JACKSON HOUSE MUSEUM
THE GARDEN IN SPRING
Explore the Garden
It’s essential to note that while the medicinal use of plants has a historical significance, not all plants are safe for consumption. References to historical use are meant to be informative, not instructive. Always consult with a medical professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes.
Apples(Tanacetum parthenium)
Apples originated in Kazakhstan, in central Asia east the Caspian Sea. In spring, there are clusters of pink, white, or red flowers. Many pollinators visit the flowers. Several butterfly and moth larvae feed on the trees. By the early 1800s, United States farmers were producing some 15,000 different kinds of apples — more varieties than in any other country. With the advent of the twentieth century’s large-scale orchards, fewer varieties were planted, and advertising came to define consumer preferences
Apricots (Prunus armeniaca)
The apricot is a stone fruit, originally found in China. Round and yellow, they look like a smaller version of a peach but share the tartness of purple plums. They’re extremely nutritious and have many health benefits, such as improved digestion and eye health. Dried apricots are an excellent source of iron.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
This herb blooms in late spring through early summer. It is commonly used as a culinary herb to impart mild onion flavor to many foods. The plants also have good ornamental value.
Damask Rose (Rosa x damascene)
This rose blooms a medium pink from late spring into early summer. Its origin is unknown but can be traced to before 1560. The petals can be applied externally as an astringent. They are also made into a preserve and used as a tonic. The fruit are a very rich source of vitamins and minerals. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers. Roses are usually deer resistant.
Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Philadelphia fleabane is a native, biennial or short-lived, somewhat weedy, perennial herb. The Cherokee and other Native American tribes used Philadelphia fleabane for a variety of medicinal purposes including epilepsy. A poultice was made from the plant to treat headaches. The roots were either made into tea or chewed to treat colds and coughs.
Germander wall (Teucrium chamaedrys)
An evergreen herb with magenta pink flowers that appear in late spring and summer, it is native to the Mediterranean area. The leaves are aromatic and shiny with scalloped edges and when dried are frequently found in potpourri. It is very attractive to bees and is said to be deer and rabbit resistant!
Harrison’s Yellow Rose (Rosa ‘Harrison’s yellow)
The small, semi-double blooms of bright yellow on this variety produce a brief but spectacular spring show, and they have a fruity fragrance. This rose is one of the hardiest in the family and spreads quickly by suckers. There are black, bristly oval hips. After it appeared in the garden of attorney and amateur hybridist George F. Harrison, in 1830, in what is today downtown Manhattan, it was carried by many pioneers on their journey west.
Larkspur (Delphinium)
Larkspur blooms in spring and summer. It is a deer resistant herb with multicolored flowers. With 300 species of annual and perennial flowers, they are native to North America and the high mountains of tropical Africa. The variety in the Jackson House Museum Garden is an annual. Despite serious safety concerns Larkspur have been used to make medicine.
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Lilac are deciduous shrubs that bloom in the springtime. They are part of the olive family, along with other such ornamental plants as, forsythia bushes. The outstanding quality of many lilac varieties is the sweet fragrances of their flowers.
Muscadine Grapes (Vitis rotundifolia)
This large native grape, a variety known as scuppernong, blooms in spring and summer with fruit in summer and fall. They are good for eating and wine-making due to their sweet, pungent flavor. Native to the American South, it has been extensively cultivated since the 16th century.
Peony (Paeonia)
Blooming from late spring to early summer, peonies are native only in the northern hemisphere – in Asia, Europe, and western North America. There are currently 33 known species though some scientists list 40.
Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Raspberries are perennial with woody stems. The red raspberry is indigenous to Asia Minor and North America. Fruits were gathered from the wild by the people of Troy in the foothills of Mt. Ida around the time of Christ.
Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)
This perennial iris blooms from mid-spring to early summer with violet to blue blossoms. A yellow dye can be made from the flowers. It originates from Europe and Central Asia. In old traditional usage, Polish girls ate cooked seeds to help improve contraception. The word iris translates to the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology. Through history, its blooms have been a symbol of monarchs and royal families.
Sun Drops (Oenethera fructose)
Sun drops are a native perennial. A late spring, early summer bloomer, they have yellow flowers. In ancient times, the roots of the plant were used to add scent to wine. It is probably not deer resistant.