Curcuma longa
Turmeric is an incredibly flavorful, nutritious, and medicinal herb. The tuber can be used fresh or dried. Turmeric can be grown as a perennial in zones 8-11, or as an annual or container plant in zone 7 or lower. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the tuber, has been shown in numerous scientific studies to be a powerful anti-inflammatory herb and also a powerful antioxidant. In other words, Turmeric is good for what ails you!