A Different Style of Gardening/ Worlds Best Superfoods. -(please introduce me to more cool plants)

 I’ve been around Gardening my whole life, and if I’m honest and observant, my life has been immeasurably enriched by it aesthetically, nutritionally, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally. However for most of my childhood and adolescence, It was my parents, especially my father, who gardened. I just (literally and metaphorically) enjoyed the fruits.

 In more recent years, watching friends pay to study permaculture, bio-dynamics, or just straight up organic gardening, I realised I’ve learned a lot about gardening, either by osmosis or observation, helping old men or listening to old women, and without realising it, its become an important part of my life. Whoever would have thought I would like compost so much!

 Perhaps having to live in a city heightens my innate need to be around living things. I’m not sure, but either way the last six years at least have involved various tinkerings with gardening,, along with life in general. And during that time my gardening style has altered significantly. I’ve come to appreciate a wider range of plants and trees, and really enjoy their historical roots -(pun intended).

 Its inspiring to know that we have at our fingertips as gardeners, the results of the history of life on this planet and through that incredible heritage, many thousands of years of  lived human wisdom across civilizations and cultures from every continent of earth. Our culture, our spirituality and our history are intrinsically linked with the life we have used to sustain our own, and in turn have changed the course of that life forever. Creating new organisms that in turn brought about tremendous change in our lives.

 Here’s the pick of my current favorites,-( Helping construct my dream garden) I’m hoping to expand this list over time, and new suggestions for awesome plants and trees would be much appreciated. I hope that one day we live in worldwide ‘old growth’ forest garden, again.

 Only two or three of these plants are not powerfully bioactive, most are known to contain powerful medicinal compounds. I’ll get back and update one day, please send me candidates.

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Plants-

Allium Sativum (Garlic, Heirlooms)

Angelica Keiskei, (Ashitaba)

Anthemis Nobilis,(Camomile)

Aristotelia Chilensis (Maquai)

Astragalus Propinquus-(Astragalus)

Brassica Oleracea (Self Explanatory-(heirlooms var.)

Bunium Persicum, (Black Cumin)

Calendula Officinalis, (Calendula)

Caralluma, (Qahr Al-Luhum)

Centella Asiatica, (Gota Kola)

Chenopodium Quinoa, (Quinoa)

Cissus Quadrangularis, (Veldt Grape)

Cistanche Deserticola, (Cistanche)

Corydalis Ambigua- (Yanhusuo)

Echinacea Angustifolia (Echinacea)

Ginseng (Panax and Eleutherococcus Senticosus)

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis, (Chinese Liquorice)

Hemerocallis Fulva, (Tiger Daylily)

Malva Verticillata, (Chinese Mallow)

Matricaria Recutita, (German Chamomile)

Oenothera Biennis, (Evening Primrose)

Physalis Peruviana, (Golden Berry)

Piper Methysticum, (Kava)

Rheum X Hybridum, (and Officinale) (Rhubarb)

Rhuem Palatum, (Chinese Rhubarb)

Rauvolifia Serpentina- (Sarpagandha)

Saccharum, (Sugar Cane specifically)

Salvia Miltiorrhiza, (Danshen)

Saussurea Costus, (Costus)

Symphytum X Uplandicum, (Comfrey)

Silybum Marianum, (Marian Thistle)

Tetragonia Tetragonioides, (Warrigal Greens)

Trachyspermum Ammi (Bishops Weed)

Viola Odorata (Common Violet)

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Root Vegetables

Dioscorea Opposita, (Korean Yam)

Ipomoea Batatas, (Sweet Potatoe)

Ipomoea Costata, (Bush Potatoe)

Lepidium Meyenii, (Maca)

Oxalis Tuberosa, (Oka)

Smallanthus Sonchifolius, (Yacón)

Tropaeolum Tuberosum, (Mashua)

Ullucus Tuberosus, (Ulluco)

Zingiber Officinale, (Ginger)

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Mushrooms-

Agaricus Subrufescens, (Gods Mushroom)

Ganoderma lucidum and Ganoderma Tsugae, (Reishi)

Grifola Frondosa, (Signorina)

Hericium Erinaceous, (Satyr’s Beard)

Inonotus Obliquus, (Chaga)

Laccocephalum Mylittae, (Blackfellows Bread)

Laricifomes Officinalis, (Agarikon)

Wolfiporia Extensa, (Tuckahoe)

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Herbs-

Amaranthus, (Amaranth)

Anethum Graveolens, (Dill)

