Mulberry Creek Herb Farm: Catalog/Tender Perennial

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Herbs A-Z: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Not hardy in Ohio, but tough and hardy in warmer parts of the country where you live.

Sct. Geranium, Peppermint

Pelargonium tomentosum

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 4-6 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Potpourri

Fruit and Nut Scented
Kids love this amazing 4-6 foot spreader because of it's huge fuzzy green-gray leaves and peppermint scent. Try in brownies, cakes, potpourri, tea and jam by marinating then straining the leaves in the liquid called for in each recipe. A fuzzy favorite for potpourri as well.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Pink Champagne

Pelargonium x nervosum 'Pink Champagne'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1-3 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Topiary

Fruit and Nut Scented
Pronounced lime, citrus fragrance from dark green, rounded, toothed leaves distinguish this strong upright grower from lemon varieties. Sprinkled with lavender blooms, it makes a tall topiary. Flavor icing, water and many adult beverages with this definitely lime flavor.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Prince Of Orange

Pelargonium x citrosum 'Prince of Orange'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1 - 3 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Middle Fall to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Culinary, Fragrant, Ornamental

Fruit & Nut Scented
What a gorgeous spring display this makes. 1"" large white flowers with a maroon blotch in the center, completely cover the plant, after a winter's rest. Grow just as you would a ""Martha Washington"" geranium except this has delicious citrus flavor leaves.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Prince Rupert Lemon

Pelargonium citrosum `Prince Rupert'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 2-4 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Topiary

Lemon Scented
Light pink flowers and 1"" deep green crinkled leaves, strongly lemon flavored with slight bitter overtones, make this vigorous, upright grower, one of most useful ornamentals for any large size standard topiary, bonsai or container. It handles more sun than most geraniums.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Rober’s Lemon Rose

Pelargonium 'Rober's Lemon Rose

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1-3 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Topiary

Lemon Scented
Large upright grower with broad, turkey foot shaped leaves ooze a glorious lemon fragrance & flavor. Light pink blooms, are a fun addition to jello. Nice shape & growing habit for topiaries, make it a useful and heaven scented choice.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Skeleton Rose

Pelargonium x asperum `Dr. Livingston'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 2x3 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Ornamental

Rose Scented
Finely dissected foliage faintly resembles ""Japanese Maple"" leaves, which is why we selected it. Clean rose scent & pale pink flowers are a bonus. Every herb desires such a unique fine neighbor.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Stellar Red or Bicolor White

Pelargonium X 'Stellar' series

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1-2 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Ornamental

Fruit and Nut Scented
Large showy pink blossoms and leaves have a slightly pungent fragrance. To avoid any rot, do not be overly generous in watering, after all, scented geraniums enjoy "careful neglect.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Strawberry

Pelargonium X scarboroviae

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1-2 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Bonsai, , Culinary, , Fragrant

Fruit and Nut Scented
We found this truly fragrant variety at ""Sandy Mush Herbs."" Other strawberry varieties do not have this one's fruity flavor. Small, crinked, dark green leaves on reddish stems make it look like a natural upright bonsai. Fits cozily in mixed containers or as a lone specimen.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Vancouver Centennial

Pelargonium `Vancouver Centennial'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1-2 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Ornamental

Sct. Geranium, Variegate Fair Ellen

Pelargonium quercifolium 'Var. Fair Ellen'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 1x5 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Baskets, Culinary, Fragrant

Fruit & Nut Scented
A trailing variety best grown in large hanging baskets where it can mix with other plants and provide a non-stop floral, red hot, show all season.
$ 4.79

Sct. Geranium, Velvet Rose

Pelargonium sp. `Velvet Rose'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun to P. Shade
Height: 2 x 2 Feet
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Fragrant

Rose Scented
We saved the best for last. Luxuriously rose scented variety which is ohh- so fuzzy, light gray, deeply notched leaves and large pink flowers on this upright grower.
$ 4.79

Society Garlic, Tricolor

Tulbaghia violacea `Variegata'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 6-24in.
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Early Fall to Early Summer to Late Summer to Middle Summer
Common Uses:Ornamental

This green and white striped member of the Amaryllis family has 2" clusters of pink flowers on long slender stems throughout the growing season. Overwinter as an easy houseplant in northern areas. Both "Society Garlics" are included in our ""Survivor Series.
$ 3.79

Stevia Or Sweet Herb

Stevia rebaudiana

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun-P.Sun
Height: 2-3 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Common Uses:Culinary

This is the reason many of you originally requested a catalog, remember? Grow your own "sugar" with minimal calories. 10-16 times sweeter than sugar. Easily substituted in teas, coffee, fruit, and cereal. The only limitations are flavor (this is not white sugar or "Nutrasweet"- Mark's Dad hates the flavor,) and it's not for tomato sauce to counteract its acidity or when you need the bulk or yeast action of sugar. Check out the recipe book for hundred of ways to use Stevia. Does best in a cool season area. We get around that by mulching with about 2" of pine bark & watering if needed. Harvest around Labor Day. Hang dry. When crisp, ""coffee grinder"" it.

Based on our 1997 Stevia survey and 8 seasons of experience, full care sheet below.
$ 4.29

Tarragon, Mexican

Tagetes lucida

Cold Tolerance: Zone 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 1-2 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Loamy
Flowers: Middle Winter
Common Uses:Borders, Butterfly, Culinary, Hedges/Shrubs, Houseplants

Talk about an identity crisis. Flowers like a marigolds (no coincidence, it is one) with narrow dark green leaves like penstemon and smells ;amp; tastes like French Tarragon. Overwintered indoors, it is a good substitute for tarragon.

