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7 Smokable Plants You

Can Grow That Aren’t
Marijuana
JUL
18, Brian Barth
2018

Don't worry, it's totally legal

Refrigerate Any Ro
There is a new ultr
portable AC on the
 EXPLORE
MODERN
FA R M E R
This is crumbled, dried Photography By
mullein, which is known as the Elizabeth
"base" of most herbal smoking A.Cummings /
ANIMALS ENVIRONMEN
blends. shutterstock.com

FOOD H OW-
& TO
DRINK

Quite a few plants may be safely, and LIFESTYLE PLANTS

pleasurable, lit up in a pipe or rolling POLITICS RECIPES

papers. Those listed below are legal, T E C H N O L O G YV I D E O

unregulated, and totally safe to use. They

MEET THE
are also non-hallucinogenic and non- MODERN
FA R M E R
addictive – perhaps that explains their
lack of popularity?

While they won’t get you high, when W H AT ' S

blended according to the instructions TRENDING
below, these herbs produce a smooth,
tasty smoke and give a gentle, relaxing So, You
buzz. All of the following varieties may be
Want to
Be a
purchased online or at any well-stocked
Hemp
herb store. You may also grow your own. Farmer?
Of course, we’d be remiss not to remind
you to discuss any questions with a doctor. China Stop
Buying US
Agricultur
While scores of herbs are smokable, those Products
listed below are among the most Entirely
commonly used and easily grown at home.
Skip to the sidebar to learn how to dry 7
your herbs into the perfect smoking blend. Smokable
Plants
You Can
Grow
From our Partners at That
Aren’t
 Marijuana

How to
Incubate
Chicken
Eggs

Mullein (Verbascum
thapsus)

Refrigerate Any Ro
There is a new ultr
portable AC on the

By 13Smile / shutterstock.com

Herbal Properties: Mullein has a long POPULAR

history of use as a lung tonic. It can
actually help you stop coughing when The Online
you’re sick. Beef
Between
Farmers
Smoking Qualities: The smoke is And Vegans
extremely light and mild, almost like
Lindsay
smoking air, and virtually flavorless. Campbell

Type of Plant: This biennial herb grows up

7 Smokable
to two feet wide at the base, with flower Plants You
stalks rising six feet or more. Can Grow
That Aren’t
Marijuana
 Marijuana
How to Grow: Considered by some a
Brian Barth
garden weed, this fuzzy-leafed plant is
very easy to grow from seed planted
directly in the garden in spring. It prefers So, You
a sunny location and soil that is well- Want to Be a
drained and not too fertile. It benefits
Hemp
Farmer?

from a bit of irrigation as a seedling but is Brian Barth

drought-tolerant once established.

6
Differences
Skullcap (Scutellaria Between
Llamas and
spp.) Alpacas
Andrew
Amelinckx

Look Out,
Bone Broth;
Mushroom
Broth Might
Be Even
More
Magical
Michelle Rabin
By Mariola Anna S / shutterstock.com

Herbal Properties: Skullcap has a mild

calming effect when smoked.

Smoking Qualities: This herb is a medium

smoke, with a fairly neutral flavor.

Type of Plant: A spreading perennial that

grows about a foot tall, skullcap makes an
attractive groundcover in the garden.
How to Grow: Sow seeds indoors in spring,
planting the seedlings in a sunny or partly
shaded location with rich soil once the
weather has warmed. Skullcap requires
weekly irrigation during dry periods. Cut
the dried foliage to the ground each fall.

Coltsfoot (Tussilago
farfara)

By footageclips / shutterstock.com

Herbal Properties: Coltsfoot is an

expectorant, helping to free phlegm from
the lungs.

Smoking Qualities: This herb is a light

smoke with a neutral flavor, but can cause
harsh coughing if used in a high
concentration in smoking blends.

Type of Plant: This 6- to 12-inch tall

groundcover spreads by underground
rhizomes to form extensive colonies under
optimum growing conditions.
How to Grow: Dried coltsfoot seed rarely
germinates, but “fresh” seed, as well as
potted plants, are available online. Rich,
moist soil and a location in full sun or part

shade are this plant’s preferred growing

conditions.

Mugwort (Artemesia
vulgaris)

By Skyprayer2005 / shutterstock.com

Herbal Properties: Many ancient cultures

smoked mugwort to promote vivid
dreams. It also produces a very mild
psychotropic effect while you’re awake.

Smoking Qualities: This herb is a light

smoke with a pleasant, slightly sweet
flavor
flavor.

Type of Plant: Mugwort is a spreading

perennial growing up to 2 feet tall.

How to Grow: While seeds are available

online, mugwort is easier to start from a
potted plant, or by transplanting a clump
from an established patch. Mugwort
thrives with little care once established,
but beware: it can become invasive,
especially in moist locations. Cut the dried
stalks to the ground each fall.

Uva-Ursi
(Arctostaphylos uva-
ursi)

By Sigur / shutterstock.com

Herbal Properties: Also known by the

Algonquin name kinnikinnick, this native
plant has long been smoked by Native
plant has long been smoked by Native
American tribes for ceremonial purposes.

Smoking Qualities: Uva-ursi herb is a

medium smoke with a strong earthy
flavor.

Type of Plant: This attractive woody

groundcover, which grows about 6 inches
tall, is a popular landscaping plant.

How to Grow: Uva-ursi is very difficult to

propagate by seed, so it’s best to obtain
potted specimens from a native plant
nursery in your area, or from an online
supplier. Grow in full sun or light shade;
excellent drainage is essential. Uva-ursi is
drought-tolerant and requires little care
once established.

Mint (Mentha spp.)

By Eag1eEyes / shutterstock.com

Herbal Properties: Mints are used

Herbal Properties: Mints are used
primarily to impart flavor to smoking
blends. There are many varieties worth
experimenting with, including spearmint
(Mentha spicata) (pictured above),
peppermint (Mentha piperita), and
chocolate mint (Mentha x piperita
‘Chocolate’). Close relatives of mint,
including lemon balm (lemony flavor) and
yerba buena (sweet menthol flavor), are
often incorporated in smoking blends, as
well.

Smoking Qualities: Varies by species.

Type of Plant: These herbaceous

perennials spread to form extensive
colonies under optimum growing
conditions.

How to Grow: Mints are easier to establish

from potted plants, or by transplanting a
clump from an established patch, than by
sowing seeds. Part sun and rich, moist soil
are the preferred growing conditions.
Mints can become invasive in the garden,
especially in moist areas, so you may want
to confine them to a pot. Cut the dried
stalks to the ground each fall.

Sage (Salvia spp.)

By sasimoto / shutterstock.com

How to Make Your Own

Herbal Smoking Blend
Smoking mixtures are largely a matter of
personal tastes and preferences –
experiment with different herb
combinations to see what suits you best –
but here are the basics to get you started.

1. Harvest fresh, young leaves, ideally in

the morning after the dew has
evaporated.

2. Dry the leaves slowly indoors – try

hanging them in bundles from the
ceiling or spreading them out on a
window screen (see our article on
drying techniques here). Don’t dry
them fast in an oven, as you want the
leaves to retain a bit of moisture for a
smoother smoke.

3. Once dry, crush the leaves by hand into

an even consistency.

4. Combine according to the guidelines

 below:

General Guidelines:

Mullein is the ideal “base” for smoking

blends because it is such a light,

smooth smoke. It should form about 50

percent of the mixture.

Then add several other herbs for the

“body” of the blend. Mugwort and
skullcap create a headier smoke, while
uva-ursi gives it more of a tobacco-like
quality. Add a bit of coltsfoot if you’re
lungs are irritated from frequent
tobacco use. Combined, these herbs
should constitute about 40 percent of
the blend.

Use flavoring herbs, like mints and

sages, for the final 10 percent of the
blend.

If the blend is too harsh when you

smoke it, trying spritzing the dried
herbs with a spray bottle to reintroduce
moisture.

Store smoking blends in glass jars or

resealable plastic pouches.

Herbal Properties: Sages are used

primarily to impart flavor to smoking
blends. There are many varieties worth
experimenting with, including white sage
(Salvia apiana), black sage (Salvia
mellifera), and pineapple sage (Salvia
elegans) (pictured above). Beware though:
One type of sage, Salvia divinorum, has
 One type of sage, Salvia divinorum, has
strong psychotropic properties and is
illegal in many states (many gardeners
find themselves accidentally breaking the
law).

Smoking Qualities: Varies by species.

Type of Plant: Most sages are shrubby
perennials, ranging from less than 1 foot
to more than 6 feet tall.

How to Grow: Growing conditions vary by

species, but most sages prefer full sun and
dry conditions. Cut them back about 50
percent each fall.

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Join the discussion...

 35  3      49
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Diane Buckley  

I recently quit tobacco and have found that mugwort has

been a great replacement. I don’t have cravings for nicotine at
all and my smokers cough has virtually disappeared. It grows
in my garden so there is no expense.

 41     Reply  5 months ago | View Replies (1) 

John  

Thank you for the information that I requested I found it to

be very informative.

 10     Reply  8 months ago

jon long  

Would like to get more info on growing of the 7 smokable

plant and mixing of the plants to used for smoking .

 7    Reply  7 months ago | View Replies (2) 

Wanda Boomhower  
  

The Red Willow bark is another mild earthy smoke.. strip/peel

off the red outer bark and then scrape the inner pale
‘tobacco’ from joint to joint of the branches.. dry this then
smoke by itself or mix in with other smokables…

 6    Reply  3 months ago

dianna  

extremely informative, as well as considerate comments, thx!

 5    Reply  5 months ago

Chris Glazier  

The salvia that has the psychedelic properties is not that easy
to grow without special conditions and wouldn’t even be
mistaken for other salvias. Plants leaves, stems and textures
are completely different. Needs a higher humidity
environment for best growth. Just fyi. I don’t think its
accidental if you are caring for a patch of it.

 3    Reply  2 months ago

Brigitte Rogers  

Is it safe to smoke sage. I have quit tobacco after 50 years

but the smoking habit is hard to stop.. I am growing sage and
mint are they safe?

 2    Reply  6 months ago | View Replies (4) 

Elmer Brooks  

Very interesting information and we look forward to enjoying

and planting the bene ts of these plants

 1    Reply  7 months ago

Ana Elijah  
Are you aware if there is a difference between taking the
leaves, etc. of various plants and boiling them in water to
make a tea and drinking it compared to crushing it like you
mention and putting it to smoke? Do you add ingredients to
make it smokeable? Maybe I missed that in the article, but I
don’t think you mention adding tobacco or anything. I’m just

wondering if the chemistry is different between a cigarette

and an herbal tea? Thanks!

 1    Reply  6 months ago | View Replies (3) 

YearofAction  

If you smoke prohibited marijuana, you are actually smoking

cannabis. If you smoke exempted hemp, you are actually
smoking cannabis. Curiously, prohibited marijuana has long
been characterized as a drug although it has never included
THC in its de nition, while exempted hemp is not
characterized as a drug but it does include THC in its
de nition. (see below) Hemp and the THC in hemp, each
required the unwarranted federal privilege of being
speci cally exempted from Schedule 1 prohibition in the 2018
Farm Bill. There is no difference between the chemical
composition of Schedule 1 THC in Schedule 1 marijuana
and… Read more »

 1    Reply  2 months ago | View Replies (1) 

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