Vitis Riparia

AKA: Grape

Planting: Deep, moist humus rich soil in sun, fully hardy, deciduous vining perennial.

Propagation Zone 6/7: Seed/Perennial

Harvest: Leaves and stems are collected in early summer and used fresh.

Culinary: Blanched fresh leaves, or leaves preserved in brine, are used to parcel fillings, such as minced meat, fish, and rice. Fruits are eaten raw, juiced or jellied. Grape seeds are used to coat cheeses, and are pressed for oil.

Medicinal: Stems yield drops of liquid that are used directly as an eyewash and diuretic. Used internally for varicose veins. A sour astringent cooling diuretic herb, that reduces inflammation, controls bleeding, improves circulation, and clears toxins.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Spring 2009 in B6, transplant F8

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Hippophae Rhamnoides

AKA: Sea Buckthorn, Tsarap

Planting: Well drained sandy soil in sun, fully hardy perennial, 4’-5’. Plant one male fore every eight females, spacing 4-6’ apart. A resilient, ornamental, thorny shrub, great for hedging, windbreaks, and soil stabilization especially in coastal areas.

Harvest: Fruits are picked when rip and used whole, juiced, in decoctions, or for oil extraction.

Culinary: Fruits are eaten with cheese in East Europe, and made into marmalade, jelly, syrup and sauces.

Medicinal: A sour astringent herb with a high vitamin A and C content. Used internally as a tonic to increase resistance to infection., Used externally for skin problems.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Transplant in 2009, SW corner in front of hydrangea

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Ficus

AKA: Fig (Hardy)

Planting: Well drained soil in sun, fully hardy perennial tree. Most figs are self fertile, F. Carica is not. Good container plant as roots spread only about 1 square yard.

Harvest: Fruits harvested when ripe. Leaves and sap also used.

Culinary: Fruits eaten raw or stewed.

Medicinal: A sweet laxative herb that soothes irritated tissues. Used internally for constipation, sore throat, cough bronchial infections, and inflammation of the trachea. Used externally for haemorrhoids, sore eyes, corns, and warts.(sap). However, sap is a serious eye irritant.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Transplant in 2009, to NE corner of pool.

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Chaenomeles Contorta

AKA: Flowering Quince, Japonica, Japanese Quince

Planting: Well drained soil in sun or partial shade, fully hardy perennial tree, 3’-8’.

Harvest: Fruits gathered when ripe.

Culinary: May be used as substitute for Cydonia Oblonga (quince) in jams and jellies, and for flavouring apples and other stewed or baked fruit. Unpleasant to eat raw. More vitamin C than lemons.

Medicinal: An anti inflammatory and anti spasmodic herb that acts mainly as a circulatory and digestive stimulant.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Transplanted spring 2009 driveway left, next to rock pair

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Momordica Charantia

AKA: Bitter Melon, Balsam Pear, Karela

Planting: Rich well drained soil in full sun, 60 degrees hardy, by seed in spring, annual tendril climber.

Propagation Zone 6/7: Save seed

Culinary: Unripe green fruits can be added to curries, eaten raw, boiled or fried after parboiling or soaking in saltwater to remove bitterness. Young leaves and shoots are cooked as a vegetable. Cucurbitaceae (cucumber) family.

Medicinal: A Laxative diuretic herb that soothes irritated tissues, lowers fever, kills parasites, and cleanses toxins from the system. Used externally for hemorrhoids, chapped skin, and burns (fruit).

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Spring 2009 in A2

Links: Wiki

Sources:
The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses (RHS)

Akebia Quinata

AKA: Akebia

Planting: Well drained soil in sun, fully hardy climbing perennial. Several plants are needed for fruiting.

Harvest: Stems are cut in autumn, young leaves are picked in spring, fruits are harvested when ripe and used fresh.

Culinary: Dried leaves are used for tea. Fruit pulp is eaten fresh.

Medicinal: A pungent bitter herb that controls bacterial and fungal infections, stimulates the circulatory and urinary systems and female organs, and is a potent diuretic due to the high content of potassium salts. Used internally for UTI’s, rheumatoid arthritis.

Third Eye Vision:

Seeded: Transplanted spring 2009 in F8.