Bloodroot: Sanguinaria canadensis

Native to North America, and a member of the Poppy Family, that grows well on wet banks, fields and forest areas.  This is a low-growing perennial with an orange-red rhizome from which a white flower, usually containing eight petals emerges from March to May, right next to a single, pale green, lobed leaf.  Helps relieve asthma, croup, bronchitis, and aids in treatment of ringworm and eczema.

California Poppy:  Eschscholzia californica

Native to western North America, and a member of the Poppy Family, that grows to beautifully cover coastal dunes, grassy hillsides and valleys.  It is a perennial herb with spreading stems that grows up to 2 feet tall, with fine textured greenish-gray leaves that grow upon divided stems.  Orange-yellow flowers with four petals and many stamens are very obvious from February to September.  Used as a pain reliever or sedative for headache or insomnia.

Coneflower: Echinacea angustifolia

Native to North America, and a member of the Composite Family, found growing on praries, barrens and other dry, open places.  This hairy perennial herb can grow up to 2 feet tall.  With narrow long leaves and long stalks a brownish-orange disc flower emerges with a drooping purple, rose or white flower from May to August.  Used to stimulate the immune system and help to restore the body’s normal functions.

Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale

Native to North America, and a member of the Composite Family, found  growing on lawns, roadsides or meadows.  This perennial herb bears bright yellow flowers from March to September that open wide in the morning and close up in the evening.  However, it is rather invasive and is easily re-seeded nearby with aid from the wind.  Used promote bowel regularity, and tea brewed from the roots is useful for liver, gallbladder and other digestive system ailments.  Also, a great source of potassium.

Flax: Linum usitatissimum

Native to Europe, but grown in the United States also, and a member of the Flax Family found growing along railroad tracks and waste places.  This annual with an erect form, reaching 1-3 feet tall producing blue flowers from February to September.  Used in soothing biols, burns, inflamed mucous membranes, and sometimes as a laxative.  Also, linseed oil for paints and varnishes is produced from flaxseed.

Forget-me-not: Myosotis scorpioides

Native to Europe, and a member of the Borage Family found growing in wet soils near streambanks.  This perennial herb with stems near 2 feet tall produces small, hairy leaves and tiny blue flowers from May to September.  Used as an antidote for some snake bites, insect stings, and in respiratory ailments.

Goldenseal: Hydrastis canadensis

Native to North America, and a member of the Buttercup Family, found growing in rich, well-drained woodlands.  This perennial herb can grow 6-18 inches high with hairy stems, which hold a solitary, greenish-white flower from April to May, and a mature fruit that resembles a raspberry.  Used as an antiseptic and hemostatic to stop bleeding, or brewed as tea for stomachaches, or even morning sickness.

Horse Chestnut:  Aesculus hippocastanum

Native to southeastern Europe, and a member of the Buckeye Family found growing near streets, parks and gardens.  This deciduous tree can reach heights around 100 feet, and has bark that becomes scaly with age.  This tree produces creamy white flowers with yellow or red spots from May to June.  Used as an anti-inflammatory for varicose veins or even hemorrhoids.

Lavender: Lavandula officinalis

Native to the Mediterranean area, and a member of the Mint Family growing well in dry, well-drained soils in sunny locations.  This is a perennial herb that grows 2-3 feet tall with gray-green, opposite leaves and purplish-blue flowers from July to September which emerge in clusters on spikes that are 2-3 inches long located at the tops of the stems.  Used as a fragrance as well as an antispasmodic and for intestinal gas.  The dried flowers supposedly repel moths.

Lily of the Valley:  Convallaria majalis

Native to eastern North America, and a member of the Lily Family found in shady gardens, open woods and thickets.  This perennial herb grows 5-12 inches tall from creeping underground rhizomes.  With 2-3 oblong leaves and white, bell-shaped, extremely fragrant flowers from May to June.  Used in bouquets for their fragrance, and for treatment of heart disease and to strengthen the heart.

Onion: Allium spp.

Native to southwestern Asia, and a member of the Lily Family found thriving in rich garden soil.  This perennial herb arises from a bulb and can grow up to 4 feet, having six cylindrical leaves and greenish-white flowers from June to July.  Used for centuries for helping intestinal gas pains, reducing high blood sugar, and the cholesterol and fat content of the blood.

Peppermint: Mentha piperita

Native to Europe, and a member of the Mint Family found in sun or shade.  This popular perennial herb grows up to 3 feet and will flower from June to October.  Used widely for many different reasons including freshening one’s breath, as a digestive remedy, and to help ward off colds and influenza as well as chest infections.

St. John’s Wort:  Hypericum perforatum

Native to Europe, but can be found in the eastern half of the United States, and a member of the St. John’s Wort Family found growing in meadows, dry pastures and along roadsides.  This erect perennial herb grows up to 32 inches tall with a somewhat woody base, that produces yellow flowers from June to September.  Used as an astringent for buises, insect bites, wounds and skin irritations, and also used as a natural antidepressant and stress reliever.

Valerian, Garden Heliotrope:  Valeriana officinalis

Native to Europe, and a member of the Valerian Family found growing in ditches, woods and hedgerows with well-drained soils in full sun.  This hardy perennial that grows up to 4-6 feet tall has tiny, white to pink, sweet fragrant flowers from May to August, with strong smelling roots which attract earthworms.  Used as a sedative and tonic for the nervous system, which strengthens and calms the heart, while sometimes lowering the blood pressure.

Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

Native to Europe but found in teperate regions of North America, and a member of the Composite Family found growing in open places and in fields and near roadsides.  This perennial herb grows from 8 inches to 3 feet tall, producing cream colored flowers from May to November, and having fern-like leaves.  Used in reducing fevers, to stimulate one’s appetite, and as a powder applied to wounds and cuts.