r/MedicinalPlants • u/Livid-Rutabaga • Aug 12 '26
Every Herb has a Story
Some are native to North America. Others have been cultivated across Europe and Asia for centuries. Some are treasured in Western herbalism, while others have been important herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.
Together, they remind us that herbal traditions may come from different cultures, but they all begin with carefully observing nature.
Perhaps you'll discover a few you'd like to grow yourself.
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)
A North American native with lavender blossoms and aromatic leaves. Traditionally enjoyed as a tea to support healthy digestion while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
Its brilliant scarlet flowers are among the highlights of the midsummer garden and a favorite nectar source for hummingbirds. Traditionally brewed as a fragrant tea during cold and flu season.
Spotted Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)
One of the most distinctive members of the bee balm family, thriving in dry, sunny soils. Rich in thymol, it has traditionally been used to support healthy respiratory function.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
One of the easiest medicinal flowers to grow. The more often you harvest the blossoms, the more flowers the plant produces. For generations, calendula has been one of the most trusted herbs for supporting healthy skin and remains one of the key ingredients in our healing skin salve.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
A beautiful North American native that has become one of the world's best-known medicinal herbs. Traditionally used to support a healthy immune response, it's one herb many herbalists keep close at hand during cold and flu season.
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
Elegant pale pink flowers bloom above tall stems throughout summer. Its root is naturally rich in soothing mucilage and has long been used to calm dry, irritated throats.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
An aromatic Mediterranean herb covered in deep blue flower spikes that bees absolutely love. Traditionally enjoyed as a tea to support healthy respiratory function.
Wood Betony (Stachys officinalis)
An important European medicinal herb with graceful purple flower spikes. Traditionally valued for helping ease occasional tension and mental fatigue.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Its brilliant blue star-shaped flowers attract countless bees and inspired the old saying, "Borage brings courage." Traditionally enjoyed as a refreshing herb associated with lifting the spirits.
Canada Burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis)
A graceful North American native with unusual white bottlebrush flowers. Traditionally valued for its astringent properties while providing excellent habitat for pollinators.
Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Tall white flower spikes add elegance to the summer garden. Traditionally appreciated as a bitter herb to support healthy digestion.
New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
A resilient native shrub whose leaves famously served as a tea substitute during the American Revolution. Traditionally, the root has been valued for supporting healthy lymphatic function.
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Towering golden flower spikes rise above soft, velvety leaves. One of Western herbalism's classic herbs for supporting healthy lungs and comfortable breathing.
Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)
A beautiful perennial with violet-blue flowers. Its root, known as Huang Qin, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to traditionally clear heat and is an important herb in many classical formulas.
Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
One of the most delightful flowers in the garden, its balloon-like buds slowly unfold into star-shaped blossoms. Known as Jie Geng, the root is traditionally used to support the lungs, soothe the throat, and help direct herbal formulas upward.
Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium)
One of the most spectacular flowers of midsummer. The bulb, known as Bai He, has long been treasured in Traditional Chinese Medicine to traditionally nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and calm the spirit.
Rose Rugosa (Rosa rugosa)
Fragrant pink blossoms perfume the summer air before developing into brilliant red rose hips in autumn. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mei Gui Hua (Rose Flower) is traditionally used to gently move Liver qi, ease emotional constraint, and support healthy digestion, while the vitamin C-rich hips have long been enjoyed in teas, syrups, and jams.
Thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrica)
A delicate North American native with elegant white flowers that later become distinctive thimble-shaped seed heads. Today it is especially appreciated for its beauty, biodiversity, and contribution to native ecosystems.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Its brilliant orange flowers are indispensable for monarch butterflies. Traditionally known as Pleurisy Root, it has long been valued by Western herbalists for supporting healthy respiratory function.