| Anise |
Pimpinella anisum A fine-leaves, aromatic
herb which produced white flowers in summer. Fresh leaves
are added to salads and vegetable dishes; seeds flavor candies,
cakes, breads and curries. Often used for making potpourris. Plant
in border gardens in rich, well-drained soil. |
20" |
10-18" |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Apple Mint |
Mentha suaveolens. Soft, fuzzy, gray-green,
apple-scented foliage with edible, whitish or pink flowers in
summer. Leaves are used in jellies, sauces for lamb dishes,
herbal teas and iced drinks. Also used as a garnish
or candied. Plant in rich, moist soil. |
24" |
24-26"++ |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Arugula |
Eruca vesicaria sativa Mustard-like, horseradish-flavored
leaves and edible, white yellow or purple flowers in summer. Use
the flowers, leaves and seeds in salads, stir fries and pasta.
Young leaves may be cooked and served like spinach. Plant in
rich, well drained soil in the garden. Remove flowers to
promote more leaf growth. |
12-24" |
6-8" |
Full Sun to Part Sun |
| Basil Purple Ruffles |
Ocimum basilicum purpurescens. Beautiful
herb with dark, purple ruffled foliage and purple fading to pinkish-purple
flowers in summer. Used fresh or dry to complement Italian
cuisine. Perfect for adding flavor to all tomato based
dishes, in pesto sauce, and salad. Plant in gardens and
containers in rich, well drained soil. |
18" |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| Basil Red Rubin |
Ocimum basilicum purpurescens. Beautiful
aromatic, annual herb with dark maroon leaves and small white
to pale pink flowers in summer. Used fresh or dry in salads
and vinegars. Perfect for adding flavor to all tomato based
dishes, delightful with duck and as a pesto sauce. Plant
in border gardens in rich, well drained soil. |
15" |
12-15" |
Full Sun |
| Borage |
Borago officinalis. Cucumber-flavored foliage with
edible, blue or purple flowers in June-July. Fresh, young
leaves can be cooked with vegetables or used raw in salads, while
the flowers can be used in fruit salads, candied and used in
cake decoration. Freeze whole flowers in ice rings or cubes
for delight in lemonade and summer drink recipies. Plant
in border gardens in rich, well drained soil. |
18'24" |
12" |
Full Sun |
| Caraway |
Carum carvi A herb with deeply divided, fern-like
leaves and white to pink flowers. Leaves have a mild
parsley-dill flavor and are pleasant in soups and salads. The
seeds have a pungent odor with a sweet and tangy taste, and can
be used to flavor cakes and bread, as well as cabbage, cooked
apples, cheese and meat dishes. |
24" |
12" |
Full Sun |
| Catnip |
Nepeta cataria. This aromatic herb has gray,
hairy foliage with blue flowers in July-September. Use
in teas. Dried leaves are used to stuff cat toys. Plant
in the border garden in rich well drained soil. |
24-30" |
12-18" |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Chervil |
Anthriscus cerefolium. Delicate, licorate-flavored
foliage and white flowers in summer. Add the leaves just
before serving in soups, salads, egg dishes, vegetables, fish,
or chicken dishes. For cooking, harvest the leaves when
large enough and just before flowering. Grows in rich,
well-drained soil. |
24" |
12" |
Full Sun |
| Chives |
Allium schoenoprasum. A grass-like perrennial
herb with thin tubular foliage and edible purple rose flowers
in June. Flowerheads can be cut and used in floral
arrangements. Great with potatoes and eggs or as a garnish
for soups, salads, soft cheeses and sauces. Best grown
in containers or garden borders in average, well-drained soil. |
12-18" |
12"18" |
Full Sun |
| Chocolate Mint |
Mentha x piperita This herb has fragrant,
bronze, peppermint-foliage and edible, pinkish lavender flowers
in summer. Used to flavor jellies, herb teas and iced drinks. Also
used as a garnish or candied. Plant in rich, moist soil. |
18-24" |
24-36"+ |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Cinnamon Basil |
Ocimum basilicum. This basil variety has
narrow, cinnamon-scented foliage and white to purplish flowers
in summer. Used in legume dishes and teas. Use leaves
in Mexican cooking and tomato-based dishes. Plant in containers
and the border garden in rich, well-drained soil. |
24" |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| Coriander/Cilantro |
Coriandrum sativum A widely used annual herb
with flat parsley-like leaves and white flowerheads in summer. The
fresh leaves are ideal for South-East Asian, Mexican and Middle-Eastern
cuisines. The seeds and roots are also good for pickling.
