Perennials and Annuals with a Christian Name

Hardy in northern Ohio, but probably not much further north. It is helpful to add sand to the soil. Available at: http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/SAPRS.html

Apple of Sodom

Solanum americanum

Family of Solanaceae

The Sodom Vine is one of many thorny plants found in the Holy Land.

It is not edible because it is full of hard black seeds mingled only with silky hairs resembling ashes.

The Sodom apple or

ampelos sodomorum, was known to the Greeks, and the Latin peoples have many recorded references to the kinea sodomorum. In a story Josephus writes about a once happy land, which for wickedness was destroyed by fire, and where the presence of this plant gave evidence of corruption.

The plant is found covering large areas around the Dead Sea and has been known by the names "dead sea fruit" and "dust and ashes."

seeds, catalog #9621 at: http://www.herbiseed.com/american_frame.htm

Holy Herb

Sorghum vulgare

Hyssop was used to cleanse the temples and other sacred places of the Egyptians. Hyssop as we know it may or may not be the hyssop mentioned by David. There is some debate since the derivation of the name hyssop is in the Greek word hussopos and the Hebrew esob, meaning simply, "holy herb."

David states in Psalms 51:7…Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Available at: http://www.prseeds.ca/catalogue/flowers.php?C=Flowers#annualflowers

click annual grasses, listed under Broom-Corn

Jesus Wort

Tanacetum vulgare

Herb, Perennial

USDA Zones: 4

Light: sun - partial shade

History shows that tansy was a favorite herb in the psychic garden at a Swiss monastery in the year 1000.

It also was a favorite in the gardens of Charlemagne.

In ancient societies tansy was a symbol of everlasting life, and sprigs were placed in coffins to repel insects and preserve the dead. A Greek man, Ganymede, was given tansy so he could become immortal and eternally bear the cup of Zeus.

Grow a lush tansy plant at the edge of a flower garden path -- just brushing against the plant will release a strong fragrance. The plant's yellow flowers retain their color when dried, so it is a popular addition to arrangements.

Culinary use:

Tansy has a strong, bitter, somewhat peppery flavor. It is one of the bitter herbs included in the Passover feast. Rub tansy onto meat, toss into scrambled eggs and pancake batter, or stew with rhubarb. Tansy should be used sparingly in food as it has a harsh flavor and is traditionally used in tansy cake served at Easter as a reminder of the bitter herbs eaten at the feast of the Passover. It is also eaten stewed with rhubarb or rubbed on meat to impair a slight rosemary flavor.

Other uses:

Because leaves of tansy repel insects, the plant can be very helpful in fruit orchards. Hang a bunch in the house to ward off flies, and sprinkle crushed leaves to repel ants and mice. Because it contains significant amounts of potassium, tansy is a valuable addition to a compost heap.

Cultivation:

Tansy grows best in full sun to partial shade in soil that is not too wet. It can be grown from seed, or divided, then thinned or transplanted to 2 to 3 feet apart. Because it spreads rapidly, tansy does not do well indoors.

Available from: http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/tanvulgare.htm

Trinity Flower

Tradescantia virginiana

USDA: 4-10

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 32°F (0°C).

Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade,

but will tolerate full sun

Herbaceous perennial, clump forming, 1.5 to 3 feet tall, 1 to 1.5 feet spread; dark green leaves, up to 18 inches long, 1 inch wide Prefers acidic soils, tolerates wet soils.

Propagation: Division, self-sows if the conditions are right, and can be invasive. Listed as spiderwort virginia at:

http://www.shootingstarnursery.com/wildflowers.html

St. Joseph’s Flower

Tropaeolum majus

Annual , Light: sun - partial shade

Height: 6 to 72 inches, Width: 6 to 72 inches

Flower Colors: yellow, pink, red, white, orange

Bloom Time: summer - winter

Among the most beloved of annuals, nasturtiums come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, from dwarf, mounded varieties to climbing forms that reach a 6' height.

