Narcissus pseudonarcissus ‘Wild Daffodil’
[Syn. Narcissus pseudonarcissus var. lobularis]
[Prov. Wales]
Amaryllidaceae: bulbous perennial to 60cm. found in open woods and meadows that often flourishes after coppicing. The flowers are 5-6cm across, with 6 pale yellow outer segments and narrow, all basal. The leaves are grey-green. Locally common in some parts of England and wales, also naturalised elsewhere. Also most of Western Europe.
The bulbs, leaves and flowers are astringent and powerfully emetic. The bulb, especially, is narcotic and depresses the nervous system. It has been used in the treatment of hysterical affections and even epilepsy with some effect. The bulb is harvested in the winter and dried for later use. The flowers are harvested in dry weather when they are fully open and should be dried quickly. They are less powerful than the bulbs but are also considered to be antispasmodic and are useful in relieving the congestive bronchial catarrh of children and also useful in cases of epidemic dysentery.
A yellow to gold dye is obtained from the flowers.
Prefers a deep rather stiff soil but succeeds in most soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in sun or shade. Grows well on woodland edges. A short stratification will improve the germination of stored seed. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first two years of growth. Give them an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient.
Rarely offered as seed!
Harvested. 2015
Approx. 50+ seeds £2.50
Nasturtium officinale
'Water Cress'
Currently Unavailable
Nepeta cataria 'Wild Catnip'
Lamiaceae: an upright, greyish, downy perennial to 50mm. the whole plant has a minty smell that cats find alluring. Grows in dry, grassy places, including verges and hedgerows, often on chalky soils. The flowers are white with purple spots, forms whorls and clusters, on terminal heads, from July-September. The heart-shaped, toothed, stalked. Downy below and woolly above, and when bruised smell of mint. Widespread but very local, mostly found in Southern England and Southern Wales, also found naturalised as a garden escape anywhere. Native to Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south and east to Spain, Western and Central Asia to the Himalayas.
The young leaves can be eaten raw, they have a mint-like flavour, and they make an aromatic flavouring in salads. Older leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods. They can be used fresh or dried to make an aromatic herbal tea, the tea should be infused in a closed container in order to preserve the essential oils, boiling is said to spoil it.
Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers. The herbs pleasant taste and gentle action makes it suitable for treating colds, flu and fevers in children. It is more effective when used in conjunction with elder flower (Sambucus nigra). The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic. The flowering stems are harvested in August when the plant is in full flower, they are dried and stored for use as required. An infusion produces free perspiration, it is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and colds. It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very useful as a mild nervine for children. A tea made from the leaves can also be used. The infusion is also applied externally to bruises, especially black eyes.
Best sown in the autumn, but can be sown at any time of the year, you must protect young plants from the cats, yes they really do find this plant irresistible, and they will kill younger plants if not protected.
Harvested August 2014.
Approx. 300+ seeds £1.25.
[Syn. Narcissus pseudonarcissus var. lobularis]
[Prov. Wales]
Amaryllidaceae: bulbous perennial to 60cm. found in open woods and meadows that often flourishes after coppicing. The flowers are 5-6cm across, with 6 pale yellow outer segments and narrow, all basal. The leaves are grey-green. Locally common in some parts of England and wales, also naturalised elsewhere. Also most of Western Europe.
The bulbs, leaves and flowers are astringent and powerfully emetic. The bulb, especially, is narcotic and depresses the nervous system. It has been used in the treatment of hysterical affections and even epilepsy with some effect. The bulb is harvested in the winter and dried for later use. The flowers are harvested in dry weather when they are fully open and should be dried quickly. They are less powerful than the bulbs but are also considered to be antispasmodic and are useful in relieving the congestive bronchial catarrh of children and also useful in cases of epidemic dysentery.
A yellow to gold dye is obtained from the flowers.
Prefers a deep rather stiff soil but succeeds in most soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in sun or shade. Grows well on woodland edges. A short stratification will improve the germination of stored seed. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first two years of growth. Give them an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient.
Rarely offered as seed!
Harvested. 2015
Approx. 50+ seeds £2.50
Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. 'Wild Daffodil'
[Mallgill Wood, Co. Durham]
Currently Unavailable
'Water Cress'
Currently Unavailable
Nepeta cataria 'Wild Catnip'
Lamiaceae: an upright, greyish, downy perennial to 50mm. the whole plant has a minty smell that cats find alluring. Grows in dry, grassy places, including verges and hedgerows, often on chalky soils. The flowers are white with purple spots, forms whorls and clusters, on terminal heads, from July-September. The heart-shaped, toothed, stalked. Downy below and woolly above, and when bruised smell of mint. Widespread but very local, mostly found in Southern England and Southern Wales, also found naturalised as a garden escape anywhere. Native to Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia south and east to Spain, Western and Central Asia to the Himalayas.
The young leaves can be eaten raw, they have a mint-like flavour, and they make an aromatic flavouring in salads. Older leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods. They can be used fresh or dried to make an aromatic herbal tea, the tea should be infused in a closed container in order to preserve the essential oils, boiling is said to spoil it.
Catmint has a long history of use as a household herbal remedy, being employed especially in treating disorders of the digestive system and, as it stimulates sweating, it is useful in reducing fevers. The herbs pleasant taste and gentle action makes it suitable for treating colds, flu and fevers in children. It is more effective when used in conjunction with elder flower (Sambucus nigra). The leaves and flowering tops are strongly antispasmodic, antitussive, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, slightly emmenagogue, refrigerant, sedative, slightly stimulant, stomachic and tonic. The flowering stems are harvested in August when the plant is in full flower, they are dried and stored for use as required. An infusion produces free perspiration, it is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of fevers and colds. It is also very useful in the treatment of restlessness and nervousness, being very useful as a mild nervine for children. A tea made from the leaves can also be used. The infusion is also applied externally to bruises, especially black eyes.
Best sown in the autumn, but can be sown at any time of the year, you must protect young plants from the cats, yes they really do find this plant irresistible, and they will kill younger plants if not protected.
Harvested August 2014.
Approx. 300+ seeds £1.25.
Nepeta cataria
Nigella damascena 'Love-In-A-Mist'
Currently Unavailable
Nigella damascena 'Love-In-A-Mist'
Currently Unavailable
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