Plant in average, well-drained soil. |
24" |
4-12" |
Full Sun |
| Creeping Rosemary |
Rosemarinus officinalis prostratus Beautiful
prostrate herb with fragrant, bluish-green, needle-like foliage
and edible pale lilac flowers in summer. Sprigs used fresh
or dry in meat dishes, soups and stews and to flavor oil and
vinegar. Also used as a medicinal herb. Ideal for
borders or used as a groundcover. Nice accent in containers.
Plant in rich well drained soil in full sun. |
3-6" |
24-36" |
Full Sun |
| Creeping Thyme |
Thymus vulgaris. Beautiful herb with scented
creeping foliage and pale pink flowers in July. Use
fresh or dry in fish, poultry and vegetable dishees. Ideal
for borders, containers or used as groundcover. Plant in
very well-drained soil. |
4" |
24" |
Full Sun |
| Curry Plant |
Helichrysum italicum. Woolly, silver-gray,
needle-like foliage and mustard-yellow, button-like flowers from
June to August. Use fresh leaves for a mild curry flavor
in develed eggs, rice and vegetable dishes. (Remove before serving). Plant
in containers, is aromatic and makes a superb dried flower? Grows
in average, dry soil |
12-24" |
24" |
Full Sun |
| Fernleaf Dill |
Anethum graveolens (AAS) All American
Selection. This culinary herb has finely cut foliage and
tiny, greenish-yellow flowers in summer. Sprigs are used
in salads, potatoes, eggs, fish and on grilled meat. Also
used in pickling. Plant in average, well-drained soil. |
18" |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| Florence Fennel |
Foeniculum officinale. This culinary herb
has anise-flavored foilage and yellow flowers in summer. Leaves
and seeds used in teas, fish dishes and salads. The bulbous
base can be added to salads or sauteed. Plant in avertage,
well-drained soil. |
48" |
18" |
Part Sun to Part Shade |
| French Lavender |
Lavendula multifida. Lacy, deeply cut, blue-green
foliage with prolific spikes of purplish-blue flowers in summer. This
plant's pungeant fragrance is used in sachets, soaps and massage
oil. The leaves and flowers can both be used in stews,
to flavor jams, ice creams and vinegars. Plant in the herb
garden and ocntainers in very well drained soils. |
24" |
24" |
Full Sun |
| French Tarragon |
Artemisia dracunculus Culinary herb with
slender, dark green, anise flavored leaves. Use fresh or
dried with chicken, egg, in salad dressings, mustards and sauces. Best
planted in garden borders in rich well-drained soil. |
30-26" |
12-15" |
Full Sun |
| Garlic Chives |
Allium Tuberosum. A grass-like perennial
herb with thin tubular foliage and edible, fragrant, white flowers
in July. The flowerbuds and leaves can be cut and used
in soft cheeses, salads or stir-fries. Great with potatoes
and eggs or as a garnish for soups and sauces. Best grown
in containers or garden edges in average well-drained soil. |
18" |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| German Chamomile |
Matricaria recutita. This aromatic herb has
finely cut spreading foliage and lovely white and yellow, daisy-like
flowers in July. The sweet and mild flavor of the leaves
and flowers are used in herbal teas and hair conditioners. Plant
in the border garden in average, well-drained soil. |
12" |
6-12" |
Full Sun |
| Germander |
Teucrium chamaedrys. A shrubby herb with
shiny, dark green leaves and purple-pink flower spikes in late
summer and fall. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
A decorative, ornamental plant which can be pruned to maintain
a neat, compact shape or low hedge. Grow in the border
garden in average, well drained soil. |
18" |
8-10" |
Full Sun |
| Gingermint |
Mentha x gentilis "Variegatus" A
perennial herb with variegated yellow leaves that have a spicy,
fruity scent and lilac flowers. Used fresh as a flavoring
in melons, tomatoes and fresh fruit salads. Also used
in iced tea or as a garnish for dessert. |
12" |
36" |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Golden Sage |
Salvia officinalis "Aurea". This
culinary herb has varigated gold and green foliage and edible
blue flowers in summer that are a source of nectar for birds
and butterflies. Leaves are used in sausages, stuffings and teas. A
colorful accent in the border garden and containers. Plant
in average, well-drained soil. |
