The "fragrant star" plant grows naturally in the warm regions of the south of the country, mainly in stream beds.
It is named for the resemblance of its blossoms to a bright yellow star. The parts of the plant emit a pleasant scent, similar to the scent of peaches, and thanks to this, it is used by the Bedouins to make tea.
In folk medicine, it is used to treat stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. It is also considered to hasten labor and relieve pain.
Hishtil Nurseries, which specialize in growing special and innovative herbs, have begun growing the fragrant star as an ornamental plant, which can be grown in the garden, on a balcony or on a roof. The plant requires moderate watering and is easy to grow, so it will also be suitable for those who can only invest a little time in cultivating ornamental plants.
It is recommended to boil the fragrant star anise leaves in a pot and prepare a cup of hot or cold drink from them, preferably before breakfast.
The new spice plants are sold in dozens of nurseries across the country, which appear on the Hishtil website, along with recommendations and tips: www.hishtil.co.il
Ephraim Weil, agronomist and plant grower, has some interesting tips for those looking to plant in the garden:
Every average garden has shady areas, and as the garden matures over the years, these areas grow larger, and as such, thought and planning must be given to how you want the shady areas to look.
Before we begin with what to plant, it is important to emphasize what not to plant. Plants that look their best in full sun, we must not be tempted to plant them in full shade. Most of the classic bedding plants, summer and winter, vinca and petunia, pansy and date palm, lion's mane and others, which give masses of blooms in the sun, when planted in the shade, will be a great disappointment.
Indeed, the possibility of getting color stains in shaded areas is more limited, but it does exist.
We start with plants that provide bright splashes of color in a wide variety of colors. Basil, sage (Salvia) Dora, a variety of begonia species, and now that we are at the beginning of the winter season, we have a serious reinforcement of winter plants, cyclamen in various flower sizes, from the giant flower to the micro size, primrose (Primula) in a variety of colors, as well as Cineraria.
An important element in shaded areas is the play of different foliage colors, which gives an effect no less powerful than flowering.
The variety of foliage plants is large, including Ipomoea margarita with its golden leaves and a strong growth rate for covering areas, and Ipomoea blacki with its dark brown leaves that form a beautiful contrast to the golden leaves.
Among the many varieties of Coleus, we would especially like to mention the Kong variety with very large leaves, Irisania Purple Lady, a groundcover with purple foliage, Australian violet with its small flowers, as well as Hypoestes, Caladium, Yerka, and Ivy.
In the list of plants we mentioned and others, there is a variety of colors, flowers, and foliage, as well as different heights that can be utilized with proper planning, for example, red/pink Dragon Wing Begonia as a background, and at its foot, Dichondra Silver Falls, which creates a silver-gray surface, is an attraction in every shady corner.
Regarding the care of shade plants, the most important issue to emphasize is the issue of irrigation. Naturally, in shaded areas, water consumption is lower compared to areas in full sun, and this should also be reflected in the amounts of water applied. Whether irrigation is done manually or with an irrigation system, shaded areas should receive less water.
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
