Tag: medicinal plant

HIBISCUS: Properties and Benefits of a Beautiful Flower

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  Family: Malvaceae Gender: Hibiscus Common names: Hibiscus, Rose Mallow, Rose of Sharon Hibiscus genus include hundreds of species widely cultivated and appreciated for their large, showy flowers. They are large with five or more petals, typically trumpet-shaped and come in all types of colors. Leaves are alternate, deep green lanceolate, often with a toothed margin. Hibiscus is a perennial and flowers through the year attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. These plants are generally very hardy and versatile, thrive in tropical conditions but can enhance the beauty of one’s garden in…

STEVIA: Your Own Calorie-Free Natural Sweetener

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  Family: Asteraceae Genus: Stevia Common Name: Stevia Rabaudiana, Sugar leaf, Candy leaf   Stevia is a perennial herb that reaches up to 50-80 cm  in height. The oblong aromatic leaves are times sweeter than traditional white sugar, containing neither calories nor carbohydrates. CULTIVATION Germination from seed is difficult, comparing to other aromatic plants; reason why most plants are grown from cuttings rather then from seeds. The plant requires rich well-drained soil and thrives in warm humid climates. Once established, Stevia is a low water, low maintenance plant, but tender young…

ECHINACEA: A Powerful Herb with Immune System Boosting Proprieties

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  Common Names: Purple Coneflowers, Echinacea Species: Echinacea Family: Asteraceae   Echinacea species are herbaceous, drought-tolerant perennial plants growing up to 140 cm or 4 feet tall. This perennial flowering plants in the daisy family can easily grow from seeds, rather than being transplanted. CULTIVATION Echinacea seeds grow into a bulb-like structures called rhizomes. Scatter the seeds onto a paper towel moisten with water, then slide the paper towel into a sealed plastic bag and refrigerate for two months. Prepare the garden plot while the seeds go through stratification, then place them…

NASTURTIUM: Properties and Benefits of a Natural Antibiotic

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  Family: Tropaeolaceae Species: Tropaeolum majus Common Names: Common Nasturtium, Garden Nasturtium, Indian Cress It is a herbaceous annual plant with trailing stems growing to 1 meter long. Leaves are large, circular with distinct veins, 3 to 15 cm in diameter, flowers are 3-6 cm diameter, with five petal; and a long nectar spur at the rear. They vary from yellow to red, often darker at the base of the petals. The fruit is 2 cm broad, three-segmented, each segment with a single large seed. Native to South America, today it…

SEDUM: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Family: Crussulaceae Species: Sedum Common Names: Sedastrum, Sedum, Stonecrops There are an impressive 300 more different species of these succulent plants, which are also called Stonecrop as they are often found in the wild growing on rocky ledges. They are native to the Northern Hemisphere. Mostly is a perennial plant with thick, succulent leaves, fleshy stems, and clusters of star-shaped flowers. So many varieties of this plants makes them suitable for almost all types of garden designs. Use low–growing ones varieties as ground covers and in rock gardens, and…

TULSI: The Golden Remedy of Ayurveda

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  Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Ocimum Common Name: Ocimum Tenuiflorum, Holy Basil, Tulsi, Sacred Basil   Tulsi is an aromatic perennial plant in subtropical regions, while became an annual in cold and temperate climates, indoor can be grown all year round independently. losely related to Basil, it is widespread and cultivated throughout all Asia, for its religious and medicinal purposes. Tulsi shrub grows up to 50 cm in height and boasts stems which are covered with fine hairs. Leaves are opposite and ovate, ranging from green to purple depending upon the variety, and have slightly…

PULMONARIA: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Family: Boraginaceae Species: Pulmonaria Officinalis Common Names: Lungwort, Pulmonaria, Bethlehem sage   This shade plant is not only attractive, but surprisingly resilient. Lungwort prefers moist locations but can survive in drier locations if enough shade is provided. If planted in full sun, the plant will wilt… I suggest grow them under trees where other plants may have a hard time. LUNGWORT CULTIVATION Lungwort plants grow in clumps and reach a height of about 40 cm. In proper conditions they can spread rapidly, root division should be carried out in…

PLANTAIN: Properties of a Common yet Precious Plant

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  Common Name: Greater Plantain, Broadleaf Plantain, Common Plantain Species: Plantago Major Family: Plantaginaceae   Plantain  is a perennial broadleaf plant that grows the most abundant and widely distributed medicinal crops around the world. Plantain has oval shaped leaves revealing string-like veins, with thick stems that meet at the base and grow in a rosette. Flowers rise well above the foliage and contain a small pod housing dark seeds held by the narrow spikes. Each plant can produce up to 20,000 seeds. We can find this miraculous plant growing nearly everywhere, from meadows…