16-20" |
36" |
Full Sun to Part Sun |
| Honeydew Melon Sage |
Salvia elegans "Honeydew Melon" An
herb with dark green, pointy foliage and edible bright scarlet
flowers in summer that have a fruity fragrance when crushed. The
flowers are a source of nectar for butterflies and birds. Add
sprigs to fruit slaads, iced drinks or as a garnish fro desserts. |
36" |
24" |
Sun/Part Shade |
| Horehound |
Marrubium vulgare. Silky, gray-white, hairy,
aromatic foliage and white flowers from June to August. Leaves
are used in candies and cough drops. This herb is also
a great cut flower. Plant in the rock garden in average,
well-drained soil. |
24-30 |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| Hyssop |
Hyssopus officinalis. A perennial herb with
lance-shaped, blue-green foliage and dark blue flowers from summer
to fall. Both foliage and flowers are fragrant. A
source of nectar and can be used for shelter, by both butterflies
and birds. Both the foliage and flowers are fragrant. Plant
in a border garden in well drained soil. |
24" |
36" |
Full Sun |
| Italian Plain Parsley |
Petroselinum crispum neopolitanum Strongly
flavored biennial herb with flat, dark green leaves, used fresh
or dried to complement Italian cuisine. Perfect for adding
flavor to all tomato based dishes. Ideal as a garnish
for sauces, butter, fish, dressings and stuffing. Plant
in border gardens and containers in rich, well drained soil. |
12" |
15-24" |
Sun/Part Sun |
| Lavender Lady |
Lavandula angustifolia (AAS) All
American Selection. This fragrant herb has gray-green foliage
and edible, lavender-blue flowers in August-September, which
attract butterflies. Flowers can be candied, while dried
flowers and stems can be used in linen sachets and potpourris. Great
for containers and border gardens in very well drained soil. |
8-10" |
12-30" |
Full Sun |
| Lavender Munstead |
"Muinstead Strain" Lavandula angustifolia This
beautifully scented, butterfly attracting herb has gray-green
foliage and masses of edible lavender flowers in July through
September. The oil from the flowers is used in perfumes
and toiletries or dried and used in linen sachets. Plant
in containers, garden beds and borders in average well-drained
soil. Remove old flowers for continuous bloom. |
12-18" |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| Lemon Balm |
Melissa officinalis. This herb has strongly
lemon-sceneted foliage and white flowers in July. Used
fresh in soups, salads, sauces, game, fish, and can be used as
a relaxing herbal tea. Also used to flavor liquors and
dried for potpourri. Plant in the border garden or containers
in rich, well-drained soil. |
24" |
12-18" |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Lemon Basil |
Ocimum basilicum citriodorum Beautiful annual
herb with lemon scented foliage and white to purplish flowers
in summer. Use fresh or dry to complement Italian and East
Indian cuisine. Ideal for potpourri and for a soothing
herbal tea. Adds flavor to legumes, eggplant, fish and
poultry dishes. Plant in border gardens in well drained
soil. |
24" |
10-24" |
Full Shade |
| Lemon Mint |
Monarda citriodora Lemon -mint scented foliage
with edible, white to pink flowers in summer. Used in herbal
teas, jellies, sauces for lamb dishes, and iced drinks. Also
used as a garnish or candied. Plant in rich, well drained soil. |
24" |
18-24"++ |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Lemon Varigated Thyme |
Thymus x citriodorus. Beuatiful herb with
lemon scented shrubby foliage and pale lilac flowers in July. Use
fresh or dry in fish, poultry and vegetable dishes; fruit salads
and jams. Ideal for borders, containers or used as groundcover. Plant
in very well drained soil. |
6-12" |
12-24" |
Full Sun |
| Lemon Verbena |
Aloysia triphylla This herb has lemon-scented
foliage and whitish flowers in summer. Use fresh in teas,
stuffing and salads and use the dried leaves in potpourri. Plant
in average, well-drained soil. |
18-24" |
18-24" |
Full Sun |
| Nasturtium |
Tropaeolum majus Fast-growing, decorative
plant with almost cirular leaves and yellow to orange to red,
slightly scented flowers in summer. Nasturtium flowers
and leaves are edible and have a tangy taste like water cress.
