Coming Soon! My new book Herbs, Weeds, and Other Wild Things, A Central Texas Herbal by Nicole Telkes

Listen to my radio spot on 91.7 KOOP Mondays at 2PM, Austin TX.

In the heat of the Texas Summer, 2010, I am plugging away at finally finishing my book on Growing and Using Medicinal Plants in Texas. I hope to have some sneak peaks at some of the chapters up here soon. The book is not just an introduction to what plants grow in Texas and how they have been used. The book is a collection of experiences I have had as my students and I focussed in on using both natives and weedy nonnatives in Central Texas. This book will help one to plan a medicinal herb garden, harvest plant material properly, make exceptional preparations, and have fun with Texas Medicinal and Edible Plants. Chapters include information on our unusual growing seasons, recipes from native plants and nonnative plants, wild harvesting considerations, and focus in on the allies listed below as well as including short introductions to almost 100 other native and weedy plants. Check back here for updates on ordering information. The book will be available both electronically and in print. Check out the table of contents and in depth profile on agarita here

Wildflower School Top Herbal Allies for Central Texas

If you want to start a medicinal herb garden, amend one, or plant things around your property or community garden in Central Texas, the following list will get you started.

The list (under construction) represents herbs that were chosen based on 1 or more of the following parameters:

Easy Propagation: all of the following plants are easily grown or found in Central Texas Weedy: Easy to find in the wild and not so wild areas of Central Texas
Heartiness: If harvesting from the wild it will not hurt plant populations too much if picked properly or the plant is tough and drought tolerant
Bioregional: alternative to popular market herbs
Properties: The plant's properties are either broad or specialized.

If all the following plants are grown or collected you can treat a wide variety of ailments

The list

Achillea millefolium (YARROW) : styptic, antinflammatory, diaphoretic, aromatic, analgesic MuscularSystem/ Circulatory/Reproductive. Grows well in garden or xeriscape no help needed

Allium sativum(GARLIC) : antimicrobial, hypotensive. Grows well in garden--winter and spring.

Calendula officinalis(CALENDULA) : immune-modulating, antifungal, topical skin-healer, antidepressant Integumentary/Immune. Best grown in winter, early spring.

Berberis/Mahonia trifoliolata(AGARITA) :Anti-microbial, bitter, liver stimulant Digestive/Immune/Integumentary. Great shrub for wildscapes, xeriscapes. Has prickles.

Echinacea purpurea et al.(CONE FLOWER) : altertive to lymph and blood, topical for septic/poisoned areas Immune/Circulatory/Lymphatic. Grows well in garden or xeriscape.

Foeniculum vulgare(FENNEL) : carminitive, galactogogue, estrogenic, bitter Digestive. Plant in fall or spring

Gallium sp.(CLEAVERS) : lymphatic cleanser and nutritive Lymphatic/Immune. Weed, somes out in early spring all over fencerows and gardens

Grindelia sp.(GUMWEED) : aromatic for respiratory tract, expectorant, topical for poison ivy Respiratory/Integumentary. Good xeriscape plant, fall bloom

Juniperus ashei et al.(JUNIPER) : aromatic for urinary tract, protein absorbtion, warming topically Urinary/Immune. Weed, harvest berries in early spring as they fall.

Leonurus cardiaca(MOTHERWORT) : cardiovascular tonic and calming herb Circulatory/Nervous. Drought tolerant plant/seed in spring

Melissa officinalis(LEMON BALM) : anti-viral, anti-depressant, euphoric aromatic, diaphoretic Nervous. Needs moist shade, plant on east/north side of property/garden.

Mentha spp(MINT) : Carminative, antimicrobial, analgesic, aromatic for the respiratory tract and digestive, needs moist shade, plant on east/north side of property/garden

Monarda cirtiodora et al.(BEE BALM) : aromatic for respiratory tract, topical antibacterial,antifungal Respiratory Drought tolerant seed in fall, full sun good for wildscape or garden to repel bugs--even root works

Oenethera speciosa(EVENING PRIMROSE) : nutritive, hormonal regulating Reproductive/endocrine seed in fall, perennial wildflower good at compteing with grass. Early spring bloom

Opuntia spp(PRICKLY PEAR) : blood sugar regulating, mucilaginous, astringent, nourishing for eyes. Weed and will spread as one, contain in wildscapes/xeriscapes

Passiflora spp(PASSIONFLOWER) : calming cardiovascular and anti-anxiety, hypnotic Circulatory/Nervous. Great vine for arbors/trellises, fences with gorgeous flowers.

Populus deltoides(COTTONWOOD) : anti-inflammatory analgesic Nervous weedy around creeks. Look for downed branches

Rosemarinsus officinalis(ROSEMARY) : antioxidant, aromatic Integumentary/Nervous Weedy in gardens. Prune back. Great xeriscape plant

Scutellaria drummondii/ovatum(SKULLCAP) : calming analgesic Nervous Good wildscape/xeriscape plant. ovatum the most drought tolerant--though best in shade

Stellaria media(CHICKWEED) : nutritive anti-inflammatory Endocrine/Immune weed in early spring, collect aropund edges of yard

Taraxacum officinale (DANDELION) : diuretic, bitter, liver herb grows best in gardens, not big enough in wild for harvest--likes water

Verbena/Glandularia bipinnatifida(VERVAIN) : diaphoretic, bitter calming sedative Nervous/Digestive great xeriscape/wildscape plant flowers thruout year

Vitex agnus-castus(CHASTE TREE) : hormonal balancer and antiaddiction herb Reproductive fast growing drought tolerant shade tree. won't spread into wild

Verbascum thaspus(MULLEIN) : anti-inflammatory for the respiratory tract Respiratory weed, seed and watch it spread.........biennial

Zanthoxyllum clava-herculis et al.(PRICKLY ASH) : pain and circulatory stimulant, alterative Circulatory shrubby tree, great addition to wildscape/xeriscape

Zingiber officinale(GINGER) : antispasmodic, digestive and circulatory stimulant,needs the moiset watery north/east side of house--shade better

WEEDCRAFTING FOR THE FUTURE

GROWING AND COLLECTING MEDICINAL PLANTS IN TEXAS: Texas is weird. Growing and collecting herbs is a hard call. Some general factors herbalists consider when harvesting wild plants in Central Texas the most influential factors for collecting herbs in the wild are temperature, light, how much rain we've gotten, and vegetation zone.

