(Alkekengi officinarum 'Chinese Lantern')
Chinese Lantern Ground Cherry is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather Perennial vegetable that is native to Southern Europe, South Asia, and Northeast Asia, but can be found growing as an annual in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24” and features white flowers that are later replaced by lantern shaped green seed pods that will turn an amazing reddish/orange color. This plant can be grown in a container and is edible!
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General Information
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Soil Preparation & Start Indoors
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Transplant Outdoors
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Crop Care
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Harvesting & Storage
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Seed Saving
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Culinary & Medicinal
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Companion Planting
Genus: Alkekengi
Species: officinarum
Variety: Chinese Lantern Ground Cherry
Also Known As: Bladder Cherry, Japanese Lantern, Strawberry ground cherry, and Winter Cherry.
Native to: Albania, Assam, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Czechoslovakia, France, Greece, Hainan, Hungary, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Pakistan, Poland, Primorye, Qinghai, Romania, South European Russi, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Xinjiang, Yugoslavia.
Introduced into: Belgium, Cape Verde, Corse, Germany, Great Britain, Illinois, Kentucky, Morocco, Netherlands, New York, Vermont, Vietnam, Wisconsin.
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity (Bloom): Summer & Fall
Hardiness: Tender. Frost sensitive.
Crops: Spring Transplant
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Cool, Warm, Hot. Ground cherries like the same conditions as Tomatoes, and enjoy lots of sun. They will not survive if there is a frost, but will survive in mild winters. The tops die off in cold temperatures, but the roots will continue growing.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 65°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 75°F. If it's warm enough for tomatoes to grow, it's warm enough for ground cherries.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: No
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Warm, Hot). Ground Cherries prefer full sun.
Water: Moderate. Tomatillos and Ground Cherries are quite drought tolerant, but for best fruit production they should be watered regularly.
Feeder: Light. Generally, Ground Cherries are independent plants and don't need a lot of attention. Give them a feed of compost tea or liquid kelp when the flowers first appear.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, High heat
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. A large container (12" in diameter, or more) is best - or even a large wine barrel.
Attracts beneficial insects?: No
Forage: Rabbits. Fruit only, leaves and stocks are toxic!
Plant Height: 24"
Sow Depth: 1/4"
Spacing: 24"
Produces: white flowers that are later replaced by lantern shaped green seed pods that will turn an amazing reddish/orange color.
Zone: 4-9
Soil Preparation
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8, Ideal 6.3-6.5
The ideal soil is a well-drained, moisture retentive loam, with lots of organic matter.
Soil Preparation:
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 6" of soil, 1 time: Incorporate standard mix into the soil along with compost in the top 6" of the soil.
- 4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
- 2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
- 2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
- 1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
- 1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)
Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
Compost (Nitrogen), 2", in top 6in of soil, 1 time: Incorporate 2" of compost into the top 6" of soil before sowing or transplanting.
Start Indoors
Soil temp for germination: 60°F to 90°F, optimal 80°F to 85°F, optimal 84°F
Total weeks to grow transplant: 8 to 9 (Spring/Summer), (Fall/Winter)
Harden Off:
1 weeks after Last frost date: Before transplanting outside you must harden the seedlings off, so they become acclimated to somewhat less than ideal conditions.
Transplant Outdoors
If the weather is cool at transplanting time, you can warm up the soil with cloches or black plastic.
Cool, Warm, Hot: Ground cherries like the same conditions as Tomatoes, and enjoy lots of sun. They will not survive if there is a frost, but will survive in mild winters. The tops die off in cold temperatures, but the roots will continue growing.
When outdoor temp: 65°F to 90°F, optimal temp 70°F to 85°F
When min soil temp: 75°F. If it's warm enough for tomatoes to grow, it's warm enough for ground cherries.
Spacing: 18.0"-24.0", (1 per 2'x2') plants per sq ft. These sprawling plants can get quite large. Space 18 to 24" apart.