The colorful flowers really brighten up a green salads and can
be added to an herb vinegar. Plant in average, well-drained
soil. Great in containers or the border gardens. |
3-10" |
10-20" |
Full Sun |
| Oregano |
Origanum heracleoticum. A culinary herb with
small gray-green, spreading foliage. Edible white to purple
flowers in summer. Use fresh or dried to add flavor to
Italian, Greek and Mexican cuisine. Best planted in borders
and herb gardens in well-drained soil. |
24" |
12-24" |
Full Sun |
| Oregano Greek |
Origanum heracleoticum "Greek Strain". An
culinary herb with small gray-green spreading foilage. Edible
white to purple flowers in summer. Use fresh or dried to
add flavor to Italian, Greek and Mexican cuisine. Best
planted in borders and herb gardens in well drained soil, and
is useful as a ground cover. |
24" |
12-24" |
Full Sun |
| Pennyroyal |
Mentha pulegium A sharply aromatic
herb with bright green leaves and tubular, lilac flowers in summer. Leaves
are added to potpourris and sachets, or used to flavor meat puddings
and sausages dishes. Can be used as an insect repellent. |
16" |
20" |
Sun/Part Sun |
| Peppermint |
Mentha x piperita. Aromatic, dark green leaves
with a strong peppermint flavor and mauve flowers in summer. Use
fresh as a flavoring in desserts, iced drinks, salads and garnishes. Leaves
can also be immersed in hot water for a soothing herbal tea. Popular
in potpourris and sachets. Plant in herb gardens and containers
in rich, moist soil. |
16" |
20" |
Full Sun |
| Pine Scented Rosemary |
Rosmarinus officinalis "Angustifolius" Upright,
feathery, needle-like foliage with a sweet, pinewood scent and
blue flowers in summer. Makes a nice potted topiary. Sprigs
used fresh or dry in meat dishes, soups, stews and as a flavor
in vinegars and oils. A valuable herb in perfumes, toiletries
and sachets. This is a non-edible plant. |
24-36" |
24-36" |
Full Sun |
| Pineapple Mint |
Mentha suaveolens "variegata". The
aromatic leaves of this mint are attractively marked with broad,
creamy streaks and margins. The white to pink flowers have
a rich, fruity fragrance and are produced in summer. Use
in jellies, sauce for lamb dishes, herbal teas, iced drinks and
garnishes. Plant in containers or border gardens in
well-drained soil. |
3-12" |
24-36" |
Full Sun |
| Pineapple Sage |
Salvia elegans. This variety of Sage has
dark green, pointy soilage and edible, bright red flowers in
summer that are a source of nectar for birds and butterflies. This
herb is aromatic and also attracts hummingbirds! Add
sprigs from this herb to fruit salads and iced drinks, or use
as a garnish for desserts. Plant in the border garden or
containers in average, well-drained soil. |
42" |
36" |
Full Sun |
| Purple Sage |
Salvia officinalis "Purpurescens". This
variety of Sage has handsome reddish-purple foliage and blue
flowers in summer that are a source of nectar for birds and butterflies. The
leaves can be used in sausages, stuffing, omelettes and teas. Plant
in the border garden or containers in average, well-drained soil. |
10-20" |
36" |
Full Sun to Park Sun |
| Rosemary |
Rosemarinus officinalis. Beautiful shrubby
herb with bluish-green, needle-like foliage and edible blue flowers. Sprigs
may be used fresh or dry in meat dishes, soups and stews and
to flavor oil and vinegar. Also used as a medeicinal herb. Ideal
for garden borders, grown as an informal hedge, or potted topiary. Plant
in average well-drained soil in full sun. |
30" |
20" |
Full Sun |
| Rue |
Ruta graveolens A shrubby herb with lacy,
aromatic leaves and small yellow flowers in summer. Leaves
are dried and used in powders, or to repel insects. Plant
in the border garden in rich, well-drained soil.l |
36" |
18-24" |
Full Sun |
| Sage |
Salvia officinalis. This aromatic perennial
herb has downy silver-gray leaves and edible blue flower sin
summer. Perfect as seasoning for stuffings and sausages,
or used dry to make a soothing tea. Also used as a medicinal
herb. Plant in garden borders in average, well-drained
soil. |
30" |
36" |
Full Sun to Park Shade |
| Santolina |
Lavender Cotton Santolina incana. An
herb grown for it's decorative, lacy, silver foliage. Yellow,
button-like flowers are produced June through August. The
aromatic foliage can be pruned to maintain a compact, shrubby
form. Plant in the border garden in average, well-drained
soil. Good plant for knot gardens. |
20" |
24-36" |
