Latin name: Mentha spicata (aka M. viridis or M. sativa) Common name: Spearmint, gardenmint Usage: There are hundreds of varieties of cultivars within the mint family, many of which are used for their pleasant taste…continue reading 
Latin name: Heliotropium angiospermum, Boraginaceae Common names: Scorpion-Tail, Heliotrope Growth: About 2 feet in height, native to the Central East Coast of Florida, and South Florida, as well as the Caribbean and Central America. In…continue reading 
Bodhi Tree the May before Hurricane Irma Join us on Sunday, September 16th for a tour of the Bodhi Garden! Register here! Latin name: Ficus religiosa, Moraceae Common names: Bodhi, Sacred Fig, Peepal Growth:…continue reading 
August's Plant of the Month: Ashwagandha Latin name: Withania somnifera, Solanaceae Common names: Ashwagandha, Winter Cherry, Indian Ginseng* Growth: About 2 feet in height, native to India. In Central Florida Ashwagandha is a nice herbaceous…continue reading 
Achillea millefolium Latin name: Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae Common names: Yarrow, Milfoil Growth: In Central Florida can be used as a ground cover, the bipinnate leaves grow low to the ground and appear almost fern like,…continue reading 
I cringe when I hear the word "superfood" uttered in a mixed crowd. Between GOOP and Dr Oz, health and nutrition fads fill up my Facebook feed daily, and they fade into distant memory as…continue reading 
See notes and slides from Emily's presentation at this link. Herbalist Emily Ruff presented "Swamp Medicine: Healing Plants of Central Florida" at the 2017 International Herb Symposium, highlighting medicinal plants growing in the subtropical climate…continue reading 
Insulin plant (Costus pictus) is the subject of numerous studies from the National Institute of Health for its effects on - you guessed it - hyperglycemia and diabetes. It has a history of use in…continue reading 
Maranta arundinaceae, commonly known as Arrowroot, is a beautiful herbal ally to grow here in sunny Central Florida. It loves our tropical weather and thrives in humid environments. The rhizomes of this plant have been…continue reading