alwazeroom4more, The Pawpaw,Asimina triloba doesn't have a separate male and female plant.It's the way the flowers are timed to be fertile that causes them to need another variety to produce fruit.The Sunflower variety is about the only one I've heard to be self fertile. There are other species related to Asimina triloba (Asimina incarna, A. longifolia, A. obovata, A. parviflora, A. pygmaea, A. reticulata, A. tetramera, A. X nashii)that grow more in the Southeastern US.Asimina Triloba requires about 400 chill hours. I have some seedlings,three varieties of A.triloba,but not sure if they are compatible in your zone. Oregon Grape also grows around here in abundance. Brady

Most leaves work ok as a tea, and most are ok dried (echinacea leaves are usually best fresh; the root is best fresh but can be used dried, depending on the species). Barks and roots usually require a cold infusion (cold water overnight) or a strong decoction (add boiling water, let sit overnight). For details see Michael Moore's materia medica manual, available online. Milk thistle is usually prepared as a tincture for medicinal use; some people grind the seeds and eat them as food. Burdock root is also commonly eaten in soups, and you could make a fine spring salad with several common weedy greens, such as young dandelion, chickweed, and miner's lettuce.

Stewardship and growing your own is what I suggest to most people looking to use herbs medicinally. This is even more so for the herbs like these that have been overharvested. The herbs I've grown successfully or unsuccessfully in Western NY: American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolia) - Not successful. I planted a plant once. Had it for a couple of seasons before it died. Too expensive to try many like that. Seeds planted have not germinated. Love to try some rootlets. Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) - Super easy. Big and beautiful plant. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) - Expensive to source the corms but easy keeper. Mark well as they and many spring plants are invisible most of the year. Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - Despises the sun. Make sure the spot is full shade, but pretty easy. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) - Everybody should have these! Winter sown seed of the various varieties works very well. Gentian (Gentiana sp) - Unsuccessful. I'm a 3-time looser here and won't try again. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - Very successful in the right place -- until rodents dug up my growing patch. :( Expensive to replace but sometime I will. Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) - Limited success. Probably won't try again. I'm a 3 time failure on this. Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) - Can't kill the one I planted. Gets large - think bush-like. Pick your place well! Super easy! Trillium (a.k.a. Beth Root) (Trillium erectum) - I've planted a variety of types with limited success - they grow but not vibrantly. I do not think trillium are overly found of my woodland garden. Turkey Corn (Dicentra canadensis) - very easy. Squirrel corn is a cute plant. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) - house plant only! But rather fun to keep. Turmeric is even more fun. Can't harvest from house plants - no size. Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) - On my 3rd try with this one. I thought it was dead but last year it sprouted and grew well even though it had been MIA for 2 years. Won't try this one again. FataMorgana

The seed require double dormancy and acidic soil that has a symbiotic fungus to germinate. The link has some information provided by the NEWFS about their germination. Hope you are successful! :Rb Here is a link that might be useful: Chimaphila maculata seed