Baljväxter

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Trivial Names: Sky-Earth, Sail-Earth, K litoria, Butterfly Pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

Blue Himmelsärt with stuffed flowers.

Large climbing plant whose flowers have an intense blue color that is easily released when hot water is added.

Used to color food, sweets and drinks.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

The normally blue colored drink changes to purple if you add something acidic, such as lemon. This is due to pH changes in the composition. Similarly, the flowers of the sky pea are sometimes used to make blue gin, which turns purple when tonic is added.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made in Himmelsart is used in Asia in the same way that we in Sweden use chamomile tea.

Like the Goa bean , the Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil by fixing nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Culture:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Common name: Liquorice/Licorice Root, Cultivated Licorice
Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

Liquorice Root has a long history both as a medicinal plant and as a sweet treat. As early as 4000 BC it was used by the Assyrians and since then the licorice root has been used as a nerve-soother, flu-reliever, anti-infective and more.

One of the most prominent uses of the Licorice root by our ancestors was to chew it in order to keep their teeth clean and healthy. This was efficient due to the anti-bacterial properties of the substance glycyrrhizin present in the roots. It's also the same substance which provides the sweet flavor. However, glycyrrhizin is not metabolized by our bodies and may therefore, just as Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), be used as a sweetening substitute for sugar.

Licorice root was sold in pharmacies as a medicine until as late as the 1970s.

The Licorice root can be shredded and made into a tea or a refreshening beverage served with ice. In Mongolia, the leaves are used as a substitute for common Tea (Camellia sinensis).

The root may also be ground/crushed to make your own licorice. Mix with sugar molasses/syrup, flour and anise in a heated saucepan. 

Licorice root is also often used together with anise when flavoring alcoholic beverages.

Cultivation:

Licorice root grows naturally in southern Europe and parts of Asia.

The plant is hardy down to -20 ºC. In most of Europe, it can be grown outdoors all year round. To protect the plant during the winter, cover the base with twigs, leaves, straw or similar. Measures such as these can allow your Licorice root plant to thrive even in locations that are generally viewed as below its temperature range. The USDA Zone of the Licorice root range from 7-10.

Licorice root may also be grown in a wide pot, put outdoors during the warmer months, and indoors during the colder months.

Licorice root thrives best in well-drained soil and locations with full sun.

The roots, which are the main part used for consumption, become meters long, so a large pot is recommended for pot cultivation. It takes about 3 years for the plant to become harvestable and by that time it will likely have grown to become a fairly large bush. 

Sowing:

The seeds can be sown directly outdoors when the soil temperature has risen to above 15 ºC. The seeds can also be pre-cultivated indoors any time of the year.

Soak the seeds for 1 day before sowing. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and keep the sowing moist.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun
Height: 1-2 m
Germination Time: 1-3 months
USDA Zone: 7-10

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Trivial Names: Sky-Earth, Sail-Earth, K litoria, Butterfly Pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

Large climbing plant whose flowers have an intense blue color that is easily released when hot water is added.

Used to color food, sweets and drinks.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

The normally blue colored drink changes to purple if you add something acidic, such as lemon. This is due to pH changes in the composition. Similarly, the flowers of the sky pea are sometimes used to make blue gin, which turns purple when tonic is added.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made in Himmelsart is used in Asia in the same way that we in Sweden use chamomile tea.

Like The goa bean Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil in that it fixes nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Culture:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common names : Goa bean, Wing bean, Square bean, Cigarillas, Manila bean, Kecipir
Scientific name : Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Family : Fabaceae

Plant history & use :

The goa bean is a perennial bean plant with several uses in cooking that is also often favored in cultivation for its strong disease resistance.

Sometimes wrongly confused with Asparagus ( Tetragonolobus purpureus ) which, however, is a different species. The asparagus pea has smaller legumes than the Goa bean, red flowers and smaller, pea-like leaves.

The goa bean has larger leaves of 10-15 cm and light blue flowers and square beans that are usually 15-20 cm.

The goa bean is a nutritious plant and all parts of the plant can be eaten:

• Leaves can be eaten like spinach,
• Flowers can be added to salads,
• Tubers can be eaten raw or cooked like potatoes - have a nutty taste
• Seeds (dry beans) can be used in a similar way to soybeans. You can make both flour and milk from dried, ground goa beans that lack the distinctive "bean flavor"
• The unripe green bean pods can be eaten as a raw vegetable or cooked in a stir-fry. The taste is reminiscent of asparagus.

