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FIELD SCABIOUS PLUGS (KNAUTIA ARVENSIS) - 1 TRAY (218)
FIELD SCABIOUS PLUGS (knautia arvensis) - 1 tray (218)
Member of the Teasel family and a hardy perennial. Also known as Gypsy Rose and Lady’s Hatpins. Grows to about 39 in (1 m) tall. The lightly
hairy stems are topped by flowers with pink petals and a centre of smaller pink hairs – hence its other name of the Pincushion Flower. The flowers are present from July to September. Some species are said to cure scabies. In the past, its juice, mixed with other herbs, has been used to removed freckles and pimples.
It is also an attractive plant to bees and butterflies – particular food plant of the Marsh Fritillary and Narrow Bordered Bee Hawk moth. It is the preferred nectar source for the Small Skipper, Marbled White, Red Admiral, Essex Skipper and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Food plant of Common Burnet, Lime Speck Pug, and Shaded Pug moth caterpillars. Birds are quite partial to the large seeds!
Found naturally on roadside verges and meadows throughout England, Wales, Ireland and Southern Scotland.
The whole plant, excluding the root, was made into skin ointment for treating scabs, sores, ulcers, gangrene and dandruff. Also used for fever, coughs, pleurisy, lung problems and stitch. Sheep and goats like the plant, cattle don’t.
Cut back late October once seed has fallen. Good meadow plant.
*This is provided for information only and is in no way a prescription for use. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist before using*
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Cottage Garden Plants & Herbs
MEADOW SEED PACK (447)
100g (enough to cover about 25 sq m) of meadow seeds in a printed rustic buff packet, complete with sowing instructions. A good selection of core components of a traditional meadow and is good for
seeding across a range of soil types.
Consists of 80% grasses and 20% wildflowers, containing most or all of the following:
Wildflowers
Yarrow, Lesser Knapweed, Wild Carrot, Lady's Bedstraw, Field Scabious, Ox-eye Daisy, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Musk allow, Ribwort Plantain, Hoary Plantain, Cowslip, Selfheal, Meadow Buttercup, Yellow Rattle, Common Sorrel
Grasses
Common Bent, Crested Dogstail, Red Fescue, Slender Creeping Red Fescue
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Cottage Garden Plants & Herbs
PENNYROYAL (MENTHA PULEGIUM) (0278)
Has a strong peppermint smell, small green leaves and purple flowers. Its name comes from the Latin pulex, meaning flea – one its older uses was to get rid of fleas in the house. Found in the wild
on heathland and pastures. Also known as Lurk-in-the-Ditch and Pudding Grass.
It was used by cottagers for making tea to ease colds and sailors used to put it in their drinking water because it was claimed to purify water on long voyages. Used in posies to keep away flies. Added to Black Pudding in northern England.
According to legend, Menthe was the daughter of the River Cocyte. The god, Pluto, loved her. In her jealousy, Prosperine turned Menthe into a mint plant. An alternative myth claims Minthe was a Greek nymph and the lover of Hades. When his wife, Persephone, found out she turned Minthe into a plant to be trod upon. Hades wasn’t able to change her back and so he gave her a sweet scent to perfume the air when her leaves were trodden on.
Many years ago, Pennyroyal was used to induce abortion or menstruation. If leaves are rubbed onto a path, ants will avoid the area. Similarly, leaves rubbed onto the skin provide a good insect repellent. It was also reduce itching and soreness of bites and stings. Pennyroyal oil is an ingredient in insect repellent. Hang dried bunches indoors to act as an insect repellent. Chickasaw Indians would soak the plant in water and place on the forehead for headache and watery eyes.
Keep Pennyroyal in a bowl to bring peace to the household. Seamen would scatter Pennyroyal on rough seas to calm them. Place in a shoe to prevent weariness when travelling. Scatter leaves under pet bedding to prevent fleas. Pennyroyal was used for bathing the bodies of the dead to give them a peaceful transition to the next world.
Soaked in vinegar and held on an aching tooth, Pennyroyal can ease the pain. Infusions made by trained herbalists are good for indigestion, colic, catarrh, asthma and painful menstruation. Cooled infusions can be used for eczema and inflamed skin.
Plant in sun and dry soil. Could be grown as stepping stones, to release a lovely pepperminty smell when walked on. If you plant a Pennyroyal lawn, mow twice a year.
