More perennials please!

Here are ten of the perennials we've decided to add to the farm. Other perennials we've added in the past are - ginkos, seabuckthorn, pawpaws, figs, mayapples as well as many herbs! You'll notice a theme amongst the plants below. One, they have multiple purposes and two, they are survivors - every farmers dream. :)

Schisandra
Schisandra chinensis

This is a plant Adam has fallen in love with and has wanted to grow for many years now. Native to Manchuria with a vining habit. Prefers to grow along the ground instead of trellis and bares red fruit with wonderful adaptogenic properties. The berries are sour but are know to prevent early aging, normalize blood sugar and blood pressure, and stimulate the immune system. 

Empress Tree
Paulownia tomentosa

I first learned about this plant during my schooling at NSCC and everything I learned about it blew my mind! Then I got to see it in bloom at the annapolis gardens and the smell was so delicate and intoxicating. I was in plant LOVE. I even gave these seeds out at my wedding as a party gift. The empress tree is native to china and can mature in seven year by growing 15ft a year! It also removes carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and replaces this gas with breathable oxygen at approximately twice the rate of a “normal” tree since it's growth is so rapid. We have many idea is the works for this tree! 

Rhubarb, Noble
Rheum nobile

So in florida there never was any rhubarb guess it isn't a southern thing so we haven't spent much time investing into rhubarb but when adam found this gem we were sold! There is just something to be said about a plant that is such a survivor! Native to the himalayans and growing up to 2m tall. The strange translucent leaves they have are adapted to protect the plant from UV radiation since it grows at such a high elevation. Can be eaten like regular rhubarb. Heres a link to more cool stuff about it! 

Good King Henry
Blitum bonus-henricus

Always looking for news plants to eat and well this one seemed so humble we had to grow it. The spring shoots can be eaten like asparagus and later leaves like spinach. Use to be a widely cultivated veggie in cottage gardens. 

Oregon Grape, Creeping
Mahonia repens

This was another plant I discovered during my time at NSCC. Something about it's lush, dark green foliage drew me in, ever since then I wanted to have a go at growing it! It grows mostly in shade with minimual water needs. Can be used like a large ground cover at the base of trees to conserve soil moisture for water senstive trees. Flowers are bright yellow and produce in  late spring.  Fruits are blue and come on in the summer. The berries can be used in jams but are too bitter to eat raw. Roots are medicinal and wood can be used for yellow dye.

Mugwort, Western
Artemisia ludoviciana

You know not enough plants come in such a lovely powdery blue-green color. Anytime I approach a garden that is the first color my eye is drawn too and well we want some of that on the farm. Mugwort probably has the most colorful history out of all the plants we choose and that alone makes it a winner! From sailors using it as tabacco at sea to it use in beer instead of hops this plant has obviously drawn people to it. It can be used to treat skin conditions like eczema, stomachache, menstrual woes reduce fevers,  and our favorite induces vivid dreaming!

Mullein, Greek
Verbascum olympicum

We already have the common mullein growing here on the farm but this one is so much more impressive and it's medicinal properities are suppose to be a bit stronger. Orginally native to greece, hence the name. Can grow up to 6ft tall but has been recorded at 8ft. Bees absloutely love it on the summer when it is in bloom with its numerous flowers! Also drought tolerant which is a plus. The mullein flower is also used to stimulate the lymphatic flow, treat enlarged lymph nodes and earache.

Aster, Aromatic
Aster oblongifolius

Saw this beauty at the tangled garden last spring and it was just loaded with bee and butterflies! The plant grows about as tall as me and is just loaded with blooms in the fall. This plant is very rough and tough and can grow with little water or nutrients. 

Chamomile, Saint John's
Anthemis sancti-johannis

I am already in love with the german chamomile and dry and save it every year for tea so when I found and orange version I was sold. Native to bulgaria this chamomile blooms in later summer much like it's german cousin.The flowers are fragrant and edible. Also self-seeding. I'll be curious to see what it taste like. I have tried eqypatian chamomile in the past and was not a fan since it was much more bitter. Beautiful none the less!

Wallflower
Cheiranthus cheiri
I basically picked this for two reasons. One it's in the mustard family which is so cool and two it's just loaded with blooms! It flowers in early spring with lots of blossoms for the bees to be busy at!

So those are 10 of the perennials we've decided to add to the farm this season along with some others. We primarly grow our veggies on about 4 acres but the farm property is over 100 acres so we have lots of space to add diversity. I can't stop imagining it when were 80! 
-Courtney