This distinctive herb adds ornamental playfulness
to any garden in spring and summer. Its semiwoodsy growth with continuously emerging new
shoots quickly commands your attention with its large, heart-shaped
leaves. Each multiple branch spreads with ever larger heart-shaped
leaves, 8 by 10 inches or more. Through summer it launches spikes
of rough, white flowers. The fruit that follow are hard and inedible.
Planting & Care
Tolerates sunny locations if watered frequently,
but prefer a shady afternoon soil with rich well drained soil. A
slight freeze will cause the leaves to die back, but plants rebound
rapidly when warm weather returns.
Harvesting and Use.
Mexican cooks have wrapped foods in folded hoja santa leaf packets
for cooking over hot fires. When heated the leaves produce a sweet,
musky anise steam. Steaming is okay but we do not recommend eating
the leaves because we have seen some recent studies indicate that
hoja santa may be carcinogenic.
Read our Archived Herb Articles
Coriander, Cilantro,Coriandrum sativum Coriander, Cilantro was our herb of the month in September 2007. CLICK HERE
Lemon Balm,Melissa officinalis Lemon Balm was our herb of the month in August 2007. CLICK HERE
Basil, Ocimum basilicum Basil was our herb of the month in July 2007. CLICK HERE
Epazote,(Chenopodium amborsiodes)
Epazote was our herb of the month in June 2007. CLICK HERE
Sage,(Salvia species)
Sage was our herb of the month in May 2007. CLICK HERE
Lavender Lavender was our herb of the month in April 2007. CLICK HERE
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis
Our herb of the month in March 2007. CLICK
HERE
Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis
Our herb of the month in February 2007. CLICK
HERE
Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa
Our herb of the month in January 2007. CLICK
HERE
Ginger, Zingiber officinale
Our herb of the month in November 2006. CLICK
HERE
Chamomile, Roman or German Chamaemelum nobile or Matricaria recutita
Our herb of the month in October 2006. CLICK
HERE
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus
Our herb of the month in September 2006. CLICK
HERE
Horsetail, Equisetum arvense
Our herb of the month in August 2006. CLICK
HERE
Cayenne,Capsicum frutescens
Our herb of the month in June 2006. CLICK
HERE
Lemon Verbena, Lippia citriodoro
Our herb of the month in May 2006 . CLICK
HERE
Scented
Geranium,(Pelargonium
species)
Our herb of the month in April 2006 and Herb of the Year 2006 . CLICK
HERE
Mexican Mint Marigold, (Tagetes Lucida)
Our herb of the month in March 2006. CLICK
HERE
Rose, Rosa Species Revisit Rose, our herb of the month in February 2005.CLICK
HERE
Sweet Bay, (Grecian Laurel)
Laurus nobilis
Our herb of the month in January 2006. CLICK
HERE
Herbs of the Bible
Our herb of the month in Decembers 2005. CLICK
HERE
Sage, (Salvia species)
Sage was our herb of the month in November 2005. CLICK
HERE
Lemongrass, (Cymbopogon citratus)Tender perennial Lemongrass was our herb of the month in October 2005. CLICK
HERE
Dandelion, Taraxacum
officinale Dandelion was our herb of the month in September 2005. CLICK
HERE
Borage, Borago officinalis Borage was our herb of the month in August 2005. CLICK
HERE
Basil,Ocimum basilicum Basil was our herb of the month in July 2005. CLICK HERE
Scented Geranium,
Pelargonium
species Parsley was our herb of the month in May/June 2005. CLICK
HERE
Parsley, Petroselinum
sativum Parsley was our herb of the month in March/April
2005. CLICK
HERE
Rose, Rosa Species Rose was our herb of the month in February 2005. CLICK
HERE
Arugula, Roquette, Eruca vesiceria sub, sativa Arugula was our herb of the month in January 2005.
CLICK
HERE
Calendula, Pot Marigold, Calendula officinalis Calendula was our herb of the month in December 2004.
CLICK
HERE
Winter Savory, Satureja
Montana Winter Savory was our herb of the month in November
2004. CLICK
HERE
Coriander, Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum Echinacea was our herb of the month in October 2004.
CLICK
HERE
Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) Echinacea was our herb of the month in September
2004. CLICK
HERE
Lemon Verbena Mint was our herb of the month in August 2004. CLICK HERE
Mint Mint was our herb of the month in July 2004. CLICK HERE
Hoja Santum Hoja Santum was our herb of the month in June 2004. CLICK
HERE
Lavender Lavender was our herb of the month in May 2004. CLICK HERE
Thyme Thyme was our herb of the month in April 2004. CLICK HERE
Oregano Oregano was our herb of the month in October 2003.
CLICK
HERE
Peppermint Ideas Peppermint was our herb of the month in August 2003.
Our readers sent in these ideas on how they use peppermint. CLICK HERE