We have several overlapping vegetation zones here and get a great mix of medicinals. Please make sure you are properly trained if you are considering harvesting plants from wild areas.

MY FAVORITE GARDEN PLANTS

Jan-April WINTER TO EARLY SPRING: Calendula, Cilantro, Borage, Poppies of all kinds, Dandelion, Chickweed, Cleavers, Violets, Evening Primrose, Yarrow, Plantain, Wild Oats, and Garden Greens

May-July LATE SPRING TO EARLY SUMMER: Bee Balm, Skullcap, Vervain, Agarita, Lemon Balm, Mint, Tomatoes, Squash, Melons, Alfalfa, Honeysuckle, Basil, Mugworts, Lavender, Desert Willow

Aug-Oct LATE SUMMER TO EARLY FALL: Vitex, Goldenrod, Sunflowers, Grindelia, Lobelia, Peppers, Passionflower, Lambs Quarters, Elderberries, Okra, Basil, Rue

LATE FALL--Root harvests if Appropriate----Echinacea

Late Fall/ Early Winter Wild Plants of Central Texas

by Nicole Telkes Clinical Herbalist LMT and Herbal Educator

Texas is weird. Growing and collecting plants is a hard call. The most influential factors for collecting plants in the wild are temperature, light, how much rain we've gotten, and vegetative zone. We have several vegetative zones meeting one another in Central Texas and get a great mix of medicinal plants. I have created a short list of Wild Seasonal Central Texas Medicinals you can be looking out for. Please make sure you are properly trained if you are considering harvesting plants from wild areas. Not so weedy Fall and Winter Medicinals to Harvest/Plant: Calendula, Cilantro, Borage, Vitex.

Common Name	Latin Name	When its out where its found	Description	Actions/Use/ Safety
Chickweed	Stellaria media NOT NATIVE	Winter Annual harvest aboveground flowering tops Found in gardens, lawns, parks as an understory herb	Herbaceous, wild, weedy, creeping plant with fragile juicy foliage forming clumps, tiny white flowers, confused with native Horseherb	Known as a nutritive herb, very high in vitamins and minerals, used fresh in salads, infused in vinegars, and oils. Used topically to soothe inflammations and itch
Chile Pequin	Capsicum anuum NATIVE	Fall Perennial harvest berries Found in woodlands, along fencerows, prefers shade in the wild	Small to medium shrub, wild and planted in many gardens and landscapes. White flowers maturing into red berries sometimes several times a year	XXXBerries are edible but very spicey. Can be used in very small dosage in cold and flu remedies to promote circulation. Topically infused in small amounts in oils to help soothe achey joints
Cleavers	Galium aparine et al NOT NATIVE	Winter Annual harvest aboveground vines Comes in with winter rains, will freeze back and cover gardens, fencerows and wetter areas of woodland bottomland	Very weedy. Viney, hairy green plant that tends to stick to you with itty bitty white flowers. Can completely cover areas.	Known for being a good nutritive, high in minerals, is a mild lymphatic cleanser and soothes urinary tract infections. Juiced, made into fresh tincture or glycerite.
Goldenrod	Solidago spp NATIVE	Fall Annual harvest aboveground flowering tops Drought tolerant found in fields in full sun	Tall yellow flowered single stemmed wildflowers often mixed up with Ragweed. Flowers in heads, clustered at top and are very small. Plants tend to droop over.	Strengthening to kidneys and used to help treat urinary tract infections. Tea or tincture
Henbit	Lamium amplexicaulis NATIVE	Winter Annual harvest aboveground parts Found in gardens, parks, lawns	Small weedy herbaceous understory likes to be near chickweed. Has small purple flowers	Can be used like self-heal. Is a mild anti-inflammatory, soothing to skin irritations. Can be made into an oil. Flowers are edible
Lobelia	Lobelia cardinalis NATIVE	Fall harvest flowering aboveground Perennial found in wet marshy ponds and sides of streams. Likes wet feet	Gorgeous wildflower forming tall stands-sometimes up to 6ft in height, striking red flowers	XXX Very popular native medicinal with a complex chemistry used mainly as a calming herb. Fresh Vinegar or Tincture. Drop Dosage
Prickly Pear	Opuntia spp NATIVE	Fall Harvest of fruit Perennial shrub found in both shade and sun but prefers open fields	Weedy, shrubby succulent forming dense prickly communities covered in dark red fruit	XXX One of most prolific fruit sources in Central Texas . Can be juiced/jellied and used to balance blood sugar
Shepherd's Purse	Capsella bursa-pastoris NOT NATIVE	Winter harvest whole plant Annual herb found in lawns, the cracks of sidewalks, and rundown land	Small herb with spiraling white flowers turning into heart shaped seed pods with basal leaves	First Aid herb used to stop bleeding, commonly used by midwives. Fresh tincture.