White Sage is one of our most popular perennial herb plants.  Native to Southwestern United States, the whitish leaves contain oils and resins that become released when rubbed.  Bees love this aromatic herb and its flowers so much, it is sometimes called Bee Sage.

We’ve been thinking about white sage here in the greenhouse for months!  One of our slowest-germinating plants, we started sowing these guys all the way back in November.  We’ve nursed them all winter, and we are proud to say they are finally ready to graduate to your garden!

White Sage is a water-conserving plant and therefore does not require a lot of water.  Water only when dry, and be sure to provide well-drained soil and full sun.  The hardiness and low-maintenance of this plant makes it a great player in stabilizing degraded areas.

White sage is pretty easy to prune.  Remember that it should grow into a bush, and not a trailing plant.  To encourage your plant to grow up, and not out, pruning trailing vines will encourage new, bushier growth.

People garden for many different reasons. For us here at The Growers Exchange, it’s not just a vacation from the stresses of life, but a mission to increase our quality of life. Herb gardening has always been popular throughout history and with current economic instability, a trend towards sustainability and a renewed love of natural living, it has large, modern following.

Adding more herbs to your diet will help save you more money and give you a tasty, nutritious bonus to your diet. Here are five of our favorite herbs that are rich in medicinal and culinary value and versatility, that you can grow in your garden and use frequently:

1) Sorrel ‘Blonde de Lyon’

Rumex acetosa ‘Blonde de Lyon’

An herb familiar to French cuisine, Sorrel is very high in Vitamins A, C and B1, as well as Potassium. Commonly made into soup or stew, you can also add it to your salads for a zesty kick that will pack a ton of nutrition into your meal. During long winters and arduous journeys, sorrel was eaten to prevent malnutrition and diseases like Scurvy, because of its high Vitamin C level. Perennial in zones 4-8, try adding Sorrel to your favorite soup, salad or fish dish for a lemony zest and boost of vitamins!

2) Alpine Strawberry

Rosaceae Fragaria vesca

These lovely little border plants are much sweeter than the usual strawberries you find in the grocery store. Smaller and more akin to wild strawberries, the Alpine Strawberry has value as both a medicinal and culinary herb. Medicinally, the plant acts as a digestive aid and astringent and the juice is antibacterial. You can treat sunburns by making a mash of the berries and applying it directly to affected areas. Nutritionally, they are not only deliciously sweet but are packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants– an immune boosting value! They are also contain a natural bleaching agent and can help whiten your teeth.

3) ‘Holy (Sacred) Green’ Basil

Ocimum sanctum

Culturally important and religiously sacred to many cultures, the ‘Holy (Sacred) Green’ Basil is also known as Ram Tulsi. Like its more colorful counterpart, the ‘Holy (Sacred) Red’ Basil, studies show that the both may reduce blood pressure, help liver functions and reduce the risk of diabetes. They are both antioxidants, antibacterial and anti fungal, though the ‘Holy Green’ is milder in flavor than the ‘Holy Red’. Try some in your next stir fry for a flavorful dish with medicinal benefits!

4) Salad Burnet

Poterium sanguisorba

A whimsically beautiful herb with a lovely rose aroma, Salad Burnet  has medicinal value as an astringent. Easy to grow, even in harsh elements terrain, Salad Burnet has a cucumber-like taste that compliments salads well. Try using some in your wraps, on sandwiches or in soups for a lovely, subtle flavor. Make sure to use the plant’s tender leaves, as they get bitter as they grow. Pair it with Rosemary, Oregano, or Dill for a great flavor profile!

5) Sweet Marjoram

Origanum x majoricum

Milder in flavor than its cousin, Oregano, Sweet Marjoram balsam-like flavor is a key ingredient in the culinary herb mixture, Bouquet Garni. A delicious seasoning for soups, stews and meats, make sure that you add it last for a more intense flavor. Make sure to harvest the plant before it goes to flower, for the best tasting results. Aromatically it has a lovely fragrance and symbolizes love and prosperity. Its medicinal benefits also make it worthy of every garden, as it has been known to soothe menstrual pain and act as a digestive aid.

Dried white sage can be bundled into a "smudge stick" and used to cleanse areas of negative energy.

Have you ever seen someone burn a rustic-looking bundle of dried herbs to cleanse their new home or work space? Well, that herb was most likely white sage.  Though some people may find this practice a little odd, burning sacred herbs as a safeguard against evil or negative energy actually dates centuries back, to Ancient Babylonian practices. In most recent history, Native Americans continued this ritual throughout North and South America, and burnt this culturally-sacred herb to ward off negative energy and rid their homes and temples of bad spirits. The botanical word for sage, ‘Salvia’, actually comes from the Latin words, meaning “to heal”, and its medicinal properties as well as its natural ability to repel insects (like ladybugs), is probably at the root of its mystical history.