These cool-season annuals produce cheerful, 2-1/2-inch-wide, usually spurred, single, semidouble, or double blossoms. They're available in nearly every color except blue, purple, or green. Some bicolors are available as well. The flowers are edible, as are the 1- to 4-inch-wide leaves, which are sometimes blue-green, variegated, or bronze, and both are often used in salads for the pleasing, peppery taste. Dwarf varieties can be used in edgings and mixed into informal or cottage flower gardens, or herb gardens. Trailing types are well-suited to hanging baskets and trellises.

Notable Varieties

'Alaska' grows 6 to 10 inches tall and has mixed flower colors and white-splashed leaves.

'Climbing Mixed' produces trailing plants 6 to 8 feet tall in all colors.

'Double Dwarf Jewel' grows 12 inches tall in a variety of colors.

'Empress of India' produces darkest scarlet flowers, blue-green leaves, and grows 24 inches tall.

'Parks Fragrant Giants' produces fragrant flowers in a variety of colors and has a trailing habit.

'Whirlybird' is a very showy dwarf, 6 to 10 inches tall, and bears upward-facing, spurless flowers in seven rich colors or mixed.

Care:

Locate in full sun or in partial shade in areas with hot summers in well-drained, poor to average soil. Established nasturtiums tolerate drought and neglect. Do not fertilize since rich soil makes leaves taller than flowers. Provide support for trailing varieties. Usually temporarily stops blooming when temperatures regularly hit the mid 80s F.

Planting:

Best started directly in the garden soil. Sow seed after last frost in Zones 2-7. In mild-winter areas Zones 8-11, sow in fall for winter and spring bloom. Space 12 to 18 inches apart.

Once plants are established, limit them to one deep watering every 7-10 days. Plants don't require supplementary feedings, and too much fertilizer will result in leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Frequent picking prolongs the flowering period, so cut flowers often. Flowering season can last into autumn, and the plants self-seed readily.

Nasturtiums are an attractive and nutritious addition to salads, and they make a beautiful garnish. Nasturtiums have 10 times the vitamin C of lettuce, so add a generous portion of leaves and flowers to your salad mixes. Grind the seeds in a pepper mill, and use as you would black pepper.

Seeds available at: gardenguides.com

Herb of the Cross

Verbena hastata

Perennial growing to 1.5m by 0.6m. It is hardy to zone 3. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies and Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. Plants are hardy to about -20°c

The seed can be roasted and ground into a powder or used whole as a piñole. Pleasantly bitter, some of this bitterness can be removed by leeching the flour. The leaves are used as a tea substitute.

The leaves and roots are antiperiodic, diaphoretic, emetic, expectorant, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary. The roots are more active than the leaves. The plant is used in the treatment of stomach aches. An infusion of the roots, leaves or seeds has been used in the early stages of fevers. A snuff made from the dried flowers has been used to treat nose bleeds.

Available at: http://www.diggingdog.com/pages2/plantpages.php/P-0424

Herb of the Cross

Verbena officinalis

Vervain is an herbal medicine used to help bring sleep and relaxation, for stomach or bowel problems, kidney stones, for colds and fever (infections), to help increase breast milk, and as a treatment for seizures.

Available at: http://www.sandmountainherbs.com/vervain.html

Adam's Needle

Yucca filamentosa

Perennial, Exposure: Full Sun

Hardiness Zone: 5- 10 Bloom Time: July-Aug Height: 30"

While they are associated with desert landscapes, yuccas can be grown successfully in more temperate climates. Yuccas make excellent specimen plants and be used to great effect in the corner of perennial flower gardens or in small groups in island plantings.

Care: Likes average to sandy, very well-drained soil. Avoid fertilizing. Remove spent flowers and tattered leaves; you will probably need gloves to handle the sharp leaves. Mulch during winter in Zones 5 and colder. Yuccas may rot if the winter soil is too wet.

Planting:

Plant 36 inches apart in spring in full sun in sandy, well-drained soil. Divide in spring by carefully digging up and transplanting offsets (young plants that appear around the crown).

Available at White Flower Farms Yucca Filamentosa Y. filamentosa 'Bright Edge', which produces an elegant, symmetrical rosette of dark green leaves, each brilliantly edged with a broad band of gold. A dramatic flower spike crowded with white bells erupts in summer, but the foliage is dazzling all year in sunny borders, drought gardens, and containers (in warm regions of the country, where the pots will not freeze during winter).