All of the plant parts of the Goa bean have a high protein content. The mature seeds (dry beans) contain 40%, the tubers 20% - which is higher than many root vegetables - and the leaves and flowers contain 10-15%.

The goa bean is currently a relatively unknown crop but is continuously increasing in commercial use.

The goa bean is an effective ground cover and good at out-competing weeds. If you plant the Goa bean without anything to climb on, it will instead spread at ground level and make it difficult for weeds to climb up.

The goa bean also fixes nitrogen to the soil via rhizobacteria and can help rebuild nutrient-poor soils.

The goa bean can also be given as feed to both ruminants, poultry and fish.

Cultivation :

The goa bean is a perennial plant with a climbing habit (similar to the long bean ). Large grown in its natural environment - can reach lengths of 3-4 meters.

Hardy for cultivation in the warmest parts of Skåne, Blekinge, Öland & Gotland. In winter, please cover the base with straw or similar when growing outdoors.

Would like to have something to climb on, eg house wall, larger tree, pillar, sticks or tied wire.

Thrives in well-drained soils. Benefit from heat and moisture. Optimum temperature for growth and fruiting is around 25 °C. Lower temperatures favor root tuber growth while higher temperatures favor leaf growth.

Self-pollinating.

Fixes nitrogen on its own via rhizobacteria on the roots, fertilization is not a necessity.

The green bean pods are ready for harvest after 3-4 months from sowing.

Sowing :

Soak seeds in lukewarm water 1 day before sowing.

Can be sown directly outdoors / in a greenhouse when the soil temperature has reached above 15 °C. Alternatively, pre-cultivate indoors for planting out in late spring. Sowing depth 2 cm. Keep seed moist.

Properties :

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 2-4 m
Germination time: 1-2 weeks
Plant zone: 1

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Trivial name: Carob, St. John's Bread, Locust Bean, Keration
Scientific name: Ceratonia siliqua
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

Carob is an evergreen culturally significant plant with a long history of various uses. Already thousands of years ago, Carob - as the dried bean pods are called - were used as a counterweight when weighing gold and precious stones. The kernels (seeds) inside the pod always weighed 0.2 grams and that is where the measurement carat comes from.

Carob has also been used as a cough medicine and sold as candy in pharmacies in the past. The pods have a natural sugar content of 30-50% and this is believed to be one of the reasons why they were eaten as a snack in Ancient Rome.

A known area of ​​use today is as a substitute for cocoa, in roasted and ground form. Unlike cocoa, carob is free from i.a. caffeine and theobromine.

Another common use today is the so called Locust Bean gum extracted from the seeds. Locust Bean gum is a thickener used in different foods, among others: ice cream and crème fraîche.

Carob contains many different vitamins, e.g. vitamins A and B2 and has a taste reminiscent of caramel.

Cultivation:

In its natural environment around the Mediterranean, the Carob tree grows to 10–15 meters and produces pods up to 25cm long.

In the most favored areas of Northern Europe, such as Cornwall, England, the Carob tree is reported being able to grow and overwinter outdoors. In the rest of Europe, it is best grown in pots that are outdoors during the summer and overwintered indoors. 

However, the microclimate may vary in one and the same region. The main point to consider should be that the Carob tree can withstand subzero temperatures down to about -8 ºC before the tree takes damage - if you can provide such conditions above that limit it is theoretically possible for the Carob tree to grow outdoors all year round. But it should be considered an experiment in itself and it's recommended to perform it when the tree has gained somewhat growth.

Other than that, the Carob tree is drought tolerant and thrives in well-drained/rocky soil in sunny locations. Avoid damp environments and heavy clay soils. Let the soil dry up between waterings and add nutrients during the summer months if desired.

Transplanting to a larger pot is preferably done before the taproot (the thickest main root) has grown down to the bottom. As with all plants, restricted space for taproot growth is significantly decreasing growth rate of the entire plant. 

Carob trees growing in their natural environment, the Mediterranean Basin, are high-producing trees capable of yielding 400 kilos of bean pods each year.

Sowing:

Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 3 days before sowing. Sow in sowing soil. Cover with 2 cm of soil. Keep the soil moist. Germination time is about 2-5 weeks and optimal germination temperature is 22-26 ºC.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun
Height: up to 15 m
Germination Time: 2-5 weeks

USDA Zone: 9-11

SEEDS (20pcs/bag)

Common names : Long bean, Asparagus bean, Meter bean, Snake Bean, Bodi
Scientific name : Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Family : Fabaceae

Plant history & use :

Grown for its edible long beans. The beans are crunchy, string-free and have a slightly nutty taste. The name comes from the length of the beans, which is often around 40-75 cm.

