Our Plants

Native to eastern North America, Helianthus giganteus can commonly be found growing in wet meadows and swamps. It is spread by seeds and a rhizomatous root system, and can reach a height of up to 13 feet, from which its Latin name giganteus was derived. Traditionally, the Choctaw people used Helianthus giganteus to make bread by mixing it with corn and grinding it into a fine powder. 

Euryale ferox, commonly called prickly water lily or fox nut, is one of the world's most remarkable aquatic plants. Native to eastern and southern Asia, it produces enormous circular leaves that can exceed 4 feet across. Unlike the smooth pads of most water lilies, both the upper and lower surfaces of its leaves are armed with sharp spines that help deter hungry fish and other herbivores. During summer, striking violet-purple flowers emerge just above the water before developing into spiny fruits filled with edible seeds. Known as makhana or fox nuts, these seeds have been harvested for centuries in India and China, where they are popped like popcorn or used in traditional cuisine and medicine.