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Dutchman ’s breeches Fennel Feverfew Foxglove Garlic Chives Horehound Lady’s Mantle
Anise Hyssop Bee Balm Blue False Indigo Catmint Celandine Chamomile Dill
. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) was used
or a dessert syrup, and has a slightly licorice taste.
The owers, dried, were used to make wreathes.
2. Bee Balm (Monarda ‘Jacob Cline’ ) leaves have a
itrus avor. It was used in teas and medicinally for
olds and chest pains. (“Sweet virtues.”)
3. Blue False Indigo (Baptisa australis) was anornamental plant seen on garden edges; the owers
are a deep blue.
4. Catmint (Nepeta caparia) w as also known as
atnip.Cats are highly attracted to it as a play item..A
bracing tea was made from it. (“Intoxicated with
ove.”)
5. Celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a member of
he poppy family. It was used as a mild analgesic.
”Medicine”)
6. Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) was used by Victo-
i6. ans as a sedative tea. (” I admire your courage.”)
7. Dill (Anethum graveolens) leaves and seeds were
used to avor food; seeds aid digestion. Dill induces
leep. (“To lull, good spirits.”)
8. Dutchman ’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
alled “staggerweed” due to its toxicity. It was anornamental plant in the Victorian garden.
9. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare dulce) l eaves
and seeds were used in culinary preparation; the
seeds are used as a digestive aid. (”Worthy of all
praise.”)
10. Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) was
used as a stimulant,nervous complaints and for
colds. (”You light up my life.”)
11. Foxglove (Digitalis purpura) was used for
heart disorders. It was an ornamental plant. (” A
wish, insincerity, stateliness, South.”)
12. Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) has an
onion-like avoring that was used in recipes.
(“Usefulness, why do you weep?”)
13. Horehound (Marribum vulgare) leaves were
used to make candies and syrups to soothe a
cold and cough. (“Frozen kindness, health.”)
14. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) was
used to bind wounds and stop bleeding. The
leaves were soaked and placed on a wound.
(“Comfort, protection.”)
15. Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) called “the
bandage plant”, was used to bind wounds. The
velvety leaves were soaked and used like a
band aid.
16. Lavender (Lavendulla augustifolia) was
used as a sachet ller, a mouthwash, a house-
cleaning tool, and to avor sugar. (“Luck, loy-
The Lis o Hb a The Hmitage Grdn
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Lamb’s ear Lavender Lavender Cotton Lemon Balm Lovage Mint Perilla (Shiso) Rosemar
Rue Sage Senna Sweet Woodruff Thyme Wild Cranesbill Wormwood
7, Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamae ) is also
nown as French lavender, but is not true lavender.was used as an insect repellent by Victorians.
8. Lemon Balm (Mellisa ofcinalis) had many uses,
most notably as a cooling tea, used to bring down
fever. The sweet smell was useful in making pot-
ourris (“Pleasant company of friends.”)
9. Lovage (Levisticum ofcinalis) was a favorite
nglish herb that has fallen into disuse. The leaves
were used to avor confectionery. (“Hidden virtues,
eanliness.”)
0. Mint (Mentha peperita) has been a remedy for
what ails the stomach as well as the main ingredient
or a bracing tea. The mint at the Hermitage is spear-
mint, which has a sweet taste (“Wisdom. eternal
efreshment.”)
1. Perilla (Perilla frutiscens) originated in Asia. One
ariety is known as English perilla. It is a member
f the mint family. Perilla, in its bright showy colors,
was a prominent ornamental in Victorian gardens.
2, Rosemary (Rosmarinus ofcinalis), t he “dew of
he sea”, was used in cooking as well as to aid in
tomach disorders. It was used to make wreathes
nd bracing teas. (“Remembrance, delity.”)
3. Rue (Ruta graveolens) i s a bitter herb that was
mportant in keeping a house free of pests. It was
trewn on the oor to repel insects and vermin.
Grief, repentance.”)
24. Sage (Salvia ofcinalis) was an antibiotic, a
diuretic, an astringent as well as a culinary herbused to avor meats. The leaves were used
in medical applications. (“Long life and good
health.”)
25. Senna(Cassia marilandica) is used as an
ornamental plant today. In the past, medicinal
teas for stomach ills and fevers were made
from it.
26. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) con-
tains coumarin, used in perfumes. It was usedto disguise other odors, quality favored by
housekeepers.
27. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) i s a versatile
culinary herb that was used to avor eggs and
meat. It was also used as an insect repellent.
(“Thriftiness, Happiness, courage.”)
29. Wild Cranesbill (Geranium maculatum)
was used as a drug, and is an astringent, usedto treat diarrhea, passive bleeding and more. It
was an ornamental plant in the garden as well.
30. Wormwood ( Artemisia absinthium) has
been used as an insecticide. It is a key ingredi-
ent in absinthe and in other bitter drinks. (“Dis-
pleasure.”)
To volunteer to work in The Hermitage Victorian
Herb Garden, contact Kathleen Sullivan,
Hermitage site coordinator 201-934-7595 or [email protected]