Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin) bush in 9-inch-deep pot, organic

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Family:  Laurel (Lauraceae)

Hardy to Zones 4 to 9

(Spicebush) Perennial deciduous, dioecious bush to 12 feet. Native to Appalachia and a most elegant member of the very pretty plant family known as the Lauraceae. Spice bush prefers shade to sun and moist, rich soil. In fact, and this story is a bit of an indulgence on my part, the plant was considered by the early settlers to be an indicator of rich soil, and many homesteads were located due to the proximity of these bushes. The plant bears glossy green leaves and waxy, spicy-smelling red berries. Traditional use (TWM): cold remedy. Plant prefers rich, moist to mesic soil in the part shade. Prefers rich soils, moisture. Plant 6 feet apart.

Potted shrub in a 9 inch deep pot, Certified Organically Grown

Ginger, Wild (Asarum caudatum) live root, organic

Richo Cech 2 Comments

Family:  Birthwort (Aristolochiaceae)

Hardy to Zones 4 to 8

(Western Wild Ginger) Evergreen perennial broadleaved groundcover native to the western US.  An ancient and comely plant, with leathery, shiny, heartshaped leaves, to 6 inches tall, flowering wine.  Flowers in late winter are rarely seen, nestled below the leaves and often within the mulch, colored mauve with long tails, showy when seen.  Ant-pollinated, they drop their seeds and create new seedlings from time to time.  Traditional usage (American Indian, TWM): stomachic, antinauseant, sweat-inducing to treat fevers, culinary spice.  Cautions:  This plant contains small concentrations of aristolochic acid, which is a potent nephrotoxin.  Large doses of wild ginger can be damaging to the liver and kidneys and can readily cause emesis (puking).  Therefore the plant is considered a low to no-dose botanical.  It is, however, extremely comely in the moist, richly leaf-mulched forest garden, companions favorably with goldenseal, cohosh, bloodroot, etc. and worth growing just for that.  Very nice along waterways and will even grow within the stream bed.    Nestle the root “buds-up” into the mulch of shade garden or forest, with the roots firmed into the mineral soil and the entire planting well-mulched with rotted leaves.

Live root, certified organically grown

 

 

Ginger, Wild (Asarum caudatum) potted plant, organic

Richo Cech 6 Comments

Family:  Birthwort (Aristolochiaceae)

Hardy to Zones 4 to 8

(Western Wild Ginger) Evergreen perennial broadleaved groundcover native to the western US.  An ancient and comely plant, with leathery, shiny, heartshaped leaves, to 6 inches tall.  Flowers in late winter are found nestled below the leaves and often within the mulch, colored mauve with long tails, showy when seen.  Ant-pollinated, they drop their seeds and create new seedlings from time to time.  Traditional usage (American Indian, TWM): stomachic, antinauseant, sweat-inducing to treat fevers, culinary spice.  Cautions:  This plant contains small concentrations of aristolochic acid, which is a potent nephrotoxin.  Large doses of wild ginger can be damaging to the liver and kidneys and can readily cause emesis (puking).  Therefore the plant is considered a low to no-dose botanical.  It is, however, extremely comely in the moist, richly leaf-mulched forest garden, companions favorably with goldenseal, cohosh, bloodroot, etc. and worth growing just for that.  Very nice along waterways and will even grow within the stream bed.    Nestle the plant down into the mulch of shade garden or forest, with the roots firmed into the mineral soil and the entire planting well-mulched with rotted leaves.  Space plants 1 foot apart.

Potted Plant, certified organically grown

 

 

Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin) bush in 4-inch-deep pot, organic

Richo Cech 16 Comments

Family:  Laurel (Lauraceae)

Hardy to Zones 4 to 9

(Spicebush) Perennial deciduous, dioecious bush to 12 feet. Native to Appalachia and a most elegant member of the very pretty plant family known as the Lauraceae. Spice bush prefers shade to sun and moist, rich soil. In fact, and this story is a bit of an indulgence on my part, the plant was considered by the early settlers to be an indicator of rich soil, and many homesteads were located due to the proximity of these bushes. The plant bears glossy green leaves and waxy, spicy-smelling red berries. Traditional use (TWM): cold remedy. Plant prefers rich, moist to mesic soil in the part shade. Prefers rich soils, moisture. Plant 6 feet apart.

Potted shrub in a 4 inch deep pot, Certified Organically Grown

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) potted plant, organic

Richo Cech 2 Comments

Family:  Barberry (Berberidaceae)

Hardy to Zones 3 to 7

Woodland herbaceous perennial native to Appalachia, growing to 3 feet tall.  Traditional usage (TWM, Native American): the dried root is a classic herb for increasing force of contractions during labor.  A special ally in a woman’s garden, these are shy dwellers of the deep, moist shade.  Rich, acidic forest soil is preferred.  Mulch.  Space plants 1 to 2 feet apart.

Potted Plant, Certified Organically Grown