Usually used and prepared in a similar way to green beans - that is, the bean pods are harvested in an unripe stage to be cooked or eaten raw. Long beans are very good to eat raw, unlike many other broad beans.

You can also leave the bean pods on the plant until they have reached full maturity and cook the dry beans inside the pod in the same way as, for example, kidney beans.

Long beans should be eaten raw alongside other dishes, cooked in woks, pots or made into a salad. A popular example is in papaya salad (Som Tam) where the raw beans are cut into 2-3 cm long pieces and mixed with the grated papaya and other ingredients.

Cultivation :

Thrives in heat & direct sun, prefers high humidity but it is not a requirement. Relatively drought tolerant once the plant is established. Can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses.

Use an airy and well-drained soil. Can you give it a soil with a slightly acidic pH value (5.5-7.5) it is an advantage.

As a pea plant, the long bean fixes its own nitrogen in the soil and does not necessarily need to be given any additional fertilization.

The long bean is a so-called sturgeon and has a climbing habit. Feel free to give it some space and something to climb on for vigorous growth and fruiting. When the adult stage is reached and the temperature is around 27-32 °C, the long bean grows vigorously and produces abundantly.

Feel free to prune tops of side shoots for an abundant harvest.

Harvested 2-3 months after germination.

Flowers vary from pink to lavender.

Sowing :

Can be sown directly outdoors / in a greenhouse when the soil temperature has reached above 15 °C. Alternatively, pre-cultivate indoors for planting out in late spring. Keep seed moist.

Properties :

Duration: One year
Plant position: sun
Height: 125-200 cm
Germination time: 1-2 weeks

SEEDS (5pcs/bag)

Common Names : Purple Goa Bean, Purple Wing Bean, Square Bean, Cigarillas, Manila Bean, Kecipir
Scientific name : Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Family : Fabaceae

Plant history & use :

The Purple Goa bean is just like that the green one The goa bean is a perennial bean plant with several uses in cooking that is also often favored in cultivation for its strong disease resistance.

Sometimes wrongly confused with Asparagus ( Tetragonolobus purpureus ) which, however, is a different species. The asparagus pea has smaller legumes than the Goa bean, red flowers and smaller, pea-like leaves.

The Purple Goa bean has larger leaves of 10-15 cm and slightly purple flowers and square beans that are usually 15-20 cm.

Purple Goa bean is a nutritious plant and all parts of the plant can be eaten:

• Leaves can be eaten like spinach,
• Flowers can be added to salads,
• Tubers can be eaten raw or cooked like potatoes - have a nutty taste
• Seeds (dry beans) can be used in a similar way to soybeans. You can make both flour and milk from dried, ground goa beans that lack the distinctive "bean flavor"
• The unripe bean pods can be eaten as a raw vegetable or cooked in a stir fry. The taste is reminiscent of asparagus.

All of the plant parts of the Goa bean have a high protein content. The mature seeds (dry beans) contain 40%, the tubers 20% - which is higher than many root vegetables - and the leaves and flowers contain 10-15%.

The Purple Goa bean is currently a relatively unknown crop, but along with the green colored Goa bean is continuously increasing in commercial use.

Purple Goa bean is an effective ground cover and good at out-competing weeds. If you plant the bean without anything to climb on, it will instead spread at ground level and make it difficult for weeds to climb up.

The Purple Goa bean also fixes nitrogen to the soil via rhizobacteria and can help rebuild nutrient-poor soils.

Lila Goa bean can also be given as feed to both ruminants, poultry and fish.

Cultivation :

The Lila Goa bean is a perennial plant with a climbing habit (like The long bean ). Large grown in its natural environment - can reach lengths of 3-4 meters.

Hardy for cultivation in the warmest parts of Skåne, Blekinge, Öland & Gotland. In winter, please cover the base with straw or similar when growing outdoors.

Would like to have something to climb on, eg house wall, larger tree, pillar, sticks or tied wire.

Thrives in well-drained soils. Benefit from heat and moisture. Optimum temperature for growth and fruiting is around 25 °C. Lower temperatures favor root tuber growth while higher temperatures favor leaf growth.

Self-pollinating.

Fixes nitrogen on its own via rhizobacteria on the roots, fertilization is not a necessity.