BEAR’S GARLIC: The Best Spring Natural Detox

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  Family: Alliaceae Species: Allium Ursinum Common Name: Bear’s Garlic, Wild Garlic, Bear leek, Broad-leaved garlic   Bear’s Garlic is a wild plant relative to chives. and well-known for being a true spring treat for bears that have just woken up from their winter slumber, also a favorite of wild boar. It’s a bulbous perennial herbaceous plant that reproduces primarily by seed. The narrow bulbs are formed from a single leaf base and produce bright green elliptical leaves. The inflorescence is an umbrella of several white flowers. It’s native to…

COLEUS FORSKOLHII: Properties and Benefits

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  Family: Lamiaceae Species: Plectranthus barbatus Common Name: Forskolhii, Indian Coleus, Coleus Forskolhii, Coleus Barbatus   Coleus Forskolhii is a genus of perennial plants native to sub-tropical areas, they grow best in well-drained soil and warm climates exposed to sun. Their aroma’s similar to camphor and it’s extremely fragrant due to large amount of essential oils present. Leaves are ovate in shape and the spiked flowers are typical of the mint family. Unlike its ornamental relatives, Coleus forskohlii lacks the spectacular colored leaves. It has plain, bright green leaves and…

MULLEIN: The Herb that Fights Infections

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  Common Name: Mullein, Verbascum, Candlewick Plant, Lungwort Genus: Verbascum Family: Scrophulariaceae   Mullein is a biennial o perennial plant growing tall and up to 2 meters. In its first year produce a dense rosette of wooly leaves at ground level, while the second it sends up huge flower spikes with many bright densely clustered yellow flowers which only open for one day. Mullein plants produces plenty of seeds each second year and some of them can lie dormant for as many as one hundred years, reason why is easily find growing…

STINGING NETTLE: Properties and Uses of a Super Plant

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  Common Name: Stinging Nettle, Common Nettle, Nettle Family: Urticacea Species: Urtica Dioica   Stinging Nettle is a herbaceous, perennial flowering plant widely spread all over the world. Nettle grows up to 1 or 2 meter tall in summer, dying down to the ground in winter. The soft, green leaves are are borne oppositely on an erect,  green stem. Both leaves and stem  have many hollow stinging hairs called trichomes which act like needles, injecting histamine and other chemicals that produce a stinging sensation when contacted by humans and other animals.…

HOP PLANT: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Family: Cannabaceae (hemp family) Species: Humulus Lupulus Common Names: Hops, Wild Hop, Common Hop, Lupulin     These perennial herbaceous climbing plant require support to thrive. Plants are dioecious, which means that they have a gender. Hop Plants send up new shoots in early spring which are edible and delicious. The cone-shaped fruits are known as strobili,  are collected in fall, can be used either fresh or dried. Hops dies back to a cold-hardy rhizome in autumn. Plants are very hardy tolerating temperatures down to about -20°c when dormant, …

GREAT CELANDINE: The Warts Curing Plant

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  Common Name: Celandine, Greater Celandine, Celandine Poppy Species: Chelidonium Majus Family: Papaveraceae   Greater Celandine is an herbaceous perennial plant with slightly hairy and tall stems (40 cm to 120 cm high). The whole plant abounds in a yellowish juice, which is emitted freely wherever the stems or leaves are broken. This juice stains and has a persistent and nauseous smell, also irritating. Leaves are pinnate with lobed margins, flowers appear from late spring to summer and consist of four yellow petals. This plant displays long, narrow seedpods plenty of…

ARTEMISIA ANNUA: The Most Efficient Malaria Cure is Natural

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  Common name:Artemisia Annua, Sweet Wormwood, Sweet Annie, Sweet Sagewort, Annual Mugwort Genus: Artemisia Family: Asteraceae   Artemisia Annua is an annual aromatic herb from Asia that has been used in China to treat fevers for centuries. The genus Artemisia includes well-known plants used in medicine, perfumery and the food/beverage industry, such as Tarragon, Artemisia Absinthium and Mugwort. CULTIVATION The plant  naturally grows up to 1 meter tall, although cultivated ones can arrive to double their size. The intensive aromatic scent of the leaves is very characteristic, they are divided by…

YARROW: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Family: Asteraceae Species: Achillea Millefolium Common Name: Yarrow, Milfoil, Thousand-Leaf, Achillea, Woundwort   Achillea Millefolium is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant that produces one to several stems. It’s leaves are almost feathery and  and arranged spirally on the stems. The inflorescence consist in a flat-topped cluster white to pink in color, visited by many insects because of their strong scent. Yarrow is a common weed, an herbaceous perennial plant native to the Northern hemisphere that grows freely in grassland, roadsides and other sites with well draining ground. Easily recognizable for…