Support: No
Water Needs: Moderate. Tomatillos and Ground Cherries are quite drought tolerant, but for best fruit production they should be watered regularly.
Fertilizer Needs: Light. Generally, Ground Cherries are independent plants and don't need a lot of attention. Give them a feed of compost tea or liquid kelp when the flowers first appear.
Watering, regularly: Water, 0.5", regularly, 2 times. Ground Cherries grow best when they receive about 1" of water each week. Watering depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist for the best crop, but never water to the point of sogginess. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Side Dressing, at flowering: Compost tea, foliar feeding, at flowering, every 2 weeks. When the plants set flowers, give them a good spray of compost tea. Repeat two weeks later.
Support: No
Harvesting
Fruits ripen to a pineapple yellow.
Storage
Storage Req:
Storage Temp: 55-65°F
Storage Length: 0-14 days
You can water bath can ground cherries when making salsa or jam.
Storage Req: Canning
Storage Temp: 60-70°F
Storage Length: 1-180 days
To get the seed, simply squeeze the pulp from the ripe fruit and mix with water. Allow to settle, and the seeds will sink to the bottom. Drain out excess water and pulp and allow seeds to dry. Store in a cool, dry place.
Seed Viability in Years: 4 - 7 years
Germination Percentage: 75%
Culinary
Small berries have a tart yet sweet taste, similar to pineapple.
Culinary Use:
The Ground Cherry is most often used in jams and other sauces, but can be eaten raw or in a salad, or dried and eaten like raisins.
Fruit: raw or cooked. Rich in vitamins, with twice the vitamin C of lemons, but not much taste. Another report says that they are juicy but with a bitter acrid flavor, whilst another says that they add a delicious flavor to salads. The fruit is a berry about 17mm in diameter. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own "paper bag" (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten.
Young leaves: cooked. Caution is advised, the leaves are almost certainly poisonous, at least when raw.
Known Hazards: All parts of the plant, except the ripe fruit, are poisonous.
Medicinal
Companion Planting
Problems
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(Brassica oleracea 'Purple Vienna')
Purple Vienna Kohlrabi is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to northern Europe, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features a 2 1/2" deep purple bulb that have a white flesh and rosette-shaped, dark green leaves. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates frost, and is edible!
(Tagetes erecta ‘Naughty Marietta’)
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(Tagetes Erecta ‘Kilimanjaro White’)
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(Monarda citriodora ‘Lemon’)
(Pycnanthemum virginianum ‘Mountain’)
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Mountain Mint is a native perennial herb that is can be commonly found growing along streams, rivers, ponds, swamps, and wet meadows throughout the Midwest and northeastern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features erect branching stems, aromatic, narrow, tapering, toothless leaves, and clusters of aromatic, white, two lipped flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and predatory wasps, is resistant to deer, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Mentha Pulegium ‘European’)
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European Pennyroyal is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Northern Africa but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 6-12” and features hairy stems, mint scented, lance-shape, toothed leaves, and small lilac to pinkish-purple colored flowers. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, makes essential oils, leaves are used as a rodent repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Mentha ‘piperita’)
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Peppermint is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and central Asia but can be commonly found growing in wetlands and along streams throughout most of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 1-2' and features 1-2” dark green, toothed, lance-shape, aromatic leaves and terminal spikes that bare small pinkish/lavender flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees and butterflies, repels ants, aphids, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, squash bugs, and white flies, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is sued to make essential oils and potpourri, its leaves are used to repel rodents, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Mentha spicata ‘Spear’)
Spearmint is a perennial herb that is a native from Europe and China but can be commonly found growing in wetlands and along streams throughout most of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features erect, hairy stems, 3” aromatic, oval-shaped, sharply toothed pointed leaves and 4” tapering terminal spikes that bare pale purple or pink flowers. This plant can be grown in containers, attracts bees, butterflies, and damsel bugs, repels ants, aphids, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, mice, squash bugs, and white flies, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is used to make essential oils and potpourri, its leaves are used to repel rodents, is used to flavor toothpaste, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Brassica Nigra 'Black')
Black Mustard is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to Eurasia, but can be commonly found growing throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-72” and features upright stems, wrinkly dark green leaves, yellow flowers that have 4 petals, and long seed pods that contain black/dark brown seeds. This plant can be grown in a container, deters flea beetles, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, makes green manure, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Brassica juncea 'Red Giant')
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Red Giant Mustard is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Eurasia, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-18” and features large rosettes of purplish/red foliage that has pale green veins. This plant can be grown in a container, deters flea beetles, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, makes green manure, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Brassica rapa 'Tendergreen')
Tendergreen Mustard is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but can be found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 10-18” and features large oval shaped, dark green leaves with light green ribs and thin white stalks. This plant can be grown in a container, deters flea beetles, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, makes green manure, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Tropaeolum minus ‘Empress of India’)
