Marshmallow and Lavender Leaves!
Today I am starting my marshmallow and lavender leaf harvest. Many people know that lavender flowers are useful in many things but overlook the leaves which are also edible and are a great culinary herb. I compare it somewhat to rosemary, with a much more mild flavor and sweetness. Very different from the lavender flowers, they have no strong perfume taste to them. In my experience they taste great in soups, rice, and pasta dishes though one should not stop there but explore the varieties of things they can be used in.
Marshmallow leaves (as well as the flowers and the root) are loaded with medicnal properties. Their actions are: demulcent, diuretic, emollient, urinary demulcent, expectorant, and vulnerary.
As such, I like to use the leaves, flowers, and roots in teas (I use the leaves and flowers both in their fresh and dried forms when it comes to teas), the dried leaves and flowers I use in my homemade herbal soaps, shampoo, and skin cream because of their skin benefiting properties. I also use the dried leaves, flowers, roots, in making my cold and flu tincture since they are great for soothing the mucus membranes, clearing phlegm, and easing coughs.
The Marshmallow plant grows quite tall and is very beautiful with its delicate lavender-white flowers. The top photo is from last summer of my marshmallow in bloom. I just adore this plant, its beauty, and its lovely scent, let alone its valuable medicinal properties!
Once established, the marshmallow plant will spread and grow bigger every year with little to no tending. The only thing I have found is because of its soft, absorbent leaves, I do need to stake them for when it rains as they will become heavy and bend over, but they are a very resilient plant. I recommend adding this wonderful herb to your garden and stop ignoring those lavender leaves! :D
Contact
Email/paypal: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomesteadRain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RainCountryHomestead/
Hand Crafted Goods: https://www.facebook.com/heidiscrochetedart/
Congratulations @raincountry! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honnor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPIf you want to support the SteemitBoard project, your upvote for this notification is welcome!
Never even heard of a marshmallow plant - going to have to look that one up !! Once again - awesome information :)
Thanks you
Sherrie - TwoFamilyHomestead
Sherrie! I see you got your account set up now! YAY! And thank you, by the way, the plant is what the original confection was orginally made from because when the root is cooked, it turns gelatinous . I have actually made marshmallows using the root but still added beef gelatin