Spice and aromatic plants

A collection of spice and aromatic plants suitable for cultivation in Lithuanian conditions and representing the morphological and ornamental diversity of spice and aromatic plants.

Spice (aromatic) plants - plants that accumulate substances that give them a distinctive aroma and flavor, used fresh or dried, or otherwise processed, to flavor and add aroma to dishes. The active substances of spice plants, which give them their aroma and flavor, are essential oils, glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and organic acids. These plants are grouped according to the parts of the plant that are used for spices: leafy (leaves, sometimes young shoots with leaves and inflorescences), floral (flowers, flower buds or parts of the flower), fruiting (fruit, seeds, individual parts of the fruit), bark, and tap-rooted (roots, rhizomes, tubers, or other underground parts). There are more than 1000 species of herbs worldwide. About 50 species of herbs grow naturally in Lithuania. Around 60 more species of herbs are grown in gardens, orchards, and flowerbeds.

This collection is intended to introduce the visitors of VU Botanical Garden to plants that can be used for seasoning and adding aroma to various dishes, as well as those that could grow in the climate conditions of Lithuania, and to represent the morphological and ornamental diversity of spice (aromatic) plants.

Exactly when people started using spices is unknown. As early as the 5th century BC. In Mesopotamia, some medicinal herbs were known and used. These included laurel, caraway, thyme and others. In ancient China, the history of herbal cultivation is believed to date back to 3000 BC. In the Middle Ages, spice gardens developed and flourished. The first records of herbs in Lithuanian gardens are found in the description of the garden of the Radvila Palace in Vilnius in 1542-1547. A lot of data on various plants, including herbs and medicinal plants, can be found in the manuscripts of J. A. Pabrėža. In 1923, on the initiative of Prof. J. Muszyński, a herb garden (Hortus medicinalis) was established at the Faculty of Medicine of Steponas Batoras University.

For the spice and aromatic plant collection, plants suitable for Lithuanian climate conditions are selected, i.e., plants that can grow up to cold hardiness zone 6. The plants shall also be ornamental and reflect the morphological diversity of these plants: life form (liana, tree, shrub, bush, shrubby, herbaceous), leaf shape (simple or compound) and inflorescence type (cluster, spike, horse, shield, panicle, whisker, simple umbrella, compound umbrella, head, cob, raceme, monocot, dicot, dichasia, thyrsus, strobili and panicum).

Common sage (Salvia officinalis L.)

A summer-green semi-shrub is 25-60cm tall, forming a luxuriant shrub. The stem is erect, branched, and hairy throughout, with many short, abundantly leafy shoots at the base. Leaves are short-stemmed, oblong-ovate or broadly lanceolate, sometimes elliptic. The petiole is simple. The corolla is blue, less often white, or pinkish, red. The flowers are clustered in a spike-shaped inflorescence.

Blooms in the months of June to July.

The fruit is almost egg-shaped, brown with dark streaks. Sage is grown on drier sandy loam or loamy soils. They do not tolerate excess moisture. Acidic soils are also not suitable. It grows well in a sunny, wind-protected location. Overwinters in zones 5-10. Older sages are less resistant to frost. Freezes or thaws in snowless winters. They should be covered with spruce twigs or straws in small areas.

Sage is both a medicinal and a herbaceous plant. The leaves and flowers are used for seasoning. They are added to fatty dishes. The essential oil is used to flavor baked goods, ice cream and sweets.

Lemon thyme (Thymus × citriodorus (Pers.) Schreb.)

A summer-green semi-shrub, 15cm tall, forming a luxuriant shrub. The stem is woody at the base, ascending, rooting at the base. Leaves are short-stemmed, inverted-ovate. The petiole is simple. Inflorescences are head-shaped, clustered at the apex of the stem and branches. The corolla is pale purple.

Blooms in the months of June to September. Fruits are dark brown nuts.

Thyme is planted in a sunny position. They are undemanding to the soil. Lemon thyme should be planted in a location where the wind will not blow snow away in winter. Overwinters in zones 5-10. It is both a medicinal and a herbaceous plant.

Thyme is a strong and pleasant-smelling herb that can be consumed fresh and dried. It is suitable for adding aroma to potato pudding in sausage skin, fatty meats dishes, pulses dishes (peas, beans, broad beans), soups, sauces, salads, pickles and liqueurs.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)

It is a rhizomatous perennial 30-80cm tall, forming a compact shrub. The stem is erect, branched only at the inflorescence, often reddish, hairy on two opposite sides. Leaves are stalked, ovate, oblong-ovate or oblong. The leaf blade is simple. Inflorescence is a broad, umbrella-shaped panicle at the apex of the stem, composed of many round or oblong spikes which elongate as the fruit matures. The corolla is reddish purple or light purple, sometimes white.

Blooms in the months of July to September.

Oregano is undemanding for soil and grows better in a cultivated, fertile loamy or light loamy soil. It dislikes acid, waterlogged and well-fertilized soils. Overwinters in zones 4-10.

It is a medicinal and herbaceous plant. With a spicy, bitter taste, oregano is a classic pizza seasoning and is added to many spice mixes. It flavors soups, meat and pasta dishes, and vegetable dishes, especially beans, kidney beans and peas, and is suitable for flavoring various sauces.

Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm)

It is a rhizomatous plant, 30-50cm tall, forming a compact shrub. The stems are erect and tall, ending in an inflorescence. Leaves are greenish-grey, wavy-edged and slightly hairy. The petiole is simple. The flowers are greenish-yellow, clustered in large, fluffy, panicle-shaped inflorescences formed by compound umbels.

Blooms in the months of May to August.

Lady’s mantle grows well in a wide range of soil types, and prefers partial shade, but also grows well in full sun, and does not like unfertilized soils. Suitable for moderately moist, water-permeable soils. Overwinters in zones 3-8. Ideal for landscaping: combining with woody plants, rock gardens, waterside landscaping, bed framing (mixborder), and containers.

Both fresh and cooked leaves are used in cooking. They can be mixed with the leaves of the common snakeweed (Polygonum bistorta) and the spotted lady’s thumb (Polygonum persicaria) to make a bitter herbal pudding called 'Easter book', which is eaten during Lent. The leaves are also used to make tea blends.