4 Rare Herbs to Add to Your Garden

4 Rare Herbs to Add to Your Garden

By Ashley Houk

Before hospitals, clinics or doctors were available to everyone, herbs were an important part of peoples’ lives. As time progressed, many medicinal herbs were used for their culinary properties to add flavor. Although you can find plenty of herbs, fresh and dried, in most grocery stores, growing your own herbs is much more satisfying, economical and will guarantee their freshness.

Herb Box Photo by Suzette via Flickr

Herbs are easy-to-grow and can be thrive in containers if you have limited space. When selecting which herbs to plant in your garden, always consider your needs and what your family will use the most. If you already know your most-used herbs, try incorporating some of these harder-to-find, rare herbs into your garden design to add beauty and more variety.

Lemongrass Photo courtesy Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates)

Native to India and Sri Lanka, lemongrass grows in dense clumps that can be up to 6 feet tall. Often used in Asian cuisine, this herb can also be used to reduce fevers, relieve cold symptoms and soothe upset stomachs. This nutrient-laden herb’s main compound, lemonal/citral, is a powerful anti-fungal and antimicrobial agent.

Common Rue Photo courtesy Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Rue (Ruta graveolens)

Primarily grown as an ornamental addition to the garden due to possible internal toxicity and contact dermatitis, rue has a long history of culinary and medicinal use. Today, it can still be found as an ingredient in a variety of processed foods.

Lovage Plant Photo courtesy Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Lovage (Levisticum officinale)

Lovage is a hardy perennial in the parsley family that’s easy to grow with little attention – perfect for those who aren’t fond of needy plants. The roots, leaves and seeds can be used medicinally as a diuretic to treat stomach disorders, such as bloating, gas or expelling waste.

Szechuan Buttons Photo courtesy Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Toothache Plant (Spilanthes acmella)

Toothache plant, also known as Szechuan buttons, is a low-growing plant that blooms through summer and fall. Native to Brazil, it can also be found in South America, Africa and Asia as a flavoring agent and to relieve oral pain.

What are your favorite not-so-common herbs to grow? Let us know in the comments below!

[ http://www.motherearthliving.com/in-the-garden/rare-herbs-to-add-to-garden-zb0z1702zhou  ]