Christmas Wintergreen – Gaultheria procumbens

Origin: Northeast USA

One of the most useful edible plants native to the United States, the tiny Christmas Wintergreen adds a bright spot of color to a drab winter landscape. This gem grows a scant four to six inches in height and spreads only about the same amount on a yearly basis. Small bell-shaped white flowers appear in late spring/early summer followed by bright red wintergreen-flavored berries in the fall.

The Christmas Wintergreen will grow readily in USDA zones 3 thru 7. Although not too picky since it is comfortable in either partial sun or shade, this plant does prefer acidic soil 

Used primarily now days, as an edible groundcover, the Christmas Wintergreen was once popular as a home remedy for Native Americans and early settlers. Its leaves contain methyl salicylates which is the same ingredient in aspirin.

These leaves can also be used as an herbal tea year-round. To prepare a Winterberry Tea, pack a glass jar with the freshly harvested leaves, fill with distilled water and place the sealed container in a warm spot for several days. The mixture will be ready when the water becomes bubbly with fermentation. Remove the leaves and then heat up the remaining liquid to make up your tea. The flavored water can also be used for cooking or to combine with another tea.    

Although the flavorful leaves would be enough to set the Christmas Winterberry apart, the berries are edible as well. These fruits provide winter food for squirrels, chipmunks, grouse, wild turkeys and other assorted wildlife.    

The post December 2004 appeared first on Exotic Edibles.

Apple or Manzano Banana – Musa spp.

Origin: Asia (Probably)

The name of this wonderful banana pretty much says it all…delicious! Living in the northern climes has pretty much discouraged any ideas that I had about growing bananas which actually produced fruit. For years, I tried different varieties that are supposedly cold tolerant while secretly wishing to try out one of these tastier bananas. Finally I gave in to the temptation and purchased an Apple Banana from Ebay. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it grows as well if not better than the ones which were even supposed to handle the snow! 

The Apple Banana (also called by its Spanish name of Manzano) is known for its tasty fruit. To some people, the snow white pulp is flavored like a cross between a fully ripened apple and vanilla ice cream. I will probably never know it that is true or not. But what I do know (and like) is the Apple Banana is a vigorous grower. As a bonus, it easily adapts to most soils, being grown from Thailand to the deepest jungles of the Amazon. It is quite cold tolerant, and can take temperatures approaching frost with no damage. The plant is a solid green with just a margin of red around the leaf.

The Apple Banana, like all of its relatives in the Musa genus does a great job of transpiration (putting humidity back into the area). A six foot specimen can easily transpire about a quart of water over a 24 hour period. And since the Apple Banana is such a quick grower, you won’t have to wait long for a seedling to get to that size. These bananas work great as living humidifiers indoors during the winter. Try one and see.

The post September 2004 appeared first on Exotic Edibles.

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 releases copious amounts of moisture into the air and is efficient at removing chemical toxins from the air. As an added bonus, the Areca Palm is lovely to look at.

The Areca has the unique ability to move salt accumulations to selected branches. When saturated, these branches die and should be removed immediately. It does well in a location with semi-sun and temperatures between 65 and 75 F.

Easy to care for, you should keep the root ball damp and fertilize on a regular basis (except in the winter time). Mist daily to give your Areca a fresh appearance and to assist with humidity. Why not give this “eco-friendly” palm a try?  

The post August 2004 appeared first on Exotic Edibles.

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 Cream banana plant is a vigorous grower, reaching up to sixteen feet when well cared for. It is adaptable to most soil types and can be grown in container culture. Like most bananas, it does the best in full sun with plenty of water.

Similar to its namesake, the Ice Cream banana is quite cold hardy, handling temperatures approaching frost with little or no damage. However, as far as bananas go, the general rule is the same. If frost is allowed to form on its leaves, they will turn brown and wilt.

The Blue Java part comes from the unripe fruit’s unusual silver-blue color. As the Ice Cream banana ripens, it’s fruit turns to a pale yellow. If you still have any doubts, here’s a nifty recipe that’s sure to change your mind.

Banana Ice Cream Supreme

• 1 pint milk
• ½ cup unsweetened condensed milk
• 1 TBSP custard powder milk
• 2 egg yolks (beaten)
• ¾ cup evaporated milk
• 3 bananas (pureed)

1. Mix the custard powder into a paste with a little milk. Bring remainder of milk to a boil and stir in paste and beaten egg yolks.
2. Cook over a low heat for three minutes. Stir until cool then mix in condensed and evaporated milk as well as banana puree. Set in freezer. When very firm, pack in container lined with wax paper. Replace into freezer. Enjoy!

The post October 2003 appeared first on Exotic Edibles.