There are many different varieties of garden plants that you can purchase for your garden that offer medicinal qualities. However, if you are located in the Minneapolis area, within Zone 4, then it is best to look out for plants that are hardy enough to survive and thrive within this zones weather conditions year round. This is because each zone has different average winter low temperatures to the others, so understanding the hardiness that each plant possesses is the best way of knowing which zone it is best grown in. You can also check at your local nursery to find out which are the hardiest plants for your specific area and climate, as each zone also has sub-zones; A and B.
If you are looking for plants to grow that offer medicinal qualities then there are certain garden plants that you should decide to plant over others, based on their ability to thrive in such conditions in zone 4. Echinacea is one garden plant that offers a range of medicinal qualities that thrives within this zone. Echinacea is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants, due to its ability to help relieve allergy symptoms due to its antibiotic properties. It is also able to stimulate the immune system by increasing its resistance to infections in order to treat wounds or insect bites.
Lavender is another plant that you can grow in your garden that possesses medicinal qualities. It has the ability to help heal wounds and burns, and it can also be used as a tea to treat headaches, stress and even pre-menstrual symptoms. Lavender is a very common garden plant and there are a lot of varieties of lavender available on the market at your local nursery. Most lavender varieties are hardy to zone 4, however, some are not as hardy as others. It is best to check which varieties are the hardiest in your area when purchasing lavender from your local nursery.
Another garden plant that offers medicinal qualities is Lemon Balm, which can be grown within zone 4. Lemon Balm’s leaves can be crushed and used on the skin as a mosquito repellent, used to treat insect bites, and it can also treat any sores, including those from herpes. The leaves of Lemon Balm can also be infused in water to treat indigestion and digestive issues, cure headaches and fevers, and it can even be used to help treat insomnia and depression. The medicinal properties that lemon balm has to offer are endless.
A few other garden plants that grow well within zone 4, and offer medicinal qualities as well, include Motherwort, Thyme, Angelica, Garlic Chives and Garden Sage. If you are thinking about planting some medicinal plants in your garden within zone 4 then do start by trying the above plants first. This will save you a lot of time and hassle in trying to cultivate the wrong type of plants, and you will enjoy the medicinal qualities that these plants have to offer much sooner.