Also referred to as “French Mulberry.” Scientific name: Callicarpa americana. Most notably its berries are a bright pink. These berries are edible in conservative doses for humans, but widely enjoyed by wildlife. The leaves when crushed, however, are green milagros in the fight against mosquitos. Crush and rub directly on skin. The roots are a great decoction in the the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
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Sometimes known by other names such as “Yellow Trumpets,” or “Yellow Trumpetbush,” Yellow Bells, scientific name Tecoma Stans, are named for their trumpet or bell shaped yellow blooms. They attract bees, which is good for any garden with blooms relying on their part in pollination. These are in my garden, here, in Austin, Texas.
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Mohave Yucca, scientific name: Yucca schidigera. Every part of this plant is useful, from its edible blooms, to the root used as a hair rinse in the treatment of various scalp maladies. The thick weave of the trunk can be used to make rope and the stem of the bloom is carved into a wind instrument.