Salvia officinalis or Common Sage, a perennial evergreen subshrub with woody stems, grayish leaves and blue or purplish flowers, a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae.

Traits: Perennial (several years). Loves sunshine,  tolerates both heat and coldness, and drought, prefere alcalic darren soil but sensitive to sour soil. The growth environment should provide enough daylight and fresh air. It generally dislikes wetness, so water it only when the surfacial soil has dried out but have it soaked through.

Watering: Once in two days for indoor and once a day for outdoor at hot summer time, best in the morning or in the evening.

Notes:
* Sage repels to bugs and worms, so it may help to put it in between other herbs to .
* Sage is commonly being used for cooking and tea, but it is not recommended to take too much of it at once.
* Suitable as cooking ingrediance for fatty meat and cheese.

Caution: to be avoided at the beginning of pregnancy.

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia_officinalis

Origanum vulgare is a species of Origanum, of the mint family, native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and southern and central Asia. It is a perennial herb, growing to 20-80 cm tall, with opposite leaves 1-4 cm long. The flowers are purple, 3-4 mm long, produced in erect spikes.

Subspecies: Sweet Oregano, Greek Oregano, Majoram
Type: Herbaceous perennial

Traits: Perennial (several years). It enjoys full sun, fresh but cool air (but avoid constant windy places), rich and well drained soil in rather dry conditions, the roots need a certain depth to thrive,  regular pruned may help the growth of new stems before flowering, cut whole stems. It may bear coldness but prevent wet winter frost

Watering: Water when the surface of the soil has dried out. At hot sumer day once each day, best in the morn or eve.

Notes:
* Too much rain/watering/humidity may cause roots to rot and evtl. kill the plant!
* Pruning the stems to 6 inches at least twice during the growing season is recommended.
* * O. has a strong flavor so better start with a small amount for the cooking.

Links:
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=E420
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=C571

‘Kit Cat’ is an up to 15″ tall dwarf cultivar of  Nepeta x faassenii ‘Select Blue’ which itself is a sterile hybrid (N. racemosa x N. nepetella). It features scalloped, ovate, gray-green leaves that are highly aromatic when crushed or bruised. Two-lipped blue flowers densely clustered in raceme-like whorled cymes bloom from May to September. Although Nepeta cataria is the true catnip loved by house cats, the leaves of this hybrid, although somewhat less enticing, are also attractive to cats.

Traits: Easily grown in average at  dry to medium conditions, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Thrives in dry soils and is very tolerant of drought. Site plants in full sun in northern areas. Plants are somewhat intolerant of the heat and humidity of the deep South where they generally appreciate some light afternoon shade. Shear flower spikes after initial flowering to promote continued bloom between May – September. Regular pruning will help the plant to grow, even if Kit Cat doesnt grow as fast as normal mints. Plants are sterile and will not self-seed. Propagate by division.

Watering: Water when the surface of the soil has dried out. At hot sumer day once each day, best in the morn or eve.

Links:
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=C614
http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/2546060

Lemongrass

Traits: Loves warm, sunny places, best planted in wet but well drained and rich soil. Can not bear coldness and needed to be taken indoor for winter, death may occure under 7°C. It can most commonly grow to an height of ca. 150cm, harvest can be done every 3 to 4 months but you should leave the stem remain 5cm for the least.

Usage: Common ingredient for Thai kitchen. Also good for tea, especially mixed with dried rose flowers will form an unique flavor.

Watering: Keep the soil wet, once or twice each day (espeicall at dry and hot summer days). Watering in the morning or at evening time for the best.

Warning: Don’t drink Lemongrass tea during pregnancy!!!

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_grass

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris, Chinese name: 百里香 Bai Li Xiang) is a well known herb;

Traits: Likes the full sun or at least half the day in mid sumer.  Best in well drained soil with added gravel (1:5). Best keep the soil alkaline or neutral and dry or moist, but dont expose it to total wetness. A top dressing of gravel improves the drainage, especially against winter wedness if placed in garden.

Pruning after flowering (June – August) encourages new growth from the centre and prevents from becoming straggly. Beware over-flowering, may cause death. Pelleted chicken manures once at spring time will do the feeding.

Watering: Once each day or two days, best in the morning or in the evening.