Outdoors, it's easier to grow, harvest and use. Forms an upright bright green bush which makes a fine small hedge in southern climates. It drinks up the water especially in containers!!!
$ 3.79

Thanks for the Memories

We honor Tom DeBaggio, co-author of our favorite herb books: The Big Book of Herbs and Basil: An Herb Lovers Guide and many others. We met in 1998, about 1 year after he was diagnosed with "Early Onsets Alzheimers" and became instant admirers of T

The Organic Fragrant Garden

Common Uses:Fragrant

Perfumey, cut flowers have always been an indulgence for me no matter a tight family budget. Not only do they confuse, repel or attract insects (diverting aphids from roses using nasturiums), but the joy of harvesting & using their bounty is endless.

Thyme, Tufted

Thymus caespititus

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 4in.
Water: Normal- Dry
Soil: Sandy-Loamy
Flowers: Late Spring to Middle Spring
Common Uses:Borders, Garden Railroads, Groundcover, Miniature/Faery Garden, Ornamental

Pink flowers adorn this enchanting ""collector's"" thyme, late spring to early summer. Distinctive, feathery foliage forms a perfect mound. Not always hardy in northern Ohio, but a very well drained soil can help to overwinter it. At home in a mixed or hypertufa container.
$ 3.79

TUSCAN POLENTA LASAGNA

16 pieces

Prepare roasted garlic, pesto and ragu sauce in advance

ROASTED GARLIC
	Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut HEAVY-DUTY foil (or 2 sheets of regular foil) into 12” squares, enough for 1 per garlic bulb. Horizontally cut each garlic bulb off at the top, exposing just the tips of the cloves. Drizzle olive oil over each bulb. Sprinkle each with a pinch of salt & fresh ground pepper. Add a sprig of thyme and/or oregano and wrap each clove with the foil. Place in a small, 1-2” rimmed pan and bake about 40 minutes. Check for softness. The clove, when squeezed, spews out a rich, creamy, sweet garlic flavor.

PESTO
1-1/2 c. fresh basil leaves, loosely packed	2 T. pine nuts
1/2 c. fresh italian parsley, minced		about 1/2 c. good olive oil
2 T. fresh oregano, minced			salt
2 cloves of garlic				fresh ground pepper
2 T. walnuts, chopped				1/2 c. parmesan & asiago cheeses, freshly grated

	Combine all ingredients, but cheeses in a food processor and puree until smooth, but you can still see the leaves. Scrape out and into a bowl. Stir in the cheeses. (You can freeze the extra pesto in ice cube tray for more winter use.

RAGU
This is how to prepare “Odori,” the aromatic Italian trinity with herbs:
finely chop 2 carrots, 2 stalks of celery, 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic & a handful of parsley. Saute in 2 T. olive oil ‘til golden

1# ground beef					1-2 c. white or Chianti wine
!# ground pork					2 T. tomato paste
4 Italian Sausages				up to 64 ou. diced Italian style tomatoes
salt, pepper and dried thyme to taste

	Prepare the “odori” in a heavy pot with a lid. Add the ground beef, pork, and sausages until browned. Add salt, pepper, thyme and a cup of wine. After the wine has evaporated, add the tomato paste and diced tomatos. Cover and simmer on VERY low heat for 3 hours, stirring now and then.
NOW THAT ALL THAT IS PREPARED, YOU ARE READY TO ASSEMBLE THE POLENTA LASAGNA

BEGIN POLENTA LASAGNA RECIPE:
3-4 T. olive oil
approximately 1# polenta (a.k.a. “corn mush” next to “Pillsbury Dinner Rolls in the refrigerated cases)
2 T. fresh thyme, minced			1/2 c. roasted garlic cloves or more
2 T. fresh basil, minced				1 c. pesto
2 T. fresh parsley, minced			4 medium Roma tomatoes, sliced
1# mozzarella, sliced into 16 slices		3 c. Ragu
1/2 c. kalamata olives, pitted & halved

	Heat oil on medium heat in a large, heavy pan. Slice polenta to about 1/4” thick and brown both sides in pan. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13” pan and place a layer of lightly browned polenta on bottom. Add half the herbs and mozzarella slices. Evenly distribute the olives & roasted garlic cloves that have been “squirted” out of their “husks.” Layer the remaining polenta slices & herbs and spread with pesto. Top with what’s left of the mozzarella slices and sliced tomatoes.
	Bake for 30 minutes to heat throughout. Remove from the oven and cut into squares. For an elegant presentation, serve each square on a plate covered with a 1/2 c. of heated Ragu Sauce.

Verbena, Homestead Purple

Verbena canadensis `Homestead Purple'

Cold Tolerance: Zone 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b-11
Light: Full Sun to Full Sun
Height: 5 feet+ spread
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic-Loamy
Flowers: Middle Summer
Common Uses:Butterfly, , Ornamental

A hardy perennial that flowers like an annual, if you live in Zones 6/7 - 10. For us northern folk, it is an annual with outstanding bright purple blossoms that show off vibrantly from hundreds of feet away. Will form a 5 foot mat that trails over rocks ;amp; walls in one season which is why it graced the cover of our 1st catalog. Not all of our herbs have to be used from flower to roots. This one is for sheer enjoyment. Flowers from around June, continuously, through fall even after autumn frosts. Introduced to the nursery trade (along with ornamental Sweet Potatoes) by Dr. Allen Armitage, University of Georgia, who told me he wished he had a penny for everyone of these that have been sold. He would be retired. We're glad he's not!
$ 3.79

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