DIANTHUS: The Flower of The Gods

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  Family: Caryophyllaceae Genus: Dianthus Common Name: Dianthus, Sweet William, Carnations   Dianthus plants can be annual, biennial or perennial. The name refers to a genus of approximate 300 species distributed in Asia, Europe and Africa. The most common and cultivated varieties are Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation), D. plumarius (pink), D. barbatus (sweet william) and D.Chinensis. Flowers are most often in pink, salmon, red and white with a slender foliage spread on thick stems. CULTIVATION Dianthus are one of the oldest cultivated flowers, treasured for centuries for their scent and their ease of…

MILK THISTLE: A Natural Detox

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  Common Names: Cardus Marianus, Milk Thistle, Marian Thistle Species: Sylibum Marianum Family: Asteraceae (Cynareae)   Milk thistle is an annual/biennial plant that grows in dry, rocky soil throughout southern and Western Europe, and in some parts of the United States. The stem grows tall and bears spiny leaves, which are dark green in color and streaked with white along the veins. Milk thistle flowers from June to August, bearing a single spiny, reddish-purple blossom. The fruit of the plant (commonly misidentified as the seed) is used for health purposes. Milk Thistles…

GARLIC MUSTARD: A Very Nutritious Invasive Plant

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  Family: Brassicaceae Species: Alliara Petiolata Common Name: Garlic Mustard, Garlic Wort, Hedge Garlic, Poor-man’s-mustard   Garlic Mustard is a biennial plant; the first year, plants appear as a rosette of green leaves close to the ground; remain green through the winter and develop into mature flowering plants the following spring. It’s a highly invasive plant widely growing in early spring on the side of roads, and waste lands. The leaves are triangular with a distinctive outline, flowers that are produced in spring and summer have four white petals. The fruit…

PLANTAGO LANCEOLATA – RIBWORT PLANTAIN: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Family: Plantaginaceae Species: Plantago Lanceolata Common Name: Ribwort Plantain, Narrowleaf Plantain, Ribgrass   Ribwort Plantain is a perennial herb with a thick rhizome and fibrous roots. Leaves are lanceolate with 3-5 strong parallel veins along. The inflorescence is a short spike, densely flowered with white flowers that bring plenty of small seeds. Very closely related to Plantago Major, it’s very tolerant and can adapt to extreme condition, This plant can actually live anywhere from very dry meadows to places similar to a rain forest, roadsides, open woodlands and grasslands.…

POTENTILLA: Uses and Benefits

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  Common Name: Potentilla Reptans, Creeping Cinquefoil, Creeping Tormentil, European Cinquefoil Genus: Potentilla   Potentilla  is a very interesting perennial plant in the Rose family that is known by a number of names. Easy to grow, this small plant, has fuzzy dark green leaves with a strawberry-like look, and five petals yellow flowers. It’s a rather quite common hardy plant that has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. It grows well in the open meadows and grassy slopes,  and it’s very common to find from late spring to…

OREGANO: The Ultimate Natural Antibiotic

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  Common Names: Oregano, Wild Majoram, Origanum Vulgaris Family: Lamiaceae Species: Origanum Vulgaris   Oregano is a flowering plant in the Mint family. It is native to temperate Western and Southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region.  It’s a perennial herb, growing from 20-80 cm tall, with opposite leaves 1-4 cm long, flowers are rose-purple or white 3-4 mm long. CULTIVATION Oregano is a must-have in a culinary garden, too easy to grow and very useful. Although does thrive in a warm climate, it’s a hardy perennial that returns year after year, without much work.…

HELICHRYSUM: a Very Beneficial Essential Oil

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Family: Asteraceae Gender: Helichrysum Common names: Helichrysum Italicum, Curry Plant, Immortelle     Helichrysum is a perennial evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region, where it’s been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Beside this beneficial properties, mostly found in its essential oil, we value this plant for its silvery foliage, warm fragrance and bright yellow blooms. This  evergreen hardy shrub grow larger then taller. It has leaves all year round, while in flower from July to August. Established plants are drought resistant, wind tolerant and able to…

THYMUS SERPYLLUM: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Common Names: Wild Thyme, Mountain Thyme, Creeping Thyme, Serpolet Species: Thymus Serpyllum Family: Lamiaceae    Thymus serpyllum or wild thyme,  is a specie of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to most of Europe and North Africa but found in North America too. It’s a low, usually prostrate subshrub growing few centimeters tall with creeping stems up to 10 cm long. The oval evergreen leaves are small as the strongly scented flowers that are either pink-purple and produced in clusters. This hardy plant tolerates some pedestrian traffic and produces odors…

PEONY: Properties, Uses and Benefits

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  Family: Paeoniaceae Species: Peony Common Names: Peony, Paeony   Peony is a flowering plant  native to Asia, Europe and Western North America. They are among the most popular garden plants in temperate regions, with 40 distinguished species. Mostly are herbaceous perennial plants up to 1 meter tall, but some are woody shrubs can stretch up to 3.5 meters (11 ft) tall. They have  deeply lobed leaves and large, often fragrant flowers, in colors ranging from purple red to white or yellow, flowering from late spring.  Peonies are usually propagated by…