If you plan to use white sage as a smudge stick or to smolder for cleansing, makes sure you harvest the leaves in the late summer through early fall . Spread them out to dry slightly, allowing them to wilt until the leaves become leathery feeling. Then, bind them together with string and hang in a moisture-free place to continue drying. This will ensure that your white sage smudge stick lasts longer (up to two years) and will burn slower. Whether you are growing white sage to spice up your rack of lamb or to cleanse the energy of previous tenants from your home, this beautiful, silvery herb is a lovely attraction in the garden.

Commonly known as “man sage”, “prairie sage” or “Mexican sagebrush”, white sage is a versatile herb. Used to season meats, veggies and breads, much like its more common culinary relative, garden sage, white sage also lends a savory flavor to your favorite dish. Medicinally white sage is very valuable. An antibacterial and decongestant, it can be applied as a poultice, taken in tea form, or chewed for its healing essential oils. Throughout history white sage has been used to cure everything from the common cold to lessening the effects of a heavy menstrual cycle, and modern medicine has proven that it may help the body absorb and maintain insulin more easily, making it of great potential to diabetics. The USDA has also deemed white sage safe and approved as an effective eczema treatment and it has also shown strong signs of curing strep throat.

We appreciate many plants at first glance on their appearance, but the first thing you notice about Lemon Verbena is its intoxicating lemony scent. Popularized in the Victorian Era as a natural perfume and aromatic home air freshener, Lemon Verbena was considered the hottest new scent among posh socialites who would use it in finger bowls, potpourris or herb sachets that they tucked into their clothes. Ancient Greeks believed that if it was placed under their pillows, it would bring sweet dreams. Symbolizing enchantment and good fortune, Lemon Verbena has a history as sweet as its smell!

Around 1250 A.D., Incan farmers discovered that by accidentally planting a variety of Lemon Verbena near their cotton crops, that it acted as a natural insect repellent. From then on, this Argentinean native herb was grown near homes to keep pests away. Brought to Europe by the Spanish, who named the plant after the Queen of Spain in 1784, Lemon Verbena was brought to North America when pilgrims migrated to “The New World”, where it still flourishes as a perennial in zones eleven through eight, and grows as a tender perennial or annual in colder areas. (It can grow to over ten feet tall in areas with very mild winters!)

A key ingredient to many cuisines including Indian, Latin American, Mexican and French, its lemony flavor is enjoyed in everything from flakey fish dishes to desserts. It is the essential ingredient in the French tea, verveine, and can be added to greased cake pans before baking to infuse the citrus taste into desserts. A delicious digestive aid and antioxidant, Lemon Verbena is a dynamic herb with a soothing lemon scent.

Italian Flat Leaf Parsley

Happy Parsley Day! On February 22^nd, we take time to honor a much loved culinary and medicinal herb that packs a punch of flavor! An herb, a spice AND a vegetable all in one plant, this dynamic herb is a key component in many cuisines like Middle Eastern and Spanish, but is most distinctly known in Italian dishes.  Parsley symbolizes love, protection and purification and throughout history has been a sign of honor and class. Ancient Greeks used Parsley to honor champions of sporting events, and it was also used in wreaths and sprinkled on the dead.  The word “Parsley” is derived from the Greek word meaning “rocks or stones”, which reflects the terrain Parsley is native to. They believed that Parsley grew in the spot where the mythological hero Archemorus was slain.

The two main varieties, Italian Flat Leaf and Curly, are adored for different reasons. While some believe the Flat Leaf is easier to grow, it is the quintessential Parsley for cooking, as it has a more flavorful taste. The soft, crinkled look of the Curly Parsley makes it a great garnish and it is used to enhance many gourmet dishes with its beauty. Also a necessary component to the favorable herbal combination, Bouquet Garni, Parsley tastes terrific with hearty dishes like potatoes, stews, lamb, lasagna or rice.

Curly Parsley

Medicinally, Parsley has a long history of being associated with women’s health. An emmenagouge, it was often used to start the menstrual cycle, but should not be consumed in great quantity by pregnant women. Parsley also contains elements that help the body absorb Manganese much more efficiently, an important mineral for strengthening bones.  When paired with dishes that contain high zinc or copper-rich foods, it helps retain these bone-improving vitamins and minerals much more thoroughly.  When applied directly to insect bites, it is also said to soothe the itching or stinging sensation!

A great companion plant, Parsley attracts insects, diverting their attention from other garden growers. Plant Parsley near your tomatoes to draw the attention of pesky tomato hornworms, moths and flies away from your veggies. Parsley thrives in full sun, with moist, well-drained soil, but because of its tough seed coat, it can often be hard to germinate from seed. If germination actually does occur, it should only take four to six weeks to see sprouts peeking through the soil. Superstition says that the reason that Parsley takes so long to germinate is because it has to travel to Hell and back seven times before sprouting. Though we aren’t sure where this delightful herb got such a bad rap, we assure you, it’s been growing safe and sound in our greenhouse!