| Question | Answer |
| https://drjkmulloyschooloutdoorclassroom.weebly.com/ | Weebly website that has pictures along with the details.
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Baby Joe Pye Weed | ‘Eupatorium maculatum’ - Reaching only 1 meter tall. Fuzzy, deep purplish-red flowers top tall stems all summer. Wonderful fragrance. Exposure: sun to part sun. Bloom time: summer to fall. Use an all purpose fertilizer in early spring before new growth has begun. Named after a legendary indigenous healer who used a decoction of the plant to cure typhus fever in colonial America. Also called ‘Gravel root’. Roots and rhizomes were used as a healing tonic, to relieve constipation, washing wounds and as a diuretic. Not to be used during pregnancy. Flowers and seeds were used to make pink or red dye for textiles. Attracts butterflies with sweet nectar. Fall care: Plants die back to the ground and can be cut. When the centre dies out it is time to divide the plant.
| Pink Moss Phlox | ’Phlox subulata’ - An evergreen mound-forming plant with stiff mid-green leaves. Masses of star-shaped pinkish-red flowers bloom in early spring. Full sun. Use an all-purpose fertilizer in early spring. Needle shaped leaves. The odor given off by the plant is mistaken for that of marijuana. The plant was used internally for rheumatism. The roots are great for aches and colds. Roots were pounded out and rubbed all over the entire body. It was used to treat babies stomachaches. The whole plant was used to treat anemic babies. Roots were used to treat diarrhea, entire plant to treat the stomach. Leaves were used to treat boils, some of the roots were also used as an eyewash by various indigenous tribes. Leaves and flowers were pounded and used as a body wash as a stimulant. The leaves were also used as a tea to treat eczema.
| Low Goldenrod | ’Solidago missouriensis’ - Low compact growing with sprays of small golden flowers in midsummer, creating a meadow effect when planted in masses. Full to part sun. Use an all purpose fertilizer in early spring before new growth has begun. Traditionally it was used as medicine, a dye plant and beverage tea. Careful identification is essential as look alikes are deadly toxic such as ragwort and groundsel which cause damage to the liver. It has been used as a wash or poultice to treat wounds, burns, open sores, cuts, oral thrush, tooth ache. Internally it was used to treat diarrhea and urinary tract infections. The blooms were used to dye textiles.Goldenrod flowers attract lots of pollinators such as bees and butterflies, so they form seed after flowering. If you wish to restrict reseeding in your garden, deadhead the flowers before they go to seed. Sometimes plants look rather worn after the rigors of the growing season and the garden would benefit if you cut them back to ground level at the end of the growing season. Depending on the architecture of individual goldenrod cultivars, you may or may not wish to cut them back for the winter. Some goldenrods have an attractive presence in the garden as the stalks dry, and if you enjoy feeding wildlife, their seeds furnish food to songbirds. Prune any remaining old growth in late winter before new growth emerges for the spring.Goldenrod flowers attract lots of pollinators such as bees and butterflies, so they form seed after flowering. If you wish to restrict reseeding in your garden, deadhead the flowers before they go to seed. Sometimes plants look rather worn after the rigors of the growing season and the garden would benefit if you cut them back to ground level at the end of the growing season. Depending on the architecture of individual goldenrod cultivars, you may or may not wish to cut them back for the winter. Some goldenrods have an attractive presence in the garden as the stalks dry, and if you enjoy feeding wildlife, their seeds furnish food to songbirds. Prune any remaining old growth in late winter before new growth emerges for the spring. You can leave them to go to seed and prune in late winter before new growth has begun.
| Purple Coneflower | ’Echinacea purpurea’ - Bold summer blooming perennial with striking purple-rose coloured ray flowers, surrounding a large brown cone. Attracts butterflies. Full sun. Feed in early spring with an all purpose fertilizer before new growth has begun. Indigenous uses included treatment for snakebite, anthrax, pain relief, headaches, a general analgesic and upper respiratory tract infections, sore throat and candida. The leaves are what is largely used. Cut down the plant to soil level after they stop blooming and wither or after a frost or leave the seed heads to overwinter and promote self seeding. Divide the plants into clumps every 3 to 4 years in spring or autumn.
