Customer Reviews

A City Herbal: A Guide to the Lore, Legend, and Usefullness of 34 Plants That Grow Wild in the Cities, Suburbs and Country Places

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I never could have imagined the herbal abundance that grows between the cracks of the city sidewalks and in vacant lots! This book details the folknames, locations, historical uses, lore, legends, and uses of 34 plants commonly found in the city. I read this book like a novel, from cover to cover, and would recommend it to anyone interested our green friends!

Reading books about common weeds and their purposes has always fascinated me from the time I picked up Stalking The Wild Asparagus. Each city weed description contains the folk names, the probabe locations (roadsides, vacant lots, grassy strips etc), the botanical description, historical lore and suggested uses.

Each weed is described well. However, if you are not familar with the weeds involved, the hand drawn pictures of the weed may not be enough to identify the weed described.

One of the reasons I got this out of the library was when I opened it, it opened at Ground Ivy--my garden's perpetual enemy. I found it can be used as a "soothing beverage for colds, coughs, and irritated throats." The book explains how to make a tea from this Vitamin C rich weed. Unfortunately I have enough Ground Ivy to steep in a tea for the entire town! However, I can also do a facial wash for chapped or sunburned skin and I have so much ivy that I should be able to give myself facial washes three times a day and not run out!

Another example of a well known weed, Queen Ann's Lace suggests they be used for an indoor plant (dig up the entire plant and replant indoors), brown seed heads can make a tea or a seasoning, and the plant dried can be used for flower arrangements.

This is a fun read even if you don't take advantage of the weeds that surround you in the city!