Re: unidentified "herb"

**"* <M*@themulch.com>**

Hi kate, 

Thanks a lot - can I post this as a response - this will be helpful to them
I'm sure. 

Thanks
Mitch

-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of
KTCopsey@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 2:29 PM
To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [GWL] unidentified "herb"

Mitch
That one is weird! - Mosquito plant used to be citrus pelargonium but that  
would be wider green leaves and would be why the lady was taken to the  
scented plant. Yellow button flowers confirm that this is not that- scented

geraniums tend to white or pinky flowers.
Yellow flowers and rosemary type leaves could be 'curry plant' Helichrysum  
angustifolia, which is hardy in the south but not further north than zone 6 
or  7. This has rosemary type leaves but the reference to fringing is 
strange. The  only other thing would be the green santolina which can be
used as 
a bug  repellant and is hardy and does not get very big but does not smell 
of citrus  either.
Which leaves maybe an artemisia - the nearest being abrotatum varities  
which come in tangerine southernwood etc. These are woody, green and hardy
but 
really don't have a flower that I know about. 
Let me know if these are anything like what she had, and what others come  
up with,
Kate

Kate  Copsey
Garden Writer
_www.katecopsey.com_ (http://www.katecopsey.com/) 
_www.radiosandysprings.com_ (http://www.radiosandysprings.com/) 
blog:  www.katesgardenjournal.com  

In a message dated 5/6/2009 4:45:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
Mitch@themulch.com writes:

Hello  All, 

This question was recently posted on our forum - I've  asked a bunch of
people, but no one has any answers - Any ideas - they live  in New York: 

QUESTION: Over 10 years ago I had a wonderful plant that  was sold as an
herb. It's specialty was that it was a mosquito repellant  bush (if you
will). We had a really bad winter that uprooted the plant too  many times
that it died. It was about 12" h and approx. 12" in  circumfrence. I have
been searching to replace it when all I get is people  looking at me like I
have two heads or they lead me to scented flowers  (can't think of the name)
some are strawberry scented. 

Anyway this  plant was a perrenial. I didn't save the tag as I was a "young"
gardener  when I first bought it. The "leaves" were long, narrow with
something like  a fringe along the edges. Color is similiar to that of
Rosemary.  

Tag specified that if you rub the plants vigoursly you release  the
citronella sent and will deter mosquito's for up to 5'. Truth be told,  it
worked. I also rubbed the oils on my skin. Similiar to that feel when  you
run your finger up a spike of Rosemary or lavendar leaves. 

DOES  ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT? 

Only once did it flower  for me which was unepected as the tag said nothing
about flowering, the  flowers where yellow similiar to a tight yarrow bud or
the'new'called  "curry". cautiously  optimistic

Thanks!

Mitch  Shirts

President

www.theMulch.com  <http://www.themulch.com/> 

you can see my profile at  www.theMulch.com/Mitch 

anks

Mitch  S

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