Common Valerian – Valeriana Officinalis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Valium of the 19th Century

Common Valerian – Valeriana Officinalis

Common valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a rare garden escape around Haliburton, Ontario. The pictures here are of plants I grew and harvested for medicinal root tea. Valerian is one of my primary go-to herbal medicines. If I am having an anxious time, especially acutely, this is the medicinal tea I brew. Doctors used to recommend …

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Sweet Cicely – Osmorhiza SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Black Licorice of Wild Plants

Sweet Cicely – Osmorhiza SPP.

Edible and medicinal sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) and its close relations have an anise like scent. Wooly AKA hairy sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) is the only Osmorhiza listed in Haliburton Flora. It’s fairly common on bush roads and trails and in thin deciduous woods. I tend to find it here and there down the center …

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Wild Thyme – Thymus SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Five-star Kitchen Herb

Wild Thyme – Thymus SPP.

It may surprise folks that basic kitchen herbs and spices have any medicinal value. Thyme (Thymus spp.) is actually a powerful medicinal herb for respiratory issues and more. Wild thymes (Thymus spp.) have one species noted in Haliburton Flora: mother of thyme (T. praecox). The few specimens were found on an open hillside and in …

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Asters ft. New England Aster – Symphyotrichum SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the “Move Over, Mums”

Asters ft. New England Aster – Symphyotrichum SPP.

Asters are all-stars for pollinators and they’re also somewhat edible and medicinal. The American asters (Symphyotrichum spp. formerly included in Aster spp.) are native to the Americas. A single species, S. ciliatum, is also native to eastern Eurasia. We are fortunate to have many of these late summer and autumn blooming, wildlife supporting all-stars. Some are truly …

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Horseradish – Armoracia Rusticana: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Sting Nose of Wild Plants

Horseradish – Armoracia Rusticana

Horseradish is a nonnative edible and medicinal plant that has escaped into the wild here in Ontario. It’s known for causing your nose to sting when you eat it. Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana syn. Cochlearia armoracia, Armoracia lapathifolia, and Rorippa armoracia), originally called sea radish, is a long way from home in Ontario. It was brought here as a …

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Giant Hyssops – Agastache SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Hummingbird Mint of Wild Plants

Giant Hyssops – Agastache SPP.

We have a few native Agastache in Ontario. Rarely seen in the wild, they are a popular addition to pollinator gardens and they also have edible and medicinal uses for humans! Giant hyssops (Agastache SPP.) are absent from Haliburton Flora although a few are native to Ontario and hardy enough for our area. They may …

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