| Lilac | 'Syringa spp’ - part of the olive family, Originally from Europe. The flowers are edible and have some medicinal qualities helps purge worms, an astringent, anti-fungal, eases anxiety, treats skin problems. There are medicinal benefits from the leaves and fruit. Care: prune after flowering.
| Kinnikinnick | ’Aretostaphylos uva - urst’ - Low growing evergreen perennial with a spreading habit. Glossy dark green foliage is highlighted by small pinkish flowers in late spring. Sun to part shade. Also known as Bearberry. The berries are edible both raw and cooked and have a tasteless and dry flavour. Leaves were used as diuretics, wound healing and as a local anti-inflammatory for skin and mucous membranes. Other uses: leaves were smoked, used in the tanning in leather or making dyes.
| Meadow Blazing Star | ’Liatris ligulistylis’ - A butterfly magnet! Crimson coloured buds open to rosy-purple, round blooms on tall stems. Requires little care and is native to the prairies. Full sun. Use an all purpose fertilizer in early spring. Requires acidic soil. Used as a diuretic expectorant, and stimulant, and to treat backache and colic.
| Terra Cotta Yarrow | 'Achillea millefolium' - Flat-topped flower clusters of salmon-peach, terra cotta and pale yellow-r=orange appear all summer. Feathery foliage makes a great backdrop. Attracts butterflies. Exposure: Full sun. Bloom time: Summer.Indigenous uses - externally to stop bleeding, internally raises body temperature and induces sweating, used as a decongestant, to treat skin conditions such as eczema and as an anti-inflammatory. Also used to treat high blood pressure, bladder infections and hemorrhoids. Fall care: Can be left standing and cut back in spring, will go to seed, to prolong blooming deadheading is encouraged.
| Silver Mound Artemisia | 'Artemisia schmidtiana' - Low growing compact perennial that has soft ferny silvery grey foliage and small yellow flowers. Exposure: Full sun. Cut back plants in fall. Also known as Mugwort or Wormwood and has bug repelling qualities. Indigenous uses included bundling dry leaves for use as smudge sticks. It was used internally to rid the body of worms and parasites. Some species have anti-malarial properties. Fall care: Cut back the plants in the fall.
| Alpine Strawberry | ''Fragaria vesca' A self propagating plant via seeds and runners. Exposure: Full sun to part shade. Used as food - raw, cooked and dried and medicinally as a blood purifier. The leaves, roots and berries were used for various medicinal purposes. The leaves were used on burns and sores after chewing. Roots were chewed to clean the teeth and reduce gum disease. Roots were used in tea for urinary problems, diarrhea and stomach problems. The berries were consumed to help with tuberculosis, arthritis, scurvy and rheumatism. The plant also acted to draw wildlife closer for hunting purposes. Fall care: They do not need to be cut back. To propagate, cut the runners and re-plant.
| Honeysuckle | 'Lonicera Japonica'-Flowers, back and leaves have been used medicinally. Leaves were used to wash sores, raw pounded root was applied to swellings. Strong antibacterial and antibacterial properties, used to treat fever. Also as a tonic for the heart, lowering blood pressure. Fruits are somewhat poisonous. Some varieties (the stems or vines) are mildly toxic to animals and small children. Fall care: prune vine lightly at any time, leave major pruning for mid winter.
| Trembling Aspen | 'Populus tremuloides' Spreads by both seeds and root sprouts. Leaves, bark and buds were traditionally used for fever, pain relief and as a diuretic. The resin has been used as a salve and wash for sores etc. Tea from the inner bark helped with stomach pain, colds and worms. Benefits from regular pruning in late winter.
| Chocolate Mint | ‘Mentha piperita’ Exposore: Partially shady or sunny. Likes slightly acidic soil. Fertilize once in spring. Harvest the mint prior to flowering. Leave 1 inch of growth. This plant spreads quickly. Aids with respiratory disorders, an anti-inflamatory, helps with headaches, eases stomach issues, boost immunity, anti-viral, pest repellent. Fall care: leaves will die and can be trimmed back or left.
| Wooly Thyme | 'Thymus pseudolanuginosus' Exposure: Full sun. Hairy leaves cover the creeping stems and are highlighted by light pink flowers in midsummer. Feed in early spring with an all purpose fertilizer before new growth has begun. Antibacterial, antiseptic, used for upper respiratory issues, antifungal. Care: Divide every two to three years. Can be trimmed at any time. |
