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Ilex aquifolium 'English holly'

[Ex. Co. Durham]

Currently Unavailable

Ilex aquifolium

Impatiens glandulifera 'Indian Balsam'

Balsaminaceae: Annual growing to 1.5 m (5ft) or more, hardy to zone (UK) 6, between June and October it produces clusters of purplish pink (or rarely white) helmet-shaped flowers, the flowers are followed by seed pods that open explosively when ripe. Native to shrubberies and bushy places, often on grazing ground, frequently gregarious, 1800 - 4000 metres in the Himalayas, introduced to the UK in 1839, Himalayan balsam is now a naturalised plant, found especially on riverbanks and in waste places where it has become a problem weed. Himalayan balsam tolerates low light levels and also shades out other vegetation, so gradually impoverishing habitats by killing off other plants. It is sometimes seen in gardens, either uninvited or grown deliberately, but care must be taken to ensure that it does not escape into the wild.

The young leaves and shoots can be cooked, the seeds have a delicious nutty flavour, but difficult to harvest in quantity mainly because of their exploding seed capsules which scatter the ripe seed at the slightest touch, an edible oil can also be obtained from the seed. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Impatience', 'Irritability' and 'Extreme mental tension', it is also one of the five ingredients in the 'Rescue remedy'.

Very easy from seed if they are fresh, a period of cold stratification may help to improve germination rates of older seed.

Warning: invasive – spread by seeds. 

Currently Unavailable

Impatiens glandulifera

Impatiens glandulifera 'White Faces'

Currently Unavailable

Impatiens noli-tangere 'Touch-me-not Balsam'

Balsaminaceae: Annual growing to 1 m (3ft 3in), hardy to zone (UK) 6, yellow flowers, followed by pods which forcefully explode when ripe, ejecting the seeds for some distance. Found growing in damp places in Europe, from Scandinavia to France, east to Macedonia and temperate Asia, a rare British native, found by streams, wet ground in woods in N. Wales, the Lake District, Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The young leaves and shoots can be cooked, the seeds have a delicious nutty flavour, but difficult to harvest in quantity mainly because of their exploding seed capsules which scatter the ripe seed at the slightest touch, an edible oil can also be obtained from the seed. The plant is antiseptic, diuretic, strongly emetic, laxative and vulnerary, it has been used in the treatment of strangury and haemorrhoids. Occasionally used internally in the treatment of haemorrhoids and as a laxative and diuretic, but the dose must be carefully adhered to since large quantities are strongly emetic. The plant is harvested at any time in the summer.

Very easy from seed if they are fresh, a period of cold stratification may help to improve germination rates of older seed.

A very beautiful and rare native plant that is non-invasive and is well worth a place in the herb garden.

Currently Unavailable

Impatiens noli-tangere

Inula conyzae 'Ploughman's-spikenard'

[Ex. Oxfordshire]

Currently Unavailable

Inula helenium 'Elecampane'

Asteraceae:  Perennial growing to 8ft by 3ft, hardy to zone 5. Large yellow flowers from Jul to August, native Fields, waysides, waste places, copses etc., often on moist soils in shade, S.E. Europe and naturalized in Britain. Leaves can be cooked, and have a rather bitter and aromatic taste, they were used as a potherb by the ancient Romans, but are rarely used at present, the root can be candied and eaten as a sweetmeat. Elecampane has a long history of use as a medicinal herb, a gently warming and tonic herb; it is especially effective in treating coughs, consumption, bronchitis and many other complaints of the chest as well as disorders of the digestive system.

An easily grown plant, it grows well in moist shady positions in ordinary garden soil, though it grows best in a good loamy soil, succeeds in an ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, plants are also tolerant of considerable neglect, sow seeds in spring or autumn in a cold frame, when they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. If you have sufficient seed, it could be worthwhile trying an outdoor sowing in situ in the spring.

Approx. 100+ seeds - £1.50

Inula helenium

Iris foetidissima 'Stinking Gladwin'

[Ex. Dorset]

Currently Unavailable