Seerosen und Lotosblumen - Nymphaion

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Herbs and Vegetables

Here we offer a variety of old heirloom vegetables and herbs. Please keep in mind: we sell these plants only for decorative purposes, not for food. We are no food producing nursery and the European Union in its great wisdom has released a list of all varieties that may be sold for food. Most of the old heirloom varieties are not on this list. So we have to warn you not to eat any of the plants we offer here: without exception everybody who ate from these varieties in the past died at the end of his life! So just look, don't eat.

More sub catagories:

Herbs and Spices

New Products

Montia sibirica [(L.) J.T. Howell] - Candy Flower

This plant comes from Siberia, but it is naturalized in the UK for several centuries. It grows in moist forests, but in the garden it will also do well on drier or wetter spots. All parts of it are edible, even the flowers. As long as winter isn`t too cold, it is possible to harvest fresh leaves from it. They can be used like purslane. It is a short lived plant but will spread by seedlings. Since it got no strong roots, the surplus of seedlings can be weeded easily. The plant is not only edible but also pretty and can be used as a ground cover even in deep shade. The flowers are usualy pink, but we grow a white flowering variety that was discovered in Scotland.
from 2,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Monarda fistulosa `Rosenmelisse`- Rose Balm

This is a variety of Bee Balm, which is known as a cottage garden plant. Less know is the fact that the foliage can be used to prepare herbal teas. This variety here was created in Canada. Its foliage has a strong fragrance of roses. It can be used to prepare sort of rose-scent-tea, but there are many more culinary uses possible. The fragrant substance in the foliage is geraniol, that is used to prepare a substitute to true rose oil.
from 4,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Mentha `Hilarys Sweet Lemon` - Peppermint

This variety tastes like our Bergamotte-Mint, only much sweeter. Who dislikes the menthol taste of peppermint will like this one. Its a peppermint without any pepper!
from 2,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Lippia polystacha - Argentinian Verbena

Let`s start with the facts we are sure of: this plant resembles the Lemon Verbena. It can be used for infusions and it got a fragrance like spearmint chewing gum. It is a fast grower and leaves can be harvested in large quantities. It isn`t hardy at all and got to be kept on a sunny and warm window sill during winter.
from 5,45 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Lepidium latifolium [L.] - Pepperweed

Pepperweed was a completely forgotten native herb untill it was re-introduced into the trade by German nursery Rühlemann a few years ago. It is often called perennial cress, but to me its taste appears more similar to horse raddish than to pepper. Anyhow it is a valuable addition to the herb garden. It can be used fresh (in salads or curd) or cooked (in wok dishes or like spinach).

It is native to the shores of Western Europe, but it can be found growing also along the streams in the interior land. It grows best on moist soils, so it can be used with larger ponds (but keep an eye on it there).

from 3,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Inula helenium [L.] - True Elecampane

In Central Europe true elecampane is grown in fields for the pharmaceutical trade. It is the rhizome that contains the desired substances, that are sold as `Helenii Rhizoma`. In the garden it does best in slightly moist soil in full sun or partial shade. It is often said that its botanical name refers to Helen of Troy, of whos tears the plant grew according to ancient legend, but the name can be translate also simply as `Greek-Elecampane`. An especially nice name it received in medieval England: Elfwort.
from 3,50 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Allium tuberosum [Rottler ex Spreng.] - Chinese Chives

When horticulturist do not look closely, they often cause a mess. So it happened with this leek, that became better known with the present enthusiasm for herbs and vegetables. Usualy it is sold as Allium odorum, but this name is an invalid synonym for Allium ramosum. Allium ramosum however is not cultivated, nor in its home China nor anywhere else. What we really have here is Allium tuberosum, one of the most important alliums for cooking in China and ...
from 2,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Agastache aurantiaca [(A. Gray) Lint & Epling] - Bubble Mint

This bubble mint matches colour and scent to a perfect union. The flowers show a merry orange and the foliage is equaly merry mint-scented. Flowers and foliage are edible and make very good infusions. The plant comes from the southwest of the USA and grows on very dry soils. In the garden it prefers a sunny and sheltered spot with sharp ...
from 3,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on

Allium fistulosum [L.] - Welsh Onion

Welsh onions got nothing to do with Wales, but a lot with Asia. Its Asia where this onion commes from, and it is still widely used there. Welsh onions can be regarded as a sort of giant Chives. They form no bulbs. Its their stalks (and sometimes even their flowers) that are used for cooking. If you want to cook true asian style substitute the onions by Welsh onions. They can be harvested throughout the year. It is one of the plants that are shared among friends and neighbours and that are hardly ever to be found in nurseries. The recent enthusiasm for herbs and spices brought them back to the market and nowadays they are available from nurseries.
from 2,95 EUR
incl. 7 % Tax excl.

available from April on