Full Sun |
| Silver Posie Thyme |
Thymus vulgaris "Silver Posie" A
culinary herb with unique gray-green foliage that has white margins
and lavender flowers in July. Used to flavor soups, marinades,
stuffings and vegetables. Ideal for the border garden,
beautiful accent in containers, or as a groundcover in very well
drained soil. |
10" |
12-18" |
Full Sun |
| Sorrel |
Rumex scutatus. An herb with fleshy green
leaves which are mildly sour, with a taste of lemon. The
leaves can be cooked like spinach, used in soups and sauces,
or the young leaves added fresh to salad. Plant in the
border garden in well drained soil. |
24" |
24" |
Full Sun |
| Spearmint |
Mentha spicata This aromatic herb has bright
green, toothed, spreading foliage and edible, purple flowers
in summer. Used in jellies, sauces for lamb dishes, herb
teas and iced drinks. Also used as a garnish or candied
Plant as a groundcover in rich, moist soil. |
18-24" |
24-36"++ |
Full Sun to Part Shade |
| St. John's Wort |
Hypericum perforatum. Hardy, shrubby perennial
with medium green, oblong leaves. From June to September
it produces showy, buttercup-yellow flowers which are followed
by shiny, brown to black seeds. Nice plant for summer color in
the mixed perennial border, or planted in groupings or mass. Also
can be used as a medicinal herb. |
24-42" |
24" |
Full Sun |
| Stevia Rebaudiana Sugarplant |
"The sweetest known natural herb"! Two
or three leaves will sweeten a cup of coffee, tea, lemonade,
or other beverage. To dry the leaves, store them in a dark
area with good air circulation, or on a low setting in the microwave
until crisp. Best to harvest the leaves when you see the
showy, white flowers in spring and summer. Virtually no
calories, does not promote tooth decay, and does not raise blood
sugar levels. Plant in rich, well-drained soil in full
sun. |
24-36" |
12" |
Full Sun |
| Sweet Basil |
Ocimum basilicum Beautiful, aromatic, annual
herb with large, heart-shaped leaves, a compact habit and white
flowers in summer. Use fresh or dry to complement Italian
cuisine. Perfect for adding flavor to all tomato based
dishes, in pesto sauce, and salads. Plant in gardens and
containers in rich, well drained soil. |
24" |
12-15" |
Full Sun |
| Sweet Marjoram |
Marjorana onites. Sweetly fragrant annual
herb with delicate, small leaves and light purple slowers in
summer. Also used as a medicinal herb. Used fresh
or dry in many meat or tomato based dishes, pasta or to flavor
oil and vinegar. Plant in garden borders or use as a groundcover
in rich well-drained soil. Perfect for potpourri |
18" |
24" |
Full Sun |
| Thyme |
English Thyme. Thymus vulgaris. An aromatic,
gray-green,shrubby herb with lavender colored flowers in July. Use
fresh or dry in fish, poultry and vegetable dishes. An
essential ingredient in "bouquet garni". Also
used as a medicinal herb and in potpourri. Plant in garden
borders in very well-drained soil. |
12-24" |
8-12" |
Full Sun |
| Tricolor Sage |
Salvia officinalis "tricolor". This
variety of Sage has gray-green foliage tipped with carmine pink
and flecked with creamy white. Blue flowers produced in
summer are a source of nectar for birds and butterflies. The
leaves can be used in sausages, stuffings and teas. Plant
in the border garden or containers in average, well-drained soil. |
24" |
36" |
Full Sun to Part Sun |
| Variegated Sweet Marjoram |
Variegated Marjoram. Origanum vulgare "variegatum". A
tender herb with aromatic, gray-green foliage and gold tips. From
July to August it produces white to purple flowers. The
leaves can be used in meat dishes, tomato soup, pasta and to
flavor oil and vinegar. Use drived leaves in potpourri. Plant
in border gardens and containers in rich, well-drained soil. |
3-6" |
18" |
Full Sun |
| Winter Savory |
Satureja Montana. This culinary herb has
stiff, dark green, mat-forming foliage and lilac flowers in summer. Use
fresh or dried with legumes, sausages, stuffing and meat dishes. Plant
in average, well-drained soil. Use as an edging plant or
in knot gardens. Trim to maintain shape. |
12" |
3-8" |
Full Sun |
| Woolly Thyme |
Thymus pseudolanuginosus A herbal groundcover
with woolly, gray-green leaves and tiny, pinkish-purple flowers
in summer. Withstands light foot traffic and can be planted
as a filler between stepping stones and along pathways. Sprawls
over small rocks and spills over rock walls. |
3" |
3" |
Full Sun |
