Basil is probably my favourite herb. There are a stunning selection of basil varieties available, each with their own flavour. Different basil types each have their charm and depending on the variety will produce tiny, small, medium, or extra-large sized leaves. I adore the flavour of a vast array of basil varieties, and I really enjoy growing basil from seed and cuttings.
Cutting Celery is also known by the botanical name, Apium graveolens. Cutting Celery is closely related to celery and celeriac, but these particular seeds have been selected and reselected especially for the flavour of their leaves. The leaves taste like celery – it’s a strong flavour – so a little goes a long way, but it’s not too overpowering. I really enjoy the taste of Cutting Celery leaves.
‘Parcel’ or ‘Par-Cel’ is also known by the botanical name, Apium graveolens. This is a hardy biennial plant that produces edible leaves with a strong flavour of celery; Parcel’s stems are edible too, but it is the pungent leaves that this plant is usually grown for. The name of ‘Parcel’ was given because this edible plant has foliage that resembles parsley but when eaten it has the flavour of celery; so the plant’s common name is an amalgamation of the two names – ‘Parcel’.
Alpine strawberries or wild strawberries (also known by their botanical name Fragaria vesca) are small, low growing, plants that trail along the ground, spreading via runners; these pretty little plants can grow up to around 15cm (6 inches) tall. I adore alpine strawberries! These dainty little plants are utterly charming, with attractive leaves, delightful white flowers, and the delicious red strawberries they produce.
Angelica archangelica is a simply divine garden plant! I love the zingy green colour tone of this biennial’s flowers and seeds, their fresh colouring and the plant’s tall, architectural, and statuesque appearance is of great value in the garden.
Angelica archangelica favours moist, well drained soils, though please don’t give up hope if you have sandy soil – for many years I have grown Angelica archangelica very successfully on sandy, silty, free draining soils.
Plants from the genus Lavandula, are usually referred to as lavenders. Lavandula features over forty species and hundreds of cultivars, each with their own special differences. You’ll find white, pink, purple, and blue flowered lavenders, with plants bearing flowers of every shade of these tones, and each colour in between!
Lavender thrives when planted in well drained soil, where the plants will enjoy full sunshine and partial shade.
Persicaria odorata, (also known as Vietnamese Coriander) is a tender perennial plant with leaves that have a very strong, aromatic flavour.
Persicaria odorata is a very tender plant, this herb will only survive UK winters indoors or in a heated glasshouse.
