Costmary Plant – 1 Small Plant

The Costmary plant is a perennial temperate herb also known as alecost, balsam herb, bible leaf, or mint geranium. It was once widely cultivated for culinary and medicinal uses throughout Europe in the 16th century.

The plant has softly serrated, oval leaves and loose clusters of tiny button like, yellow flowers, not too dissimilar from daisies. It will normally reach a height of about 80cm. The plant has a delicate balsamic scent, with the leaves having a slight minty and lemony taste. This fragrant rich plant retains its sweet-smelling scent when dried.

Costmary Uses

• Costmary leaves can be harvested at any time after the plant becomes established, but the oils are the most potent just before flowering.
• Its leaves may be used fresh in salads and fresh or dried as a flavoring, particularly for meats, poultry, and English ale.
• It is used as a substitute of mint in iced drinks and can be used with fruits and cakes.
• Fresh and young leaves are added as an ingredient to salads, soups, bread and cold beverages.
• The crushed dried leaves act as an excellent insect and ant repellent.
• The leaves can be infused in the water and used on hair and leaves.
• Costmary has a history of medicinal use, usually to bring on menstruation, or for other women’s health issues.
• Crushed leaves will relieve the pain of bee stings and minor wounds and burns.
• For bruises, blisters and mild irritations of the skin, an ointment using dried Costmary leaves is effective.
• A tea is useful for colds, upset stomachs and cramps and to ease childbirth.
• Costmary inhalation is a useful remedy for catarrh, helping to clear the nasal passages.

Warning: Pregnant women should avoid ingesting costmary, as it is known to cause miscarriages.

Growing Costmary Plant

• Transplant the Costmary plant into the garden in mid to late-spring. It can also be successfully grown in containers as long as the planters are at least 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep.
• Grow in full sun to partial shade. Avoid full shade as it will not flower without sun.
• They need a soil that is kept evenly and consistently slightly moist but not soggy or drenched.
• If you provide the plant with a loamy, humus-rich soil that was amended with aged compost before planting, you don’t need to add any fertilizer during the growing season.
• Prune back the plants so that they don’t become leggy. Cut back flowers to encourage more foliage. After the plant goes to flower, cut the whole plant back down to three to four inches above the ground. The plant will grow back in place in just a few weeks.
• Mature plants need to be divided once every three years to keep them healthy
• In cold weather climates, the plant will wither and die to the ground during the cold season, re-sprouting in spring with vigorous new growth.