Long before modern kitchens and medicine cabinets, people relied on herbs for flavor, fragrance and folk remedies, and many of the same plants still grow in gardens today. Herbs are usually valued for their leaves, seeds, roots or bark, which contain aromatic oils that give them strong scents and tastes. Many are easy to grow on a sunny windowsill.
This collection profiles a wide range of plants, from cooking staples like basil and garlic to fast-spreading mint and catnip, the herb many cats find irresistible. Each guide explains where the plant comes from, how it grows and how people have traditionally used it.
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Horse chestnut Scientific name Aesculus hippocastanum Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Sapindales Family Sapindaceae Genus Aesculus Conservation status Vulnerable Type Large deciduous tree Habitat Moist soil, cool climates, full sun Native range Balkan region of southeast Europe Height Up to 100 ft tall, 50 ft wide…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Field horsetail Scientific name Equisetum arvense Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Polypodiopsida Order Equisetales Family Equisetaceae Genus Equisetum Conservation status Least Concern Type Herbaceous perennial with jointed stems Habitat Boggy, wet or swampy ground Colours Green, hollow, ridged stems Height Up to 4 ft Special feature No flowers…
Anxiety commonly affects people in this fast life. People can experience anxiety in the form of thoughts that are racing through their minds, worrying, and other symptoms that are common. Ayurveda or herbal medicines are always better to treat diseases, as they have no side effects. For thousands of years, herbal medicines have been used…
Herbalists love all kinds of herbs, the reason being they have very few side effects due to a very effective balance of natural ingredients. Pharmaceutical companies try to create a pure brand by isolating chemicals, obtaining a patent, and deriving huge profits for their effort. One cannot patent herbs because herbs contain scores of some…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Hemp Scientific name Cannabis sativa Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Rosales Family Cannabaceae Genus Cannabis Type Fast-growing herb with separate male and female plants Habitat Moist, well-drained loamy soil; temperate zones Native range Central Asia Height 3–10 ft Edible parts Seeds and young leaves Special feature…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Hawthorn Scientific name Crataegus Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Rosales Family Rosaceae Type Small thorny tree or shrub Habitat Sunny woods and hillsides; well-drained soil Native range Temperate North America, Europe and Asia Colours Pink, white or red flower clusters Flowering season May Height 5–15 m…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Guarana Scientific name Paullinia cupana Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Sapindales Family Sapindaceae Genus Paullinia Type Climbing shrub Habitat Warm, humid, wet places; acidic soil Native range Amazon Basin, Brazil and Venezuela Colours White flowers; red-yellow fruit Height About 10 m Edible parts Seeds (caffeine-rich) Special…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Gotu kola Scientific name Centella asiatica Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Apiales Family Apiaceae Genus Centella Conservation status Least Concern Type Small perennial herb Habitat Wet, low ground, ditches and swamps Native range Asia, the South Pacific and parts of Africa Colours Small white, pink or…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Tea plant Scientific name Camellia sinensis Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Ericales Family Theaceae Genus Camellia Conservation status Data Deficient Type Evergreen shrub or small tree Habitat Hot, humid, rainy places; acidic soil Native range China and South and Southeast Asia Size Leaves 4–15 cm long…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Ginseng Scientific name Panax Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Apiales Family Araliaceae Type Slow-growing perennial herb Habitat Cool climates; well-drained, humus-rich soil Native range Eastern Asia and North America Lifespan Root can live 100 years Flowering season Mid-summer Height 12–24 inches Special feature Root is shaped…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Goldenseal Scientific name Hydrastis canadensis Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Magnoliopsida Order Ranunculales Family Ranunculaceae Genus Hydrastis Conservation status Vulnerable Type Perennial herb Habitat Open woodlands, bluffs and hillsides Native range Eastern United States and Canada Colours Small white-green flowers; red berries Flowering season Early spring Special feature…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Ginger Scientific name Zingiber officinale Kingdom Plantae Phylum Tracheophyta Class Liliopsida Order Zingiberales Family Zingiberaceae Genus Zingiber Conservation status Data Deficient Type Tropical plant grown for its rhizome Habitat Warm, humid places; loose, rich, moist soil Native range Southeast Asia Colours Pale yellow cone-shaped flowers Height 3–4 ft…