Wild Herbs Woodland Planting: Herbs that love leafmold and the woodland setting, cool, moist root run and some shade............ Primroses, Violets, Ramsons, Ramps, Woodruff, Lungwort, Birthroot, Indian Turnip, Ginseng, Wild Gingers, Solomon's Seal, Foxgloves, Monkshoods, Culver's Root. Herbs and Soil: For Chalky Soil: Catnip, chicory, hyssop, juniper, lavender, lily of the valley, lungwort, marjoram, motherwort, pasque flower, rosemary, salad burnet, summer savory, wild marjoram
For Sandy Soil: Alfalfa, anise, arnica, borage, centaury, Roman chamomile, coriander, cumin, evening primrose, fennel, foxglove, lavender, pleurisy root, tarragon, thyme, wild carrot, wild majoram, winter savory
Loam: basil, bay, betony, blood root, burdock, caraway, catnip, chervil, chives, coltsfoot, coriander, dill, foxglove, fennel, lady's mantle, lovage, parsley, rosemary, rue, sage, tansy, thyme
Moist Loam: Angelica, bergamot, comfrey, elecampane, French sorrel, lady's mantle, lemon balm, meadowsweet, mints, parsley, skullcap, soapwort, sweet cicely, sweet violet, valerian
Clay: Bergamot, burdock, coltsfoot, comfrey, lesser celandine, mints, wormwood
Marshy: Bogbean, golden seal, gypsywort, horsetail, iris, marshmallow, meadowsweet, skullcap, sweet flag, valerian
Collecting Herbs: When collecting herbs in the wild, there are some considerations to be made to ensure that the herb will live on. It is also nice to thank the herb for its contribution to your basket by leaving some bread, honey, coins or stones after cutting. Here are some other things to consider: Characteristics of Herbs at Risk: *slow growing *low reproduction rate *naturally few leaves and flowers *endemic species, with localized distribution
Causes of Damaging Effects: *whole plant is taken or cut down for harvesting of any parts *stripped for bark *dug up for tubers, rhizomes, or roots
Observe the Law: *Do not pick or uproot protected species *Do not bring plants or seeds into the country without first checking whether it is legal to do so.
Harvesting: Here are some tips on when to harvest certain herbs....... Early Spring Roots: dandelion
Late Spring Aerial parts during flowering: lungwort, sweet violet Flowers: coltsfoot, cowslip, elder
Early to Midsummer Aerial parts/leaves before flowering: agrimony, angelica, catnip, cleavers, dandelion, dill, fennel, feverfew, garlic, hyssop, lady's mantle, lemon balm, motherwort, parsley, peppermint, plantain, sage, stinging nettles ( BE CAREFUL! ), white horehound, yellow dock Bark while flowering: cramp bark Flowers/Flowering tops: borage, chamomile, honeysuckle, linden, pot marigold, St.-John's-Wort.
Mid to Late Summer Aerial parts while flowering: California poppy, heartsease, marjoram, marshmallow, meadowsweet, meliot, mugwort, shepherd's purse, skullcap, thyme, vervain, wild lettuce, wood betony, wormwood, yarrow Flowers: hops, lavender, mullein Leaves after Flowering: borage, coltsfoot, cowslip, fenugreek, lungwort, sweet violet
Autumn Roots/bulbs when leaves have wilted: angelica ( first year ), black cohosh, burdock ( first year ), comfrey, cowslip, elecampane ( 2-3 year roots ), garlic, goldenseal, lovage, marshmallow, purple coneflower, soapwort, tormentil, valerian Seeds/fruit when ripe: bitter orange, celery, dill, elder, fennel, fenugreek, hawthorn, lovage Information graciously provided by Iam (Thank you) To add or read more information : Herb Lore |