CAUTION - Pennyroyal is toxic in high doses - always consult a qualified herbal practitioner before taking
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Cottage Garden Plants & Herbs
PRIMROSE, WILD - 10 PLUG PLANTS (PRIMULA VULGARIS) (0286)
Hardy perennial - 10 plugs. Pretty pale yellow flowers with orange-yellow centres on 6 in (15 cm) stems and rosette of fat leaves. Traditional early-year cottage garden flower, flowering possibly as
early as late-December to May. Its name comes from the Latin for First Rose. Used in ancient times to treat paralysis and gout and was believed to be a flower originating in Paradise. The flowers can be made into jam and wine. The five petals represent birth, initiation, consummation, repose and death. Six-petalled Primrose brings luck in love and marriage. Also known as Butter Rose. Name comes from prima rosa, meaning first rose of the year.
Butterfly plant. Particular food plant of the Pear Bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser yellow Underwing, Double Square Spot, Ingrained Clary, Silver Ground Carpet, Green Arches, Gothic, Riband Waved, Plain Clary, Twin Spot Carpet and Triple-spotted Clary moths. Duke of Burgundy fritillary butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves. Ants are attracted by the sticky seeds and aid their dispersal.
Primroses are pollinated at night by moths attracted by the bright petal colours. Hundreds of years ago, these plants were grown for their medicinal and sweetening qualities, for example, it was believed that stem juice rubbed onto the face removed spots and freckles! Legend says that Primroses sprang from the body of Paralisos (the Primrose’s ancient name) after he died of a broken heart. It was also alleged that if children ate the flowers they would see the fairy folk! It was lucky to bring 13 Primroses indoors but unlucky to bring in only 1. Indeed, to bring indoors less than a handful would surely endanger one’s ducklings!! Victorians used to plant Primroses on the graves of children, and herbalists used to use the root to make an expectorant. If you keep chickens and see a single primrose, dance round it three times in order to avert ill omens – otherwise a single Primrose will lead to bad egg laying. A Primrose blooming in winter is an evil omen. Romans used the plant to treat malaria.
There is a lot of Primrose folklore attached to the ability of Primroses to let people see fairies. If you touched a fairy rock with the right number of Primroses in a posy you will be shown the way to fairyland. The wrong number would lead to certain doom. A German legend tells of a little girl who found a doorway covered in flowers and touched it with a Primrose – it opened up into an enchanted castle. Germans also believed that Primroses could reveal the way to hidden treasure and called the plant Key Flower – schusselblume. Children used to eat the flowers in the belief that this would enable them to see fairies. Posies would be left on doorsteps so that fairies would bless the house and the people in it. As well, scatter Primroses outside doors to keep fairies away as they won’t cross this barrier. Don’t let Primroses die as they are popular with fairies. Carry a Primrose flower and peer over the petals in order to see fairies. Leave a Primrose on the doorstep on May Day eve to prevent witches entering.
In Ireland on May Day, Primrose balls were hung on cows’ tails to deter witches. In Hampshire, woodmen boiled Primroses in lard to make an ointment to treat injuries. Bunches of Primroses would be left in cowsheds so that fairies would not steal the milk. Primroses can be made into a tincture for restlessness and insomnia. For animals, Primroses can treat fits, paralysis, rheumatism and worms.
Plant in sun or partial shade in rich, moist soil. Will do well beneath trees, shrubs or hedges. Divide every three years after flowering. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering.
*This is provided for information only and is in no way a prescription for use. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist before using*
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Cottage Garden Plants & Herbs
WILDFLOWER SEED MATS X 5 (444)
GREAT GIFT IDEA!
These seed mats are great - so easy! You simply plant the whole mat and wait for the seeds to germinate. Full sowing instructions are included.
Each mat measures 9 x 6 inches. 5
mats are included. The thick tissue paper is impregnated with a mix of wildflower seeds from the following:
Corn Marigold, Marjoram, Devils Bit Scabious, Cowslip, Corn Poppy, Meadowsweet, Field Scabious, Field Poppy, Ramsons, Meadow Buttercup, Thrift, Bluebell, Sea Mayweed, Wild Angelica, Cornflower, Foxglove, Red Campion, Water Avens.
They make a great gift, particularly if the recipient is not that green fingered, as no gardening skills are needed! The mats come in a buff printed packet with planting instructions.
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Cottage Garden Plants & Herbs
