Pineapple Sage and Lemon Balm

Pineapple Sage

    Pineapple Sage, Salvia elegans has a wonderful fruity fragrance.  The flowers are red and tubular,
which is appealing to hummingbirds, a prime pollinator.  Both the flowers and leaves can be used to make a mild, fragrant tea.  This plant comes from the mountains of southern Mexico.  In my garden this perennial plant gets up to about 3 feet tall and overwinters without any problems, although it is not a very hardy sage, surviving down into USDA zone 8.

Pineapple sage has been traditionally used to treat anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, and to help with digestion issues like heartburn.  Some herbalists even believe that it has adaptogenic properties, much like ginseng and ashwagandha.  It certainly promotes a sense of well being, and being a salvia it no doubt benefits the immune system too.  I have found that this herb combines well with Lemon Balm, for both it's culinary and medicinal effects.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm, or Melissa officinalis has a longer documented history of use, as well as more scientific scrutiny.  This perennial herb has a wonderful lemon like smell.  It can be a little aggressive in some gardens, but with constant use this shouldn't be a problem.

Melissa is also used to treat anxiety, stress, and possibly depression.  It has a calming affect on the nerves.  There has been also been some positive research into using Lemon balm to help in the treatment of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, as well as improving memory.  The antiviral properties of lemon balm can also help to ease cold sores, which are caused by the herpes virus, and aid recovery from chicken pox.  A tea made from this herb can also help with dyspepsia, also known as heartburn.

Why not sit down to a relaxing cup of lemon balm and pineapple sage tea after a long, hard day?

First seeds to start

I've started my first batch of seeds, some are perennials and some annual crops.  I will continue to follow up on the plants I have started.   Here is the List:

Sea kale
Garden Orach
Ground Plum
Purple Coneflower
Purple Artichoke
Salad Burnet
Brussel Sprouts
Strawberry Spinach
Swiss Chard
Epazote
Lovage
Good King Henry

Pineapple weed - Matricaria matricarioides

Pineapple weed is a commonly found plant that grows in disturbed soil. The flavor, aroma, and medicinal uses are the same as chamomile. When harvesting this plant make sure it isn't grown where herbicides are used. It is also a smart idea to make sure there are no feces around the plant. While the whole plant may be used to make a tea, the flowering tops are where the flavor is. The Flowering tops may be eaten raw, they have a sweet chamomile like taste. The plant is antispasmodic, carminative, and sedative.

What is Wild Ginger?

The plant commonly referred to as Wild Ginger belongs to the Asarum genus in the Birthwort or Aristolochiaceae family. The Ginger you buy in stores is in the Zingiber genus in the Ginger or Zingiberaceae family. Wild Ginger gets its name from the smell and flavor of its roots and leaves, a ginger/pepper odor and favor. The specific Wild Ginger I will talk about and have photographed is Asarum Caudatum, which is native from British Columbia to California.



Caution is advised when using any plant in this genus, as some have been reported to have some level of toxicity. The roots of this plant may be used as a ginger substitute. They can be harvested all year round but are best harvested in the autumn. The Leaves may be used as well but they do have a stronger flavor and should be used in small quantities.

The root has some laxative properties. It may also be used to help improve digestion, appetite, and as a general tonic to the stomach. The whole plant has analgesic properties as well, which help to relieve pain.

As with all plants, respect must be given to this plant when harvesting. Because the root is what is mainly harvested the plants life is whats taken. Remember to harvested only what is needed not exceeding a third of the plants that grow in the immediate area.