| Description | Hyssopus officinalis
Hyssop is a perennial shrub in the mint family. It is a narrow, upright shrub that grows to about 70cm tall and only about 15cm wide. It loves sun, so a hot sunny position with well drained soil is best. When this plant is nourished enough it will produce small vibrant blue flowers. It looks very attractive in the garden, and bees love it. It's also a favourite with butterflies and hummingbirds. Traditionally Hyssop was used in ancient times as an insecticide, therefore, it makes a very good companion plant. It will repel flea beetles and cabbage moths, so planting near your cabbages and grapevines is a great place for this plant. Hyssop is a flavourful addition to salads soups and stews. Although the Hyssop is not for everyone, as it has quite a bitter aroma and flavour. Extracts of this plant have been used in soaps and perfumes, and to flavour liqueurs, puddings, and candy. When harvesting hyssop, dry the stems indoors away from sunlight, then remove the leaves and flowers. You can then grind these and store in a jar or air tight container away from sunlight. The woody stems lack flavour. To harvest the seeds, let the seed pods brown and dry out, the seeds are then easily removed, also store these in an air tight container out of the sun. Hyssop has expectorant, anti inflammatory and tonic affects. It can also lower fever. The flowers can be used for coughs. And the entire plant is used for fevers, bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections, and colds. It can also be used to aid digestion, and to ease flatulence and colic. The flowers and leaves are also used on cuts and bruises. And the essential oils of this plant can be added to baths to help chest and bronchial problems. This also helps combat exhaustion. All in all, this herb is a great little all rounder that's easy to grow!
4"/10cm pot size. | Sweet Marjoram is a delicately flavoured cousin or Oregano. It has mild pine and citrus flavours. It is native of North Africa, the Mediterranean region and South-Eastern Asia. Although it is a herbaceous perennial, it is treated by most as an annual due to its sensitivity to frost and cold temperatures. It like a sunny well drained position, and regular watering. It can grow up to 50cm tall, but due to its spreading nature is brilliant to use at the edge of large containers to trail, in hanging baskets, in rockeries and for borders. Excluding the roots, all parts of this plant is edible, even the little white or very pale pink flowers. This herb is great used fresh or dried. In the kitchen, sweet marjoram enhances many dishes, and is deceivingly strong. The tender fresh leaves are great in salads, or mixed with spring veggies. And used fresh or dried goes great in any tomato, pork or beef dishes. It also adds a nice flavour to pizza. When adding this herb to a hot dish, add it in the last 10 minutes of cooking. This herb has many remedy uses. It has been used as a therapy for headaches, toothaches, indigestion, asthma, rheumatism, flatulence, earache, epilepsy, as well as for providing relief from labor pains. The oil extracted from this herb has been used as a healing cream for bruises and sprains. Sweet marjoram is an excellent common tonic, and it has a more potent affect on the nervous system than its close cousin oregano. However pregnant women should not take this herb medicinally.
4"/10cm pot | Choisya ternata
Mexican Orange Blossom is so named as it's flowers are of a similar nature and scent to an orange tree! The foliage is a mid to light green and is covered with masses of scented white flowers through Spring and Summer.
This attractive shrub will grow to approx. 1.5 - 2m, but is happy to be clipped to suit. As a result it can be also used as a hedge or screen. It is best grown in full sun or part shade and is reasonably frost tolerant. |
| Additional information |
| botanical name |
Hyssopus Officinalis
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| botanical name |
Origanum Majorama
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| height x width |
1.5m x 1.5m, can be trimmed
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| planting distance |
For hedge or screen: 80cm
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| features |
Compact rounded bush, leaves consist of 3 glossy deep green leaflets, tight clusters of fragrant white flowers appear in spring and late summer
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| conditions |
Full sun to part shade in rich, well-drained soil, prefers a slightly acidic soil
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| landscape use |
Specimen, screen, general landscaping, a great substitute for Orange Jessamine in a frosty area
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