The purple bean pods are ready for harvest after 3-4 months from sowing.

Sowing :

Soak seeds in lukewarm water 1 day before sowing.

Can be sown directly outdoors / in a greenhouse when the soil temperature has reached above 15 °C. Alternatively, pre-cultivate indoors for planting out in late spring. Sowing depth 2 cm. Keep seed moist.

Properties :

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 2-4 m
Germination time: 1-2 weeks
Plant zone: 1

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Common Names : Purple Long Bean 'Pomegranate', Purple Asparagus Bean, Little Meter Bean, Purple Snake Bean, Bodi
Scientific name : Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Family : Fabaceae

Plant history & use :

A purple variant of the long bean. Like most other purple colored vegetables & fruits, the color comes from substances called anthocyanins and act as antioxidants. The name comes from the length of the beans, which is for the Purple Long Bean 55-60 cm.

Usually used and prepared in a similar way to green beans - that is, the bean pods are harvested in an unripe stage to be cooked or eaten raw. Long beans are very good to eat raw, unlike many other broad beans.

You can also leave the bean pods on the plant until they have reached full maturity and cook the dry beans inside the pod in the same way as, for example, kidney beans.

Long beans should be eaten raw alongside other dishes, cooked in woks, pots or made into a salad. A popular example is in papaya salad (Som Tam) where the raw beans are cut into 2-3 cm long pieces and mixed with the grated papaya and other ingredients.

Lila Långböna contains e.g vitamins A, B, C and, as I said, anthocyanins.

Cultivation :

Thrives in heat & direct sun, prefers high humidity but it is not a requirement. Relatively drought tolerant once the plant is established. Can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses.

Use an airy and well-drained soil. Can you give it a soil with a slightly acidic pH value (5.5-7.5) it is an advantage.

As a pea plant, the long bean fixes its own nitrogen in the soil and does not necessarily need to be given any additional fertilization.

The long bean is a so-called sturgeon and has a climbing habit. Feel free to give it some space and something to climb on for vigorous growth and fruiting. When the adult stage is reached and the temperature is around 27-32 °C, the long bean grows vigorously and produces abundantly.

Feel free to prune tops of side shoots for an abundant harvest.

Harvested 2-3 months after germination.

Flowers vary from pink to lavender.

Sowing :

Can be sown directly outdoors / in a greenhouse when the soil temperature has reached above 15 °C. Alternatively, pre-cultivate indoors for planting out in late spring. Keep sowing warm and moist.

Properties :

Duration: One year
Plant position: sun
Height: 125-200 cm
Germination time: 1-2 weeks

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common Names: Light-Purple Butterfly Pea, Asian Pigeonwings, Cordofan Pea, Darwin pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

A light purple variant of the more common one Blue Sky Pea . This variety has stuffed flowers.

Large climbing plant with edible flowers. Can be grown as a cover crop against a fence or as a ground cover.

Used to color food, sweets and drinks.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made in Himmelsart is used in Asia in the same way that we in Sweden use chamomile tea.

Like The goa bean Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil in that it fixes nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Cultivation:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common Names: Light Purple Sky Pea, Light Purple Sail Pea, Light Purple K litoria, Light Purple Butterfly Pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

Magenta colored variant of the more common one Blue Sky Pea .

Large climbing plant with edible flowers. Can be grown as a cover crop against a fence or as a ground cover.

Used to color food, sweets and drinks.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made in Himmelsart is used in Asia in the same way that we in Sweden use chamomile tea.

Like The goa bean Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil in that it fixes nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Culture:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Common name: Chinese Liquorice/Licorice Root, Cultivated Licorice
Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

This characterizes Chinese Liquorice Root in relation to other Liquorice species in the genus Glycyrrhiza:

• Originally from Central Asia and Northern China.
• Used in traditional Chinese medicine for its medicinal properties.
• Hardy down to -25 ºC.
• Can be grown outdoors in colder climates with appropriate winter protection.
• Grows to a height of 0.5-1.5 meters. This is a more low-growing licorice species.

Liquorice Root has a long history both as a medicinal plant and as a sweet treat. As early as 4000 BC it was used by the Assyrians and since then the licorice root has been used as a nerve-soother, flu-reliever, anti-infective and more.

One of the most prominent uses of the Licorice root by our ancestors was to chew it in order to keep their teeth clean and healthy. This was efficient due to the anti-bacterial properties of the substance glycyrrhizin present in the roots. It's also the same substance which provides the sweet flavor. However, glycyrrhizin is not metabolized by our bodies and may therefore, just as Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), be used as a sweetening substitute for sugar.

