Oxalis tuberosa - Oca

Latin plant name Oxalis tuberosa Common plant name Oca Plant type Perennial herbaceous plant Size (meters) < 1m Distinguishing features The plant is not known in the wild, but populations of wild Oxalis species that bear smaller tubers are known from four areas of the central Andean region. Oca was introduced to Europe in 1830 as a competitor to the potato. Oca is cultivated primarily for its edible stem tuber, but the leaves and young shoots can be eaten as a green vegetable also. Andean communities have various methods to process and prepare tubers, and in Mexico oca is eaten raw with salt, lemon, and hot pepper. Oca is fairly high in oxalates, concentrated in the skin, and the bioavailability of oxalate appears to be similar to spinach. Oca is one of the important staple crops of the Andean highlands, due to its easy propagation, and tolerance for poor soil, high altitude and harsh climates. Oca needs a long growing season, and is day length dependent, forming tubers when the day length shortens in autumn (around March in the Andes). In addition, oca requires climates with average temperatures of approximately 10 to 12°C (range: 4°C to17°C) and average precipitation of 700 to 885 millimeters per year. In areas with harsh winter climates, early frosts may cut back the foliage before the tubers have a chance to form. In tropical areas where the days are unchanging in length, oca will not set a crop successfully.

Digitalis - Foxglove

Latin plant name Digitalis Common plant name Foxglove Plant type Herbaceous perennial shrub Size (meters) <50-255 cm Distinguishing features The scientific name means "finger-like" and refers to the ease with which a flower of Digitalis purpurea can be fitted over a human fingertip. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in colour with species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. A group of medicines extracted from foxglove plants are called Digitalin. Digitalis toxicity (Digitalis intoxication) results from an overdose of digitalis and causes anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as sometimes resulting in xanthopsia (jaundiced or yellow vision) and the appearance of blurred outlines (halos). Bradycardia also occurs. Because a frequent side effect of digitalis is reduction of appetite, some individuals have used the drug as a weight-loss aid.

Lonicera nitida - Poorman's box

Latin plant name Lonicera nitida Common plant name Poorman's box Plant type Perennial Shrub Size (meters) < 1 m Distinguishing features The species is a broadleaf evergreen shrub. The leaves are dark green and 6–16 millimeters long. The flowers are creamy white, fragrant, 6 millimeters long, and grow in pairs. They appear at the end of spring. The fruit (rarely formed on clipped specimens) is an inedible bluish-purple berry about 6 millimeters in diameter. The growth rate is moderate or fast growing. The species is resistant to deer and rabbits. Birds are attracted to the species. The species is commonly confused with cotoneaster species. The difference between the two is that cotoneaster has alternate leaves while this species has opposite leaves.

Californian poppy

Latin plant name Eschscholzia californica Common plant name Californian poppy Plant type Perennial plant Size (meters) < 1,5 m Distinguishing features The leaves are ternately divided into round, lobed segments. The flowers are solitary on long stems, silky-textured, with four petals; flower color ranges from yellow to orange, with flowering from February to September. The petals close at night or in cold, windy weather and open again the following morning, although they may remain closed in cloudy weather. The fruit is a slender, capsule which splits in two to release the numerous small black or dark brown seeds.

Crocosmia - Montbretia

Latin plant name Crocosmia Common plant name Montbretia Plant type Perennial herbaceous bulbous Size (meters) < 0,5 m Distinguishing features Orange flowers, long green leaves. These flower from early summer well into fall. The fertile flowers are hermaphroditic. They are pollinated by insects, birds (hummingbirds) or by the wind. When the plant does not give flowers, it means that the bulbs have gotten to tight and need to be split.

Tropaeolum - Nasturtium

Latin plant name Tropaeolum Common plant name Nasturtium Plant type Perennial herbaceous climbing plant Size (meters) Distinguishing features The leaves and the flowers are edible and are often used for salads. The unripe seeds can be used instead of capers, or dropped into vinager to create a condiment. It has orange-yellow flowers and nice round leaves. It has climbing habits and does not maintain a shape. Nastortiums need a free draining soil and some sun to be able to grow up properly.

Helianthus tuberosus - Jerusalem artichokes

Latin plant name Pteridium esculentum Common plant name Jerusalem artichokes Plant type Herbaceous perennial plant Size (meters) <1,5 - 3 m Distinguishing features It has opposite leaves on the lower part of the stem. The leaves have a rough, hairy texture The flowers are yellow, member of the daisy flower. The tubers are elongated and uneven, typically 7.5–10 centimetres. They are edible, a little bit tasteless. They need to be They will die during the winter and grow next year. It is hard to get rid of them. They are good to soften the soil.

In the garden we had some Jerusalmen artichokes. We cleared them and got the tuburs to plant for the next season.

Pelargonium - Geraniums

Latin plant name Pelargonium Common plant name Geraniums Plant type Evergreen perennial succulent shrub Size (meters) < 0,5 m Distinguishing features They are drought and heat tolerant, but can tolerate only minor frosts. across, bright red and berry-like.