Empress of India Nasturtium is an introduced, cool-weather annual flower native to South America that grows in moist mountainous areas throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 12” and features rounded light green leaves and 2 1/2” 5-petaled bright red aromatic flowers. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, repels squash bugs, self-sows, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is used to make insecticides, has medicinal properties, and can be sued as a trap crop for aphids!
(Tropaeolum minus ‘Jewel Mix’)
Jewel Mix Nasturtium is an introduced, cool-weather, annual flower native to South America that grows in moist mountainous areas throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant can reach a height of 12” and features rounded light green leaves and 2 1/2” 5-petaled peach, pink, yellow, orange, and red aromatic flowers. This plant can be grown in containers or hanging baskets, attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, repels squash bugs, self-sows, is resistant to deer and rabbits, is used to make insecticides, has medicinal properties, and can be sued as a trap crop for aphids!
(Allium cepa 'Red Cipollini')
Red Cipollini Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Italy, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 20” and features 1-3” small, saucer-shaped, yellow onions. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium cepa 'Yellow Cipollini')
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Yellow Cipollini Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Italy, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 20” and features 1-3” small, saucer-shaped, yellow onions. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium fistulosum 'Evergreen White Bunching')
Evergreen White Bunching Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Asia, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 12-20” and features 12–14" bright green, hollow stalks and greenish-white flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium cepa 'Ruby Red')
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Ruby Red Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to New York, where it was developed by John Brozdowski and introduced by Asgrow Seed Company in 1964. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 3” medium-large, globe-shaped, burgundy onions. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium cepa 'Sweet Spanish White')
Sweet Spanish White Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 3” large, globe-shaped, white skinned onions. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium cepa 'Sweet Spanish Yellow')
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Sweet Spanish Yellow Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 3” large, globe-shaped, yellow skinned onions. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Allium cepa 'Walla Walla')
Walla Walla Onion is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to Washington, where it was developed in Walla Walla by Peter Pieri in the early 1900's. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 16” and features 4” large, globe-shaped, golden skinned onions. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought and light frost, makes dye, repels moles, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Petroselinum crispum 'Hamburg Rooted')
Hamburg Rooted Parsley is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 10-16” and features flat green leaves and white, carrot shaped roots up to 10" long. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, is used to flavor perfumes and repel insects, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Petroselinum crispum 'Italian Giant')
Italian Giant Parsley is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather biennial vegetable that is native to the Mediterranean region, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-16” and features flat, dark, glossy green leaves. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts hoverflies, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, is used to flavor perfumes and repel insects, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Anaheim')
Anaheim Chili Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to New Mexico, where it was developed by Emilio Ortega and brought to Anaheim California in 1896. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 6-8" tapered mildly hot peppers that mature from dark green to dark red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum ' Bolivian Rainbow')
Bolivian Rainbow Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Bolivia, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 1-2" Christmas bulb shaped hot peppers that begin a cream color and turn purple, golden, orange and finally red as they mature. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make an insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Greek Pepperoncini')
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Greek Pepperoncini Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Italy and Greece, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 30” and features 4" golden yellow, crispy peppers. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum chinense 'Habanero')
Habanero Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to South America, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features extremely hot 1-2" peppers that mature from green to orange to red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make an insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Hungarian Yellow Wax')
Hungarian Yellow Wax Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Hungary, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 4-5" tapered mildly hot peppers that mature from dark green to dark red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Jalapeno')
Jalapeno Hot Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 20-24” and features 2-3" tapered hot peppers that mature from green to orange/red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Long Red Cayenne')
Long Red Cayenne Hot Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to South America, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 22-24” and features 5-6" thin, curled hot peppers that mature from green to red This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Serrano')
Serrano Hot Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 30” and features 2-3" tapered hot peppers that mature from green to orange/red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make an insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Tabasco')
Tabasco Hot Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Mexico, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, the plant reaches the height of 48-60” and features 2-3" tapered hot peppers that mature from green to red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is used to make an insect repellent, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Sweet Banana')
Sweet Banana Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to South America, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features 5-6" sweet, banana shaped peppers that mature from pale green to yellow to red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is rabbit safe, and is edible!