Licorice root was sold in pharmacies as a medicine until as late as the 1970s.

The Licorice root can be shredded and made into a tea or a refreshening beverage served with ice. In Mongolia, the leaves are used as a substitute for common Tea (Camellia sinensis).

The root may also be ground/crushed to make your own licorice. Mix with sugar molasses/syrup, flour and anise in a heated saucepan. 

Licorice root is also often used together with anise when flavoring alcoholic beverages.

Cultivation:

Licorice root grows naturally in southern Europe and parts of Asia.

The plant is hardy down to -25 ºC. In most of Europe, it can be grown outdoors all year round. To protect the plant during the winter, cover the base with twigs, leaves, straw or similar. Measures such as these can allow your Licorice root plant to thrive even in locations that are generally viewed as below its temperature range. The USDA Zone of the Licorice root range from 7-10.

Licorice root may also be grown in a wide pot, put outdoors during the warmer months, and indoors during the colder months.

Licorice root thrives best in well-drained soil and locations with full sun.

The roots, which are the main part used for consumption, become meters long, so a large pot is recommended for pot cultivation. It takes about 3 years for the plant to become harvestable and by that time it will likely have grown to become a fairly large bush. 

Sowing:

The seeds can be sown directly outdoors when the soil temperature has risen to above 15 ºC. The seeds can also be pre-cultivated indoors any time of the year.

Soak the seeds for 1 day before sowing. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and keep the sowing moist.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun
Height: 1-2 m
Germination Time: 1-3 months
USDA Zone: 5-9

SEEDS (5pcs/bag)

Common names: Orchid Tree, Camel's Foot, Mountain Ebony, Kachnar
Scientific name: Bauhinia variegata 'Candida' / 'Alba'
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

The Orchid Tree, also known as Mountain Ebony, is a beautiful flowering tree that belongs to the pea family. It is originally from South Asia and is known for its distinctive and colorful flowers. The tree got its name from the similarity between its flowers and orchid flowers. The flowers on the Orchid Tree are very fragrant - they have a honeysuckle-like scent. These seeds are from the variety 'Candida' with white flowers.

Leaves and flower buds are edible. In India, the unopened flower buds, which are called Kachnar, are used to both prepare curries and make various pickles. You can compare it to the fact that here in Europe we use the unopened flower buds from the Caper plant to make pickles and consume.

Oil can be extracted from the seeds of the Orchid tree.

There are also some medicinal uses for the plant. It is then mainly sap from the bark that is used.

The tree thrives best in subtropical and tropical climates, but can also do well in sheltered and sunny locations in temperate climates. Read more about cultivation below.

Cultivation:

The Orchid Tree has its origins in subtropical and tropical climates in southern Asia. However, it tolerates frost and temperatures as low as -7 degrees. If you place the tree in a favorable sunny and windless place, you can theoretically succeed with outdoor cultivation all year round in the most favorable parts of Sweden - Skåne, Öland & Gotland, among others. The specified USDA zone for the tree is zone 8, which corresponds precisely to the most favorable locations in Sweden's zone 1. Read more about the relationship between Swedish plant zones & USDA zones here .

To further protect the tree during the colder months, the base of the tree can be covered with straw or the like to create protection against wind, prevent the radiation of ground heat and insulate against external penetrating cold. This can be done with basically all trees that are on the border of hardiness in an attempt to succeed in wintering outdoors.

Otherwise, you can always grow in a pot that is moved in for the winter.

Use a nutrient-rich, well-drained soil for your Orchid tree.

The orchid tree is slightly sensitive to lime - add peat or other pH-lowering substrate to your soil if it is naturally chalky (higher range of pH values ​​- 7.5 and above) to give the tree optimal conditions for successful growth. Acceptable values ​​for the Orchid Tree are pH 5.5-7.5.

The tree can be propagated by cuttings as well as seeds.

Sowing:

Soak the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing.

Preferably sow indoors or in a greenhouse under a 1 cm layer of soil. Keep the seed moist. The seeds can still be considered quick-germinating, it usually does not take more than about 1 week before the seeds start to germinate, some of the seeds take longer.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun / Partial shade
Height: 2-10 m
Germination Time: 1-4 weeks

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common Names: Light Blue Sky Pea, Light Blue Sail Pea, Light Blue K litoria, Light-blue Butterfly Pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

Light blue variant of the more common one Blue Sky Pea . This variety has double petals, there is also a Light Blue Himmelsärt with a filled inflorescence .