Bacopa Monnieri, (Water Hyssop)

Hypericum Perforatum, (St Johns Wort)

Mimosa Pudica, (Touch Me Not)

Ocimum Tenuiflorum, (Tulsai)

Peperomia Pellucida (Silverbush)

Phyllanthus Niruri, (Chanca Piedra)

Pogostemon Cablin, (Patchouli)

Polygala Tenuifolia, (Yuan Zhi)

Prunella, (Grandiflora, Laciniata, Vulgaris), (Allheal)

Salvia Hispanica and Salvia Columbariae (Chia, 2)

Schizonepeta Tenuifolia, (Japanese Catnip)

Trigonella Foenum-Graecum, (Fenugreek)

Urtica Dioica, (Stinging Nettle)

Valeriana Officinalis, (Valerian)

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Vines and Creepers

Actinidia Arguta, (Hardy Kiwi)

Apios Americana (Groundnut)

Cyclanthera Pedata, (Caigua)

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan)

Jasminum, (Jasmine, also shrubs)

Momordica Cochinchinensis, (Gac)

Morinda Citrifolia (Noni, and technically a tree)

Passiflora, (Passionfruit)

Piper Longum, (Long Pepper)

Piper Nigrum, (Common Pepper)

Schisandra Chinensis, (Five Flavor Berry)

Siraitia Grosvenorii, (Monk Fruit, 1)

Uncaria Tomentose, (Cats Claw)

Vanilla Planifolia, (Vanilla)

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Bushes and Shrubs

Asparagus Racemosus, (Shatavari)

Cassia Alata, (Candle Bush)

Cinchona, (Quina)

Ephedra Sineca (Ephedra)

Hippophae Rhamnoides, (Sea Buckthorn)

Lavandula Angustifolia, (English Lavender)

Leptospermum Scoparium, (Manuka)

Mucuna Pruriens, (Velvet Bean)

Punica Granatum, (Pomegranate)

Salvia Apiana, (White Sage)

Salvia Mellifera, (Black Sage)

Tanacetum parthenium (Fever Few)

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Aquatic and Wetland

Acorus Calamus, (Calamus)

Chlorella, (Chlorella)

Eleocharis Dulcis, (Water Chestnut)

Euryale Ferox-(Makhana)

Nelumbo Nucifera, (Sacred Lotus)

Nymphaea, (Water Lily)

Spirulina, (Spirulina)

Typha, (Cumbungi)

Zizania Aquatica, (Wild Rice)

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Cactus and Succlents

Agave Americana (Blue), (Agave)

Aloe Vera, (Aloe Vera)

Carpobrotus Rossii, (Pig Face)

Lophophora Williamsii, (Peyote)

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Trees

Acer Palmatum, (Japanese Maple)

Adansonia Gregorii, (Australian Boab)

Aegle Marmelos, (Stone Apple)

Azadirachta Indica, (Neem Tree)

Boswellia Sacra, (Frankincense, 2, 3)

Bursera Graveolens, (Palo Santo)

Bulnesia Sarmientoi, (Palo Santo)

Cananga Odorata, (Ylang Ylang)

Cedar Deodra, (Himalayan Ceder)

Cinnamomum, (Especially Cassia), (Cinammon)

Citrus Maxima, (Pomelo)

Citrus Glauca, (Bush Lime)

Commiphora, (Myrrh)

Cordyline Fruticosa, (Kī, La’i)

Crataegus Monogyna,(Glastonbury Thorn, Hawthorn)

Davidsonia, (Ooray Rain Plum)

Dimocarpus Longan, (Longan)

Elaeocarpus Ganitrus, (Rudraksha)

Eucommia Ulmoides, (Chinese Rubber Tree)

Ficus Religiosa, (Bodhi Tree)

Garcinia Mangostana, (Mangosteen)

Ginko Biloba, (Ginko)

Ilex Paraguariensis, (Yerbe Mate)

Juglans, (Walnuts)

Jujube, (Jujube)

Mangifera, (Mango)

Moringa Oleifera, (Moringa)

Myrciaria Dubia, (Camu Camu)

Phyllanthus Emblica, (Indian Gooseberry)

Pinus Sylvestris, (Scots Pine)

Pouteria Lucuma, (Lúcuma)-

Santalum, (Album and Spicatum), (Sandlewood)

Tabebuia, (Specifically Pau D’Arco)

Theobroma Cacao, (Cacao)

Thuja Occidentalis, (Northern Whitecedar)

Terminalia ferdinandiana, (Kakadu Plum)

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