Costmary

Costmary has linear pungent leaves that smell surprisingly like spearmint. They can be dried and added to sachets or potpourris, and were once dried and used as book markers to keep bugs away. The plant is known from ancient herbals and was widely grown in Elizabethan knot gardens. In Medieval times, costmary was used for menstruation problems, and in the 18th century was classified as a laxative and as an astringent. This plant is rapidly spreading and sends up clusters of daisy-like bright yellow flowers.