Children love this plant! Sensitive Plant is a fascinating plant with a remarkable response to touch. When the leaves’ hairs are stimulated by touch or other forms of stimulation, they trigger an electrical impulse that causes the leaflets to fold inwards! After a few moments, the leaves open back up, touching the plant leafs numerous times to watch it close and open does no harm to the plant. Aside from its unique leaf movement, the sensitive plant is also prized for its delicate, fern-like foliage and attractive light purple flowers. While Mimosa Sensitive Plant can be grown outdoors, as it has the potential to escape and naturalize easily; we prefer to grow it as a houseplant.
Mimosa pudica has a wide range of health benefits for issues like parasites, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and diarrhea.
Click here for a good Youtube video on the plant.
2921 Dark Opal Ornamental Basil ( Ocimum basilicum )
Start these Sweet Basil seeds for both color as well as flavor. This Basil herb variety is called Dark Opal. The leaves have a clove-like spiciness flavor which is a little too strong for pesto but great for almost any basil dish, and it's especially good for vinegars and oils.
This old time favorite Dark Opal Sweet Basil herb has been delighting gardeners and foodies alike for decades now. Lots of people grow it for its decorative qualities, but it is a culinary wonder. Use its large glossy, purple leaves with large sliced tomatoes for fun contrast and a perfect flavor match that has been used since the turn of the last century! Dark Opal Basil grows best in full sun, but make sure it is fully protected from wind and the elements.
2922 Basil, Dwarf Fine Bush Minette ( Ocimum basilicum
)
Dwarf Fine Bush Minette basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Minette') is a compact, mounding basil variety known for its dense, 10-inch-tall spherical shape, small leaves, and aromatic, slightly spicy flavor suitable for containers, borders, and culinary uses like soups and salads. To grow it, plant seeds after the last frost in fertile, well-draining soil, keep the plants watered, and prune them by pinching off flower buds to encourage bushy growth and prevent flowering.
HR105 Balm, Lemon ( Melissa officinalis )
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a lemony-scented, herbaceous perennial of the mint family, native to Europe and the Mediterranean. It is cultivated as a culinary herb, a garden plant, and in traditional medicine to reduce stress, improve sleep, and ease indigestion. The plant is easy to grow, can be harvested for its fragrant leaves, and may spread aggressively, so growing it in a container is often recommended.
Lemon scented leaves and sprigs used to make teas and cool drinks. Good for potpourri and the flowers attract bees.
HR109 Burnet ( Sanguisorba minor )
Salad Burnet is a charming perennial herb prized for its attractive fern-like foliage, refreshing cucumber-flavored leaves, and exceptional versatility in the garden. Forming neat mounds of finely divided green foliage, this easy-to-grow herb provides beauty, flavor, and usefulness from spring through fall.
The young leaves have a crisp, mild flavor reminiscent of fresh cucumbers and have been enjoyed for centuries in salads, sandwiches, soups, herb butters, vinegars, and refreshing beverages. Unlike many herbs, Salad Burnet remains tender and flavorful throughout much of the growing season, making it a valuable addition to kitchen gardens and edible landscapes.
During summer, delicate burgundy flower heads are held on slender stems above the foliage, creating an airy, ornamental effect that adds texture and movement to garden beds and containers. The flowers also attract bees and other beneficial pollinators, making Salad Burnet a useful addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.
Its tidy growth habit and attractive foliage make it equally valuable as an ornamental plant. Salad Burnet performs beautifully in herb gardens, cottage gardens, rock gardens, borders, raised beds, and decorative containers where its finely textured leaves provide contrast to broader-leaved plants.
Uses and Benefits
- Fresh leaves provide a mild cucumber-like flavor.
- Excellent for salads, sandwiches, soups, and herb blends.
- Traditionally used in flavored vinegars and beverages.
- Attractive fern-like foliage provides season-long interest.
- Useful ornamental herb for borders and containers.
- Pollinator-friendly flowers attract bees and beneficial insects.
- Excellent companion plant for herb and vegetable gardens.
- Drought tolerant once established.
- Suitable for cottage gardens and edible landscapes.
- Easy to grow and long-lived.
- Excellent choice for container gardening.
- Provides fresh harvests throughout the growing season.
Hardiness Zones
Salad Burnet is a hardy perennial in USDA Zones 4-8, returning reliably each year in suitable climates.
Germination Instructions
- Sow seeds outdoors in spring after danger of severe frost has passed, or start indoors 6-8 weeks before planting out.
- Plant seeds approximately 1/4 inch deep.
- Maintain temperatures between 60-70°F (16-21°C).
- Keep soil evenly moist during germination.
- Seeds typically germinate in 10-21 days.
- Thin seedlings to allow good airflow and development.
- Transplant carefully to avoid disturbing roots.