Large climbing plant with edible flowers. Can be grown as a cover crop against a fence or as a ground cover.

Used to color food, sweets and drinks.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made in Himmelsart is used in Asia in the same way that we in Sweden use chamomile tea.

Like The goa bean Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil in that it fixes nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Culture:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Common name: Roman Liquorice/Licorice Root, Cultivated Licorice
Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

This characterizes Roman Liquorice Root in relation to other Liquorice species in the genus Glycyrrhiza:

• Originally from southern Europe and parts of Asia.
• Has a long history as a medicinal plant and is used as a sweet.
• Used to produce Russian and German licorice.
• Hardy down to -20 ºC.
• Grows to a height of 1-2 meters.

Liquorice Root has a long history both as a medicinal plant and as a sweet treat. As early as 4000 BC it was used by the Assyrians and since then the licorice root has been used as a nerve-soother, flu-reliever, anti-infective and more.

One of the most prominent uses of the Licorice root by our ancestors was to chew it in order to keep their teeth clean and healthy. This was efficient due to the anti-bacterial properties of the substance glycyrrhizin present in the roots. It's also the same substance which provides the sweet flavor. However, glycyrrhizin is not metabolized by our bodies and may therefore, just as Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), be used as a sweetening substitute for sugar.

Licorice root was sold in pharmacies as a medicine until as late as the 1970s.

The Licorice root can be shredded and made into a tea or a refreshening beverage served with ice. In Mongolia, the leaves are used as a substitute for common Tea (Camellia sinensis).

The root may also be ground/crushed to make your own licorice. Mix with sugar molasses/syrup, flour and anise in a heated saucepan. 

Licorice root is also often used together with anise when flavoring alcoholic beverages.

Cultivation:

Licorice root grows naturally in southern Europe and parts of Asia.

The plant is hardy down to -20 ºC. In most of Europe, it can be grown outdoors all year round. To protect the plant during the winter, cover the base with twigs, leaves, straw or similar. Measures such as these can allow your Licorice root plant to thrive even in locations that are generally viewed as below its temperature range. The USDA Zone of the Licorice root range from 7-10.

Licorice root may also be grown in a wide pot, put outdoors during the warmer months, and indoors during the colder months.

Licorice root thrives best in well-drained soil and locations with full sun.

The roots, which are the main part used for consumption, become meters long, so a large pot is recommended for pot cultivation. It takes about 3 years for the plant to become harvestable and by that time it will likely have grown to become a fairly large bush. 

Sowing:

The seeds can be sown directly outdoors when the soil temperature has risen to above 15 ºC. The seeds can also be pre-cultivated indoors any time of the year.

Soak the seeds for 1 day before sowing. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and keep the sowing moist.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun
Height: 1-2 m
Germination Time: 1-3 months
USDA Zone: 7-10

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common names: White Sky Pea, White Sail Pea, White K litoria, White Butterfly Pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

White variant of the more common Blue Sky Pea . This variety has stuffed flowers.

Large climbing plant with edible flowers. Can be grown as a cover crop against a fence or as a ground cover.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made in Himmelsart is used in Asia in the same way that we in Sweden use chamomile tea.

Like The goa bean Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil in that it fixes nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Culture:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (5pcs/bag)

Common names: Purple Bauhinia, Orchid Tree, Camel's Foot, Butterfly Tree, Hawaiian Orchid Tree
Scientific name: Bauhinia purpurea
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

Purple Bauhinia is a beautiful tree with profuse purple flowers. The flowers smell like honeysuckle. The tree has its origins in the area around India and Myanmar.

Like the orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata) are flower buds, flowers, young leaves and young pods of Purple Bauhinia edible.

You can put in unopened flower buds in a way similar to how we put capers in Europe. They can also be put in pots and made different types of salsa on. The flower buds are called Kachnar in Indian - that's also the search term you use if you want to find recipes for using the unopened flower buds.

Bean pods are boiled and eaten as a vegetable on the side.

Seeds can be fried/roasted in a frying pan for consumption.

In Southeast Asia, Purpurbauhinian is also used to soothe swelling, bruises and heal wounds. In India, the leaves are used to make a type of cough medicine.

Cultivation:

The Purpurbauhinian has its provenance from subtropical and tropical climates in southern Asia. Purpurbauhinian is not as cold hardy as The orchid tree, however, tolerates frost. On younger trees, leaves may be damaged by the frost and fall off, but the tree recovers during the growing season again.

