well known herb is mostly under used.

Apart from it's unique appeal as a cooking ingredient it has many other uses.

The seeds can be used to chew to allay hunger, but if you make an extract of the root and add it to the seeds it is so much more effective. As a plant, it is easy to germinate and grow. It will do well in a pot as long as it's gets enough light.

50 fresh seeds $3.50

Fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graceum

Grown as an annual, Fenugreek is easy in the garden, preferring to look after itself. The seeds are the main reason for growing the herb but it's leaves are also enjoyable when used like cress and the have the added advantage of holding their form and taste in cooking.

The generous amount of seeds that can be harvested, are easy to grow as sprouts and highly nutritious.

We combine the powdered seeds with a neutral skin cream base as a skin softener and use the seeds, infused as a tea, to revitalise during summer.

30 seeds $3.50

Feverfew
Tanacetum parthenium

A loveable aromatic plant, it gives off a strong and bitter odour that is not altogether unpleasant.

Its bright leaves are alternate, and turn downward with short hairs.

The small, bunches of daisy-like yellow centred flowers are arranged in a dense flat-topped cluster.

It strikes well from seed in winter, Autumn and Spring and once established and if not harvested too intensely, it will reseed itself freely. Ours flower from early Spring to late Autumn.

30 seeds $3.50

Figwort
Scrophularia nodosa

Scrophularia is a coarse erect perennial with, fleshy stems.

Growing up to 80cm tall, it shoots from a knotted rootstock. It grows well from seed (which are very tiny) and we have found it strikes at most times of year as long as you are careful not to let the seedlings or the plant dry out.

It seems to prefer slightly boggy conditions and we keep ours potted to prevent drying out during long hot summers.

25+ seeds $3.50

Forget Me Not
Myosotis sylvatica

Another gorgeous addition to the 'cottage garden' but with the added benefit of herbal application.

Blue, white and pink flowers with their yellow centres' top their hairy stems and brighten your day every time you walk past.

The stems, leaves and flowers do make an easy syrup for chesty coughs but our use for the plant is mainly homeopathic.

100 + Seeds $3.50

Four O'Clock Flower
Mirabilis jalapa

This beautiful herb has wonderful, fragrant, magenta flowers, which, as it's common name suggest, only open from 4 in the afternoon. The seeds germinate very easily. Simply place into good quality seed raising mix, not too deep, and cover very lightly. Place in a sunny but not too hot position for them to geminate. We have found that they can be quite young when they are added to the garden. Their viability is almost 100% and they are quick to germinate. Plant in winter for a great spring show.

30 fresh seeds $3.50

Foxglove
Digitalis lanata

Herbaceous perennial that make an herb garden really look like one. They can die back in late summer, never to reappear, but more frequently come back up year after year unless you forget during winter and plant over them.

We do not recommend using the active ingredients at all but it does make a delightful addition to the garden.

200 fresh seeds $3.50

Fringe Flower
Calliandra haematocephala

Evergreen shrub, up to 3 m tall , spread (3 m).

Native to Central America, it is used traditionally as a medicine but we have not ventured into that area of research yet and can only recommend it as a wonderful addition to the garden as a large shrub and potential roosting and nesting shrub for the wildlife.

5 fresh seeds $3.50