Useful links: http://www.thymus.co.uk/

Chinese name: 迷迭香 (Mi Die Xiang)

Traits: Rosemary grows on friable loam soil with good drainage in an open sunny position. It likes it hot, can tolerant dry and cold conditions but it will not withstand water logging and some varieties may be susceptible to frost. It grows best in neutral – alkaline conditions pH (pH 7-7.8) with average fertility

Rosemary is easily pruned into shapes and has been used for topiary. When grown in pots, it is best kept trimmed to stop it getting straggly and unsightly, though when grown in a garden, rosemary can grow quite large and still be attractive.

It becomes wooden in it’s 2nd year and needed to be repotted both in spring and autumn, after that repot once a year is recommended.

Watering: Once in two day for indoor and once a day for outdoor at summer time, best in the morning or in the evening.

Flower Language

Membrance

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Ophelia says, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.” (Hamlet, iv. 5.)

Warning： During pregnancy, essential oil of Rosemary must be avoid, may cause miscarriage!!!

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary

Chinese Name：罗勒 (Luo Le)

Ocimum basilicum, or Sweet Basil, is a culinary herb of major importance. Most culinary and ornamental basils are cultivars of the species Ocimum basilicum, but other species are also grown and there are many hybrids between species. Traditionally a green plant, some varieties, such as ‘Purple Delight’ are purple.  …see wikipedia

sub types incl.: sweet basil, thai basil, italian basil, lemon basil etc.

Traits: Annual (1 year). Loves warm sunny places with dry but rich soil. Very sensitive to cold, with best growth in hot, dry conditions. To prevent it’s annual behavier, better take the plant indoor in Winter (Nov. – Feb). After blossom, leaf production slows down or stops and stems become woody, pich off flower stems to prevent. Prune leafs anytime, it’s also stimmulating for the growth. Wilted leafs hint on lack of water, they will recover when thoroughly watered and placed in a sunny location. Yellow down hanging leafs indicates the lack of sunlight or over fertilization.

Watering: at summer time once each day but beware not to let  too much water keep stucking in the soil (especially the roots).

Notes:
a) Basils are annuals (1 year plants), therefor keep constantly watch and prevent flowering after full maturity.
b) Basils attracts tiny white flies, keep spray clean water on and under leafs on daily basis to get rid of those.

Usages: As the “king”of spices an important ingredient both for mediterranean and south-asian cooking. Suitable to tomato, cheese, eggplant, garlic, egg, meat, etc. Add some fresh leafs to your hot dish right after cooking or to salad.

Chinese mane：薄荷 Bo He

Traits: Although all mints prefere cool moist spots in partial shade, it grows best in full sun, but make sure that the plant never lacks of water, there for keep the soil moist.
Mints generally repel pest insects (such as moscitos or even cockroaches) but they are susceptible to whitefly and aphids.
Harvesting of mint leaves can be done at anytime in summer.�
As for the winter, cut all dying stems, leaving few strong and short-kept ones, prevent it against frost. Repotting may be done at spring or autumn, where you can seperate one plant into serveral ones by cutting its root in 10 – 20 cm length unit for each pot.

Watering: At hot sumer days twice a day, best in the morning and in the evening.

Usages: For tee (good for heart blood circulation) or as cooking ingrediences. Fresh mint leaves should be used immediately or stored up to a couple of days in plastic bags within a refrigerator. Optionally, mint can be frozen in ice cube trays. Dried mint leaves should be stored in an airtight container placed in a cool, dark, dry area.

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha

chinese name: 薰衣草 (Xun Yi Cao)

Lavandula angusti folia (also common lavender, true lavender, or English lavender) is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, native to the western Mediterranean region, primarily in the Pyrenees and other mountains in northern Spain.

Subtypes: Broad Leaf L., Needle Leaf L., French or British L., Silverfrost L. etc.

Traits: Perennial (several years). Loves sunshine,  tolerates heat, drought, coldness and alcalic darren soil. The growth environment should provide enough daylight and fresh air. It’s roots dislikes wetness so water it only when the surfacial soil has dried out but have it soaked through. Falls into winter sleep under 0°C.

Watering: Once in two day for indoor and once a day for outdoor at summer time, best in the morning or in the evening.

Usage tips:
* Add 100g (in a cloth bag) to your hot bath may ease body tension.
* Collect dried semen to make some tea may soothe the nerves.
* Make fragrant bags out of dried leafs and semen for your garderobe or bed.

Caution: to be avoided at the beginning of pregnancy.

Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavender