Submitted to the Contra Costa Times on October 18, 2004

Q. I have been given a curry plant. Can I make curry with this? 

A. The plant you have been given is Helichrysum italiacum, common name ‘Curry plant’. The common name refers to the curry smell when the foliage is crushed, but the flavor is not at all curry-like. This is a good drought tolerant herb, with silver-gray foliage that reaches a 2’ height, and small rather wispy yellow flowers in the summer months. It is deer tolerant as well. Plant it in full sun in an area that drains rapidly. It is used  as a flavoring herb, particularly in Britain, but the flavor is not the same as the smell.