Common Name: Chives – Garlic Latin Name: Allium tuberosum Description: Also called Chinese Chives. Garlic & onion flavoured, grass-like stems with slender bulbs and decorative white blossoms in summer. Garlic chives cope quite well in winter but, if they do die down they will come back again in spring. Perennial. 15cm. Harvesting: Harvest frequently by snipping quite low with […]
Common Name: Chervil Latin Name: Anthriscus cerefolium Description: Delicate, lacy green leaves on thin stems have a subtle anise flavour. Hardier than it looks. Very small white flowers are borne in clusters during summer. Biennial. 30cm. Harvesting: Start harvesting leaves when quite young and use fresh. Can be frozen. Best Results: Apply liquid fertiliser regularly and mulch well. Uses: Add sprigs […]
Common Name: Chamomile – Lawn Latin Name: Anthemis nobilis Description: Traditional ground cover with bright green feathery foliage and erect stems of small, daisy-like flowers. Can be lightly mown if necessary. Takes light foot traffic. Placing three plants per square metre will fill an area within about three months. This plant spreads by stolons. Perennial. 30cm. Harvesting: Pick the […]
Common Name: Chamomile – German Latin Name: Matricaria recutita Description: Attractive, feathery foliage and daisy-like flowers in spring and summer. Will self-seed throughout garden. Fairly short lived in the heat of a WA summer. Annual. 30cm. Harvesting: Pick the flowers early in the morning just as they begin to open. Store dried or frozen. Best Results: Grow in slightly acid […]
Common Name: Catnip Latin Name: Nepeta cataria Description: Grey green downy leaves that cats find irresistible. Whorls of white with purple spotted flowers in summer. Perennial. 100cm. Harvesting: Harvest leaves or cut full stems to hang and dry at any time. Best Results: Cut back by two-thirds when leggy to encourage new growth. If the plant becomes woody, pruning it […]
Common Name: Catmint Latin Name: Nepeta faassenii Description: This is a stunning plant and well suited to WA summers as it copes well with full sun. A small ornamental with grey-green foliage and attractive spikes of purplish blue flowers throughout summer. Perennial. 30cm. Harvesting: Pick fresh leaves as required or cut stems when in flower and dry by hanging. […]
Common Name: Cat Grass Latin Name: Dactylis glomerata Description: Low growing grass ideal for cats and dogs to provide vitamins and minerals and as a dietary supplement. Cat grass aids digestion and helps cats rid themselves of fur balls. Height 20cm. Harvesting: Keep in pots at pet height for cats and dogs to munch on at their leisure. Best […]
Common Name: Beetroot Salad Leaf Latin Name: Beta vulgaris Description: Rich-red stems and purple leaves give a colourful splash to the garden as well as the table. Fertile, free draining soil in sunny position. Harvesting: Harvest individual stems and leaves as needed. Smaller leaves are sweeter and more tender. Best Results: Grow in full sun in rich, well drained […]
Common Name: Basil Thai Latin Name: Ocimum basilicum spp. Description: Smallish dark green leaves packed with flavour and scented oils. Prolific purple flowers. Grows to around 50cm wide and 60cm in height. Harvesting: Harvest frequently and remove flowers to encourage new growth. The stems of Thai basil are also flavoursome so can be used in Thai and Indonesian dishes. […]
Common Name: Basil Red Rubin Description: Large, nearly pure purple leaves with lighter coloured flowers. Great flavour and aroma. Annual. 40cm. Harvesting: Harvest frequently and remove flowers to encourage new growth. Best Results: The more basil is harvested, the more it should be fertilised. Add lots of organic matter. Grow this plant in full sun to ensure that the […]
