In the Middle Ages, a variety of plants were cultivated for culinary, medicinal, and ornamental purposes. While some were plants familiar to us today, others are unusual and some are downright rare and unknown. Here are some of the plants that would have been familiar to anyone in the Middle Ages, many of which you aren’t likely to find in modern gardens:
Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum)
Mandrake has a long history of being associated with magic and folklore. In medieval times, it was believed to have mystical properties and was often used in potions and herbal remedies. The root of the mandrake was thought to resemble the human form, and superstitions surrounded its harvest. Today, mandrake is considered poisonous and is a powerful sedative. It is a hallucinogenic as well, explaining some of the magical beliefs surrounding its use.
Hemp (Cannabis sativa)
Hemp was grown in the Middle Ages and used mostly for fabrics such as linens, clothes, and rope. Hemp has also been grown for medical purposes for thousands of years and these uses were surely familiar to medieval people. Modern strains, such as those sold at Quiet Monk CBD often take advantage of specific aspects of the plant, such as its THC content, but during the Middle Ages, it was often bred more specifically for fiber production.
Woad (Isatis tinctoria)
Woad is a plant that was cultivated for its blue dye. In the Middle Ages, before the introduction of indigo from Asia, woad was the primary source of blue dye in Europe. Surprisingly, the flowers of woad are yellow, not blue. This plant was particularly important for dyeing textiles and was also important for Celtic people and Druids for religious reasons, dying fabrics, and body paint.
Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
Henbane is a poisonous plant that was sometimes used in medieval herbal medicine, albeit with great caution. It contains alkaloids that can have psychoactive effects, and it was occasionally used in potions and ointments, although its toxicity was well recognized. This plant has been used since ancient times for religious trances and as an analgesic. It was even used to coat arrows with poison. This plant is in the same family as mandrake.
Lavender (Lavandula)
While lavender is a common and popular plant today, it was also cultivated in medieval gardens for its aromatic qualities. Lavender was used for its fragrance in perfumes and potpourri and as a strewing herb to freshen living spaces. In the Middle Ages, sweet-smelling things were seen as good and clean, while bad smells were thought to cause disease. Lavender and other scents were therefore important in keeping people protected from disease and illnesses.
Costmary (Tanacetum balsamita)
Also known as Bible leaf or alecost, costmary was a fragrant herb used in medieval times for flavoring and brewing ale. It was also believed to have medicinal properties and was used in various remedies. The leaves of the plant are very fragrant and it was often used along with other sweet-smelling plants such as lavender to strew the floor or placed between the sheets to freshen the bedding.
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Rue has a long history of medicinal and magical uses. In medieval times, it was believed to have protective properties and was often used to ward off evil spirits and witches, and keep away the plague. It was also used in herbal medicine. Rue has been used externally as an analgesic and topical pain-killer, but when used internally it can cause stomach pain, vomiting, and even death.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Meadowsweet was a common plant in medieval gardens, valued for its pleasant fragrance and medicinal properties. It was used to strew on floors and was also employed in brewing and flavoring drinks. Salicylic acid, used today to make asperin, was first derived from meadowsweet and the plant has mild pain-killing and fever-reducing effects and was likely used for many different ailments and conditions.
Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa)
Parsnips were a common root vegetable in medieval diets. They were often used in stews, soups, and as a sweetener in dishes. They were also used medically for kidney and digestive problems, and we now know that parsnips may contain anti-inflammatory substances. Parsnips, like many root vegetables, can be easily stored overwinter in dry, cool places like root cellars, which made them valuable food sources in medieval times.
Onion Relatives
Leeks, as well as all members of the onion family such as garlic and onions themselves, were commonly cultivated in medieval gardens. This plant is less common than onions in our modern diets, but still delicious and mild. In the Middle Ages, any plant that could add flavor and variety was valuable. Leeks were used in soups, stews, and as a vegetable side dish.
Garlic has a long history of culinary and medicinal use. It was a common ingredient in medieval recipes, providing flavor to many dishes. Garlic and onions were also used medicinally as a drawing agent and for the immune system.
Cabbages (Brassica oleracea)
Cabbage is worth a mention even though it’s familiar to us because it was so important to people in the Middle Ages. Cabbage was used in a variety of dishes, from simple salads to cooked preparations. Cabbage and other vegetables that could be stored for the winter were vitally important as a cold-weather food source. This was especially the case for peasants and others who could not regularly afford meat, as many kinds of vegetables rot quickly without refrigeration or preservation methods. Cabbage can be stored in cool root cellars for months so it was important before modern freezers and canning technology.
Conclusion
Herb and vegetable gardens in the Middle Ages looked much different than they do now. While many plants were the same as the ones we grow today, many were also different. Today, not too many people grow woad or costmary in their gardens, but in past times they were very important plants. Today, these plants may still be found in heritage farms, seed repositories, and museum villages.