Growing Tips
- Plant in full sun to partial shade.
- Prefers well-drained soil but adapts to many conditions.
- Harvest young leaves regularly for best flavor.
- Remove flower stems if maximum leaf production is desired.
- Water during extended dry periods.
- Excellent for containers, herb gardens, and edible landscapes.
Combining ornamental beauty, culinary usefulness, pollinator value, and easy maintenance, Salad Burnet is one of the most rewarding herbs for gardeners seeking both beauty and function. Its fresh cucumber flavor and attractive fern-like foliage make it a standout addition to herb gardens, containers, and edible landscapes alike.
HR123 Catnip ( Nepeta cataria )
A very easy to grow plant for pots, baskets and gardens.
Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family. It has a square, hairy stalk with typically gray green colored heart shaped leaves that have scalloped edges. Flowers grow in spikes, reaching 1/2 inch in length.
It is best known for its ability to get cats high.
Native to Europe and Asia, catnip became naturalised in North America and Canada after being introduced by the colonists in the 1600s. The name Nepeta is believed to have come from the town of Nepete in Italy, and Cataria is thought to have come from the Latin word for cat.
The active ingredient that causes a high in cats is an essential oil called nepetalactone, which can be found in the leaves and stems of the plant.
Because cats affected by catnip roll on the floor, which mimics a female in estrus, it has been suggested that the plant acts as an aphrodisiac, but this is unlikely, as males react the same way as females. What is probable is the cat is reacting to similar feel good pheromones released during sexual courtship/activity. However, non sexual behaviour including playing, chasing, and hunting can also be observed.
Around 50 to 66% of cats are affected by catnip, and to differing degrees. Kittens younger than eight weeks old aren't able to enjoy its effect; in fact, they show an aversion to it. The response to catnip is mediated through the olfactory system. When nepetalactone enters the cat's nasal passages, it binds to olfactory receptors located at the olfactory epithelium. This stimulates sensory neurons, which trigger neurons in the olfactory bulb to send signals to the brain. The response to catnip is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene, which means the gene only needs to be passed on from one parent.
It's not just domesticated cats who enjoy the effects of catnip; many other wild species of cats also enjoy it. Cats can smell 1 part per billion in the air. Males and females, fertile or desexed there appears to be no one group more readily affected by catnip than another.
A typical response includes sniffing, chewing, licking, head shaking, and chin, cheek, and body rubbing (in that order). Additional responses may include stretching, drooling, jumping, licking, aggression, and hyperactivity. Sniffing that produces the high; it is believed that cats eat catnip to bruise the catnip, thereby releasing more of the nepetalactone. The high produced will usually last between five and ten minutes, followed by a one hour refractory period.
Interestingly, researchers say that nepetalactone is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, which is the active ingredient in most insect repellents. It was also discovered that catnip repels cockroaches! Plants aren't alone in containing nepetalactone; some insects and ants also contain it. It's been speculated that this protects them from other insects.
Rats and mice are also believed to have a strong dislike of catnip and will avoid places where it grows.
Is catnip harmful to cats? Catnip is not harmful to your cat. They won't overdose on it. Most cats know when they've had enough and will refuse any further offers.
A perennial best suited for zones 4-9.
HR127 Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum )
Great for dressing up potatoes and spicing up salads, Chives are easy-to-grow from herb seeds, and their lavender flowers make an attractive clump or edging in gardens. Chives are a must-have kitchen herb and are perfect for almost any savory dish. The Chives herb has tubular leaves that add a delicate onion flavor to cooking. They also make a nice garnish too with flower heads that can be used! The flowers have an even milder onion flavor.
As soon as the leaves have reached several inches in height, you can start harvesting the desired amounts for the kitchen. Cut the leaves with scissors, leaving 1 - 2 inches above the ground. Begin at the outside edge of the plant and work toward the center. Chop the leaves and use fresh or freeze for year-round use.
Chives herb uses include being companion plants to repel insect pests. Plant these herb seeds near almost any plant that is bothered by insect pests and the Chives will instantly drive them away.
HR209 Spearmint ( Mentha spicata )
Sweetly aromatic, Spearmint, can be used in both cooking and in potpourri and other fragrant decorative items. Spearmint herb is used to make mint jellies and sauces and of course, tea! Spearmint also has medicinal benefits as well. It is a wonderful addition for the garden that can easily be started with seeds.
Spearmint has strong flavor and fragrance that is released with simple bruising. It's the best mint variety for hot and cold drinks. Toss bruised leaves into ice water for a refreshing summer drink or add to iced tea. Spearmint is favored for flavoring beverages such as mojito. Also know as Yerba Buena. Spreading plant is great for containers. Tolerates light frost.
A perennial plant for zones 4-9, and can be grown in containers.
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Complete Knick Knack Plant Growing Guide
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