Herbs and Flowers
Herbs are herbaceous plants used to flavor foods and for home remedies. It is best to seed or transplant herbs during cooler months in the tropics. Flowers, as well as being pleasing ornamentals, serve to attract pollinators and beneficial insects. Flowers are also used as companion plants, to repel insect and nematode pests, and to improve the soil.
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Culantro Eryngium foetidum
Culantro, Spiny Coriander, Sawtooth Coriander
Culantro is a biennial or short-lived perennial native to tropical America. It is grown mainly for its leaves which are used as a culinary herb in the Caribbean, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Plants grow 8 to 40 cm tall with leaves arranged in a spiral pattern around a central stem. Leaves... -
Tithonia Tithonia diversifolia
Mexican sunflower, Tree Marigold
Tithonia is a perennial shrub native to Mexico and Central America and found in humid and sub-humid parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. Its hollow stems reach 3 m in height and become woody with age. Leaves are large (12-22 cm wide) with five lobes. Another distinguishing attribute is its... -
Basil Ocimum basilicum
Basil, Sweet Basil
This herb is native to Central Africa and Southeast Asia. It has been used in traditional medicine as well as for food. As an annual herb, the leaves are used as a condiment, spice and its oil used in food flavorings and fragrances in perfumes and soaps. The leaves of Basil are often used as a... -
Cilantro Coriandrum sativum
Cilantro, Chinese Parsley, Dhania, Coriander (Seed)
This herb used for flavoring is thought to have come from southern Europe or Asia Minor. -
Dill Anethum graveolens
Dill
Dill has been a cultivated, annual plant for centuries from the Mediterranean to southern Russia. Both the dill seeds and leaves are used in cooking. It is now naturalized and grows wild on roadsides and in waste places of North America, South America and India. It is a relative of anise,...- Also available in:
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Parsley Petroselinum crispum
Parsley, Flat Leaf Parsley, Italian Parsley, Curly Parsley, Continental Parsley
Parsley is native to southern Europe and is now grown in all temperate areas of the world and some tropical areas with cool seasons. The Romans began using Parsley as early as 3rd century BC. Its oldest uses were medicinal, fresh or in lotions as first aid for insect bites, as a mosquito... -
Oregano Origanum vulgare
Oregano, Wild Marjoram
There are more than fifty varieties of this aromatic perennial herb. The subtle flavors of the leaves of each vary with climate and soil conditions. The small, soft leaves attach to erect hairy stems that can grow up to 90 cm (3 ft) high. Its origin is the Mediterranean and North and West Asia...