Dysphania ambrosioides, Chenopodium ambrosioides

This small aromatic shrub, also known as Mexican Tea, is native to Central and South America. It is a member of the Chenopodiaceae family, and is a relative of the common weeds, lambs quarters and pigweed. The shrub grows to a height of 2-5 ft and has a hairy yellowish stem. The green leaves are oval and heart-shaped and have a distinctively pungent scent. It produces abundant small white flowers in summer and then tiny seeds, which are an important ethnomedical plant and spice.

Dysphania ambrosioides thrives in full sun and semi-shade. It requires regular water and moderate soil moisture. In hotter climates, it can appreciably benefit from a good mulch of organic material. It is hardy to USDA Zone 9-11 and it is possible to grow it in colder regions if it is planted in a pot and kept in a well-protected and warm position.

Even though this plant has many uses, it is wise to only use leaves sparingly for cooking due to its toxic properties. This plant has many traditional folklore uses, including as a medicinal plant, spice, and herbal tea. Growing a pot of Dysphania ambrosioides will not only add a fragrant scent to a garden but also provide a unique cultural background to your garden.

Elettaria cardamomum

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Elettaria cardamomum, better known as Cardamom, is a small, bushy shrub native to Southwest India. It grows from two to five feet in height with a spread of around 18 inches. The plant benefits from light shade and regular watering. Its white or off-white colored flowers are fragrant and attractive to pollinators. It is a deciduous plant that prefers a humus-rich and acidic soil.

Cardamom is a useful spice or herb. It has a strong, savory flavor and is used to add a unique taste to both savory and sweet dishes. As a medicinal herb and dietary supplement, Cardamom is valued for its anti-inflammatory effects and healthy benefits. Cardamom contains numerous vitamins and minerals essential for optimal health.

The plant produces Cardamom fruits when it matures. These edible fruits are highly aromatic and contain numerous seeds inside. The seeds are the part most used for cooking. The aromatic husks of the fruits are used in some dishes and in teas. The fruit has a sweet, fragrant flavor and when dried can be used to help with digestion, reduce nausea, and relieve gas.

Cardamom prefers warm climates and is typically grown in USDA Zones 10-11. During the colder months, it can be grown in pots indoors. When grown in pots, it should be watered regularly and given light shade.

Overall, Cardamom is an attractive shrub with fragrant flowers, edible fruits, and an array of uses and health benefits. Its flavorful fragrance and ease of cultivation make it an attractive addition to the landscape.

Eruca vesicaria sativa

Eruca vesicaria sativa, also known as Arugula, is a versatile leafy green that is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area. It is a low-growing, groundcover plant that typically reaches only 2ft in height. This hardy, native European annual is well known for its smooth, glossy, lyrate leaves and pale citron-yellow flowers, which make it a popular and attractive garden plant.

Not only is Arugula visually appealing, it is also packed with nutrients and offers several health benefits. It is rich in vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and antioxidants that aid in digestion and boost immunity. Additionally, studies indicate that it has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Arugula is known for its strong, peppery taste that provides a flavorful kick to any dish. It can be eaten young and tender in salads or mixed into pasta and rice dishes, cooked as a vegetable, or used raw with pasta or meats. One mature plant can produce an abundance of leaves, making it a perfect choice for large families or those looking to harvest their own home-grown greens.

Growing Arugula is easy, and it can be grown in a pot or in the ground in full sun or semi-shade. It requires moderate water and should be planted in USDA Zones 6-9.

In India, the mature seeds of Arugula are known as Gargeer, while on the island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples, a digestive alcohol called Rucolino is made from the plant. It is considered an aphrodisiac and has been grown since Roman times in the Mediterranean area. Nowadays, it is widely cultivated in various places, especially in Veneto, Italy, and is available throughout the world.

Eryngium foetidum

Fitweed is an annual tropical herb, indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and other tropical areas of the Americas. It grows best under moist, shaded conditions near cultivated areas. Culantro or long coriander as it is called, is often mistaken for its relative, coriander (cilantro). Fitweed is a herb with a pungent odor; the leaves have toothed margins and they grow in a basal rosette pattern. Culantro is rich in iron, carotene, riboflavin and calcium. This plant is widely used as food flavoring and seasoning herb for dishes and chutney in the Caribbean; it is popular in Asia for food use. Culantro has also applications in herbal medicine: as a tea for diarrhea, flu, fevers, vomiting, diabetes and constipation. Propagation: seeds. Grown in shady and moist spots, well drained soil. Can be planted in pots for indoor use in the cooler zones.

Eryngium sp.