Exotic Edibles
Month-by-month growing information
Areca Palm – Chrysalidocarpus lutescenss Origin: Madagascar Also known as the Yellow Palm or Butterfly Palm, the Areca Palm is one of the most popular houseplants. Rightly so since this graceful palm is very tolerant of living indoors. It also…
Aloe Vera – Aloe barbadensis Origin: South Africa Aloe Vera is known worldwide for the propensity of its sap to aid in the quick healing of cuts and burns. The sap is also used in cosmetics and lotions. Folklore…
Orange Jasmine or Mock Orange – Murraya paniculata Origin: Asia Imagine the sweet aroma of a blossoming orange grove. You can have that smell naturally in your own home with orange jasmine (also known as mock orange.) This easy to…
Marvelous Microgreens Origin: California (where else?) First off, I want to apologize for the lateness of this month’s featured plant. I’ve been busy rehabbing baby cottontails and baby squirrels. I’ve been so immersed in their needs that I totally forgot.…
Honeyberry – Lonicera kamchatka Origin: Siberia Looking out this morning at all the snow (yes, I know it’s April), it seems like spring will never arrive. So I decided that a plant used to the cold might be in…
Purple Majesty Ornamental Millet – Pennisetum glaucum Origin: USA This winner of the 2003 All-America Selections committee is indeed a very special plant. Not only did this millet win the Gold Medal, which is awarded typically only once or twice…
Huazontle – Chenopodium berlandieri Origin: Mexico Also known as Red Aztec Spinach, Huazontle (wah-ZONT-lay) looks and tastes somewhat like broccoli. It is a wonderful gourmet green for serving your herbivores. But surprisingly Huazontle is a green that’s not actually green…
Tangerine Pimiento- Capsicum annuum Origin: South America “Isn’t a pimiento just a pickled piece of red bell pepper? Since they usually travel in the company of olives, I stay away from them!” (Recently overheard quote from the condiment aisle of…
Wild Ginger – Asarum canadense Origin: North America Traditionally one of the mainstays during holiday times is gingerbread…houses, men, etc. I’m going to put a new spin on things by suggesting gingerbread with a twist, Wild Gingerbread. To get the…
Winter Squash – Cucurbita maxima Origin: Mexico This month will focus on a particular group of plants within a genus, the winter squash. They differ from summer squash in that it is harvested and consumed in the mature stage, when…
Ice Cream “Blue Java” Banana – Musa spp. Origin: Unknown One of the best tasting bananas….ever! The fruit when ripe looks like ice cream with just enough acidity to offset the sweetness for a really interesting taste. The Ice…
Chrysanthemum or Garden Mum – Dendranthema grandiflorum Origin: China Cultivated in China since 500 BC, chrysanthemums were not only prized for their beauty but also as a food. The petals are traditionally the part consumed, either in a revitalizing tea…