Perennial shrub with many branches that can have a slightly sprawling habit.

Another native of the Central Americas, this stunning perfumed bush has to be a favourite. Easy to grow, with not much in the way of maintenance, except for frequent trimming.

A tea of the whole plant can reduce fevers but our main use is homeopathic for sore throat.

The dried flowers retain their scent and can be powdered to add to a talcum powder.

30 seeds  $3.50

Henbane (Black)
Hyoscyamus niger

It is listed as an annual in most Materia's but we have found that at least two seasons are more likely to pass before the plant does.

Once you get past the prophetic and occult use of the plant, it's real strengths become evident.

Once used as a sedative and painkiller, it's use is now often restricted but where and by whom we have been unable to establish. Our primary use of the plant is homeopathic which deletes any chance of toxin poisoning, and makes it very useful indeed.

We have found it quite easy to propagate and it's only problem in the garden are the beetles and their lavae that like to make a feast of most of the solanaceae family.

25 seeds   $3.50

This is one of those tough little perennials that grew up on the roadsides way back when. It never seems to grow any larger than 30cm high and about the same diameter.

Shy little yellow flowers eventually give way to burr like seeds that will adhere to anything in proximity. Self seeds well and spreads via root runners but at a reasonable pace.

The leaves and the root are mildly antiseptic and astringent and make an excellent tea for sore throat and mild fever.

We are not fond of bitter tastes so this tea suits us well. As a mouthwash for gum disease or irritation it is convenient and pleasant.

10 + Seeds $3.50

This wonderful little herb took us ages to accommodate properly in the garden. We were so aware of it's importance to us an 'oxygen supplying' herb that we became too careful trying to keep it happy, and consistently lost it because of too much fussing.

Eventually, we got it to grow and self seed abundantly by planting it where nothing else would grow, under the Poinciana tree.

Sun in winter, shade in summer and copious amounts of mulch on the bed.

Now we have to admit that it does live up to it's reputation as a great companion plant because...... the bed where nothing would grow now supports 30 different herbs.

We harvest it weekly and use it daily, all year around. It is called an annual or a bi-annual, but if you plant a patch it refreshes itself season after season.

As a source of 'organic germanium' it comes highly listed, as does Lycium chinense, Aloe and Comfrey. We use it in combination with aloe and comfrey as a skin cream, and with Hawthorn berry and Lycium as a tonic.

50 Seeds  $3.50