Costmary – A beloved and treasured herb
Costmary is an “old-fashioned” herb that gardeners are beginning to rediscover. In the Victorian era, almost every kitchen gardener grew this sweet-smelling plant. The many different names given to the herb relate to its fragrance: Scented Sage, Farmer’s Sage, Balsam Leaf, or Fragrant Leaf. In Europe, this plant is simply called Balsam.
Like other members of the chrysanthemum family, Costmary originated in the Orient, where it has been used for generations to give foods a pungent flavor.
he is not a sage
Reference to Sage or Salvia should be viewed as a sign of respect for the plant, not an indication that it belongs to the Salvia family.
Costmary: An Easy Herb to Grow
Costmary plants are available from nurseries in spring, summer and fall. Seeds can also be sown in pots or trays for later transplanting, or directly into garden soil. Plants grow 2 to 4 feet tall; the fragrant gray-green leaves have scalloped margins. Place plants in full sun in dry soil; they thrive in the same type of growing conditions as other herbs, such as rosemary and thyme. While trimmed, Costmary makes an attractive, fragrant hedge in the herb garden or perennial border.
If left unattended for too long, Costmary plants tend to have a weedy appearance. Cut the plants regularly to encourage a new crop of aromatic leaves.
Costmary folklore
The scented bouquet, or church bouquet, was often carried to church services or gatherings. The bouquet can consist of lavender, mint, costmary, rosemary, sage, or any other herb that is in season. The corsages were often mixed with flowers. Carrying a bouquet was believed to bring good luck, and the fragrance certainly helped parishioners stay awake during long sermons.
Costmary also had some medicinal applications. A poultice of leaves was often applied to cuts and scrapes, bee stings, and swellings. It has many healing properties and was therefore an extremely useful plant. But above all, the lovely fragrance has been enjoyed and used for many hundreds of years, in the belief that it warded off illness and misfortune.
medical plant
Like many other aromatic herbs, this one is not very prone to insects and diseases.
Since Costmary spreads in ever-widening circles via stolons growing from the roots, the plants often die in the center. It is advisable to renew the plant by division every 3-4 years and plant the new ones where desired. It’s easy to dig up the old plant, divide it, and replant the most vigorous parts.
purchase advice
Buy spring seeds or young plants from the herb selection at nurseries or garden centers.
Life expectancy: An outdoor perennial grass that should be renewed by division every few years.
Station: The plants are sold in the spring and bloom from summer to fall.
Difficulty Quotient: Easy
Also called: Costmary, or Chrysanthemum balsamita, is known by many botanical and common names. It can be sold as Balsamita major, Balsamita vulgaris or Tanacetum balsamita.
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size and growth rate
Costmary is a perennial herb that can reach a height of 2 to 4 feet. The leaves feel smooth to the touch. The plant branches as it grows, but the leaves near the base remain large. Further up the stems, the leaves become smaller and more sparse.
flowering and fragrance
Costmary blooms from late summer to well into fall. The daisy-like flowers are small and yellow and have an exquisite fragrance, as does the entire plant.
light and temperature
A plant that loves light and sun in the garden. The plants are quite hardy and survive cold winters.
irrigation and feeding
It may be necessary to water in dry periods. Feed the plants several times during the growing season with a general-purpose fertilizer.
Soil and transplant
Normal garden soil enriched with organic amendments in the fall or chemical fertilizer in the spring is best. Divide and replant Costmary every 3 to 4 years, saving only the most vigorous new divisions. Discard old plant portions.
Cleanliness
It is not normal to prune Costmary, but it can be cut back for fresh, new leaves. Dig up small sprouting plants in the garden, or this plant could become a weed pest.
extension
Costmary can be increased from seed or by division. Sow seeds in the spring or take older plants and divide them. Division is necessary every three years or so, as the old plant is left bare in the center.
Environment
Costmary deserves a place in any herb garden, but it’s also attractive in a flower bed. The green leaves of the plant create a soothing background for the riotous colors of summer flowers. When most of the plants have finished blooming, Costmary is still blooming, well into fall.