In Sweden, cultivation in pots that overwinter above zero is recommended. If you have several trees, live in the warmer parts of the country and want to experiment with the borders, you should choose a location sheltered from the wind and sunny and cover the base of the tree with straw or similar over the winter. This insulates the tree against the worst of the cold. Regardless, you can preferably let the tree overwinter first year above zero to be able to grow as strongly as possible before planting out next year.

Purpurbauhinian likes to grow in nutrient-rich, well-drained soils with a lot of organic matter and a neutral to slightly basic pH: 6.5-7.5. Regular potting soil works well.

The tree can be propagated by cuttings as well as seeds.

Sowing:

Soak the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing.

Preferably sow indoors or in a greenhouse under a 1 cm layer of soil. Keep the seed moist. The seeds can still be considered quick-germinating, it usually doesn't take more than about 1 week before the seeds start to germinate, some of the seeds take longer.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun / Partial shade
Height: 2-10 m
Germination Time: 1-4 weeks

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common names: Butterfly Pea 'Blue Sky', Light Blue Butterfly Pea
Scientific name: Clitoria ternatea
Family: Fabaceae 

Plant history & use:

Light blue Butterfly Pea with filled flowers.

Large climbing plant whose flowers have an intense blue color that is easily released when hot water is added.

Used to color food, sweets and drinks.

In Asia, tea made directly from the flowers is drunk. Sometimes it is mixed with lemongrass, honey and lime.

Himmelsärt is also used in traditional medicine as a relaxant and memory enhancer.

The normally blue colored drink changes to purple if you add something acidic, such as lemon. This is due to pH changes in the composition. Similarly, the flowers of the sky pea are sometimes used to make blue gin, which turns purple when tonic is added.

As a comparison, you can think that tea made from Butterfly Pea is used in Asia in the same way that we in Europe use chamomile tea.

Like the Goa bean , the Himmelsärten is regenerative for the soil by fixing nitrogen from air pores in the soil and works well as a ground cover crop. On the other hand, Himmelsärten is generally not hardy in Sweden, unlike Goa bean.

Cultivation:

The sky pea is a sun-loving, fast-growing plant that quickly establishes itself if it has something to climb on.

Cultivation in a pot is recommended if you want to let it become perennial in Sweden. Overwinter frost-free.

Able to grow in both moist and dry soils. Thrives surprisingly well in heavy clay soils. For growing in pots, a loamy soil with good drainage should be used.

Top branches for a bushier growth habit.

Sowing:

Pre-cultivated indoors early in the year, alternatively sown outside in April-May.

Soak the seeds 1 day in advance. Sow in moist soil and preferably cover with plastic with small air holes to maintain good moisture.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: sun
Height: 150-300 cm
Germination time: 10-20 days

SEEDS (15pcs/bag)

Common name: Yunnan Liquorice/Licorice Root, Cultivated Licorice
Scientific name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

This characterizes Yunnan Liquorice Root in relation to other Liquorice species in the genus Glycyrrhiza:

• Originally from Yunnan Province in China.
• Has medical use in traditional Chinese medicine.
• Hardy down to -20 ºC. Slightly less cold-resistant than our other licorice root varieties.
• Thrives in moist and shady areas.
• Grows to a height of 1-2 meters.

Liquorice Root has a long history both as a medicinal plant and as a sweet treat. As early as 4000 BC it was used by the Assyrians and since then the licorice root has been used as a nerve-soother, flu-reliever, anti-infective and more.

One of the most prominent uses of the Licorice root by our ancestors was to chew it in order to keep their teeth clean and healthy. This was efficient due to the anti-bacterial properties of the substance glycyrrhizin present in the roots. It's also the same substance which provides the sweet flavor. However, glycyrrhizin is not metabolized by our bodies and may therefore, just as Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), be used as a sweetening substitute for sugar.

Licorice root was sold in pharmacies as a medicine until as late as the 1970s.

The Licorice root can be shredded and made into a tea or a refreshening beverage served with ice. In Mongolia, the leaves are used as a substitute for common Tea (Camellia sinensis).

The root may also be ground/crushed to make your own licorice. Mix with sugar molasses/syrup, flour and anise in a heated saucepan. 

Licorice root is also often used together with anise when flavoring alcoholic beverages.

Cultivation:

Licorice root grows naturally in southern Europe and parts of Asia.