(Capsicum annuum 'California Wonder 300 TMR')
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California Wonder 300 TMR Bell Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to California, where it was developed by Carrol Briggs in the 1920's. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-30” and features 4-5" sweet, bell shaped peppers that mature from green to red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Chocolate')
Chocolate Bell Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Panama, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features 4-5" sweet, bell shaped peppers that mature from green to brown. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Jimmy Nardello')
Jimmy Nardello Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Italy, but was introduced into the United States by Guiseppe and Angela Nardello in 1887. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 20-24” and features long, thin peppers that get up to 10" long. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Capsicum annuum 'Purple Beauty')
Purple Beauty Bell Pepper is a heirloom, very tender, warm weather annual vegetable that is native to Central and South America, but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 24-30” and features 3-4" sweet, bell shaped peppers that mature from green to purple to purplish red. This plant can be grown in a container, tolerates drought, is rabbit safe, and is both edible and medicinal!
(Salvia farinacea 'Blue')
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Blue Sage is a native clump-forming tender perennial of Texas and New Mexico but can be commonly found growing in gardens throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 2-3' and features erect branching stems, drooping, lance-shaped, greenish-gray, aromatic leaves, and two lipped, violet-blue flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!
(Salvia officinalis 'Broadleaf')
(Salvia sclarea 'Clary')
Clary Sage is a biennial or short-lived perennial herb that is native to Europe and central Asia but can be commonly found growing throughout the northern United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 3-4' and features multi-branched, hairy, square-like, thick stems, 8” aromatic, greenish-gray, broad leaves, and white-lilac two-lipped tubular flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is resistant to deer, tolerates drought, is both edible and medicinal, and self sows!
(Salvia officinalis 'Kitchen')
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Kitchen Sage is a perennial sub-shrub herb that is native to the Mediterranean and northern Africa but can be commonly found growing throughout the coastal regions of the United States. At maturity this plant reaches the height of 24-36” and features a woody stem, 3” green wrinkled, aromatic leaves, and upright spikes that bare lavender two-lipped flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees and butterflies, is horse and rabbit safe, repels cabbage moths, carrot fly, and flea beetles, is rabbit and deer resistant, tolerates drought and light frost, is used to flavor perfumes, shampoos, and toothpastes, is used to make essential oils and mouthwash, the leaves can be used to repel insects and clean teeth, and it is both edible and medicinal!
(Salvia Pratensis 'Meadow')
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Meadow Sage is a clump-forming perennial herb that is native to Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia but can be commonly found growing throughout the northeastern and northwestern United States. At maturity this plant reaches the height of 36” and features upright racemes, 3” aromatic, grayish-green foliage, and clusters of two-lipped lavender-blue flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, is resistant to deer and rabbits, tolerates drought, is edible, self sows, and is great as a cut flower!