The plant is hardy down to -20 ºC. In most of Europe, it can be grown outdoors all year round. To protect the plant during the winter, cover the base with twigs, leaves, straw or similar. Measures such as these can allow your Licorice root plant to thrive even in locations that are generally viewed as below its temperature range. The USDA Zone of the Licorice root range from 7-10.

Licorice root may also be grown in a wide pot, put outdoors during the warmer months, and indoors during the colder months.

Licorice root thrives best in well-drained soil and locations with full sun.

The roots, which are the main part used for consumption, become meters long, so a large pot is recommended for pot cultivation. It takes about 3 years for the plant to become harvestable and by that time it will likely have grown to become a fairly large bush. 

Sowing:

The seeds can be sown directly outdoors when the soil temperature has risen to above 15 ºC. The seeds can also be pre-cultivated indoors any time of the year.

Soak the seeds for 1 day before sowing. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and keep the sowing moist.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Perennial
Location: Sun
Height: 1-2 m
Germination Time: 1-3 months
USDA Zone: 7-10

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common Names: Yard Long Bean 'Bicolor', Asparagus Bean, Snake Bean, Bodi
Scientific name: Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use :

A black spotted/camouflage variant of the long bean.

Usually used and prepared in a similar way to green beans - that is, the bean pods are harvested in an unripe stage to be cooked or eaten raw. Long beans are very good to eat raw, unlike many other broad beans, thanks to their crunchy texture and rich, nutty taste.

You can also leave the bean pods on the plant until they have reached full maturity and cook the dry beans inside the pod in the same way as, for example, kidney beans.

Long beans should be eaten raw alongside other dishes, cooked in woks, pots or made into a salad. A popular example is in papaya salad (Som Tam) where the raw beans are cut into 2-3 cm long pieces and mixed with the grated papaya and other ingredients.

Lila Långböna contains e.g vitamins A, B, C and, as I said, anthocyanins.

Cultivation:

Thrives in heat & direct sun, prefers high humidity but it is not a requirement. Relatively drought tolerant once the plant is established. Can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses.

Use an airy and well-drained soil. If you can give it a soil with a slightly acidic pH value (5.5-7.5), that is an advantage.

As a pea plant, the long bean fixes its own nitrogen in the soil and does not necessarily need to be given any additional fertilization.

The long bean is a so-called sturgeon and has a climbing habit. Feel free to give it some space and something to climb on for vigorous growth and fruiting. When the adult stage is reached and the temperature is around 27-32 °C, the long bean grows vigorously and produces abundantly.

Feel free to prune tops of side shoots for an abundant harvest.

Harvested 2-3 months after germination.

Flowers vary from pink to lavender.

Sowing:

Can be sown directly outdoors / in a greenhouse when the soil temperature has reached above 15 °C. Alternatively, pre-cultivate indoors for planting out in late spring. Keep sowing warm and moist.

Characteristics:

Lifespan: Annual
Location: Sun
Height: 125-200 cm
Germination Time: 1-2 weeks

SEEDS (10pcs/bag)

Common names: White Dwarf Bauhinia, White Orchid Tree, Snowy Orchid Tree
Scientific name: Bauhinia acuminata
Family: Fabaceae

Plant history & use:

White Dwarf Bauhinia is a small-grown species in the same genus as the Orchid Tree and Purple Bauhinia with origins somewhere around the Malay Archipelago.

The flowers smell sweet and delicious. A common hedge and park plant in the tropics.

In Java, the roots are used to treat coughs and colds. The roots are placed in a cold mixture of alcohol and water and then drunk. In India, a decoction is made of the leaves and bark to treat asthma.

This plant works in symbiosis with bacteria in the soil to fix nitrogen from the air (air pores in soil).

Culture:

This species probably has a slightly lower hardiness than the Orchid Tree and the Purpurbauhinian , but at the same time is the species best suited for growing in pots due to its size. Leave outside during the warmer months and move for frost-free wintering. However, it can handle some minus degrees (about -6ºC) for shorter periods.

Cultivated in a well-drained and loamy soil. Place in full sun to partial shade.

Thrives well in greenhouses.

Sowing:

Soak the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing.

Preferably sow indoors or in a greenhouse under a 1 cm layer of soil. Keep the seed moist. The seeds can be considered fast-growing, it usually does not take more than about 1 week before the seeds start to germinate, some of the seeds take longer.

Characteristics:

Age: Perennial
Plant position: shade/semi-shade/sun
Height: 2-3 m
Germination time: 1-3 weeks