There's little more satisfying in the summer garden than harvesting herbs by the fistful for immediate use in the kitchen. The aromatherapy of running your hands through fragrant herbs is reason enough to grow them, but some of the most popular garden herbs also offer a wealth of medicinal benefits, whether they're prepared in a meal, as a tea, or as a tincture or topical application.
Whether you're growing herbs in pots, planting them in the ground as perennials, or companion planting them in your vegetable garden, these common garden herbs are a fantastic place to start. Read on for more info on the best herbs you can grow for your kitchen, your garden, and your health.
Skip Ahead: Basil •Chives • Cilantro • Parlsey • Rosemary • Sage • Thyme •Oregano • Mint • Lemon Balm • Chamomile • Comfrey • Yarrow • Lavender
1. Basil
The quintessential summer herb, basil puts out a prolific harvest of aromatic, tender leaves before going to seed in late summer. It's easy to grow; give it rich soil, full sun, and regular watering, and basil will happily keep producing steadily through the peak summer months. Growers in colder climates will benefit from starting their basil indoors as early as late February before hardening off the plants and transplanting them in late spring or early summer.
When most of us think of basil, we think of traditional sweet basil. But for gardeners, there's quite a selection of basil varieties to choose from: spicy Genovese basil, holy basil, Thai sweet basil, and lime basil are just a few popular options.
Read More: The 12 Best Basil Companion Plants
2. Chives
Chives are a cool weather herb that produce savory, tender stems in the spring and bright purple flowers in the early summer. As a member of the onion family, they're similar to green onions in flavor. Chives make a great addition to egg dishes, potato dishes, and savory bagels.
Companion planting with chives is also an excellent, natural way to help curb pest damage. Chives' strong aroma can mask the scent of nearby herbs and vegetables, making it harder for certain pests to find them. But chive flowers also attract parasitoid wasps and flies that prey on common garden pests-- a win-win!
3. Cilantro
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a cornerstone ingredient in a wide range of dishes, from salsas and salads to curries and soups. And though we typically see the leaves used as a garnish, every part of the cilantro plant is usable, from its fragrant leaves to its stems and its flavorful seeds, which are known as coriander. (In the UK and Australia, the whole plant is called coriander.)
Cilantro is easy to cultivate, though it quickly goes to seed once the temperatures start rising in late spring. Whether you're growing cilantro in pots, raised beds, or directly in the ground, give it well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and regular watering-- it doesn't do well in dry soil. Cilantro likes very cool weather, so it grows best in the early spring and late fall in most zones. In mild zones or under protection, it will even grow throughout the winter. Once the plant starts to produce flowers, it's time to either replace it with a summer herb or let it go to seed.
Read More: The 9 Best Companion Plants for Cilantro
4. Parsley
In the US, parsley is known by most as an unappetizing garnish. But if you grow parsley-- the flat type, not the curly variety-- you'll have a delicious addition to salads, soups, and Mediterranean dishes. Parsley is also the main ingredient in chimichurri, a simple South American sauce that's ideal for red meats.
Parsley should be harvested when the leaves are young, before they start to toughen. Though parsley is a cool weather herb, it will continue producing leaves all summer if given some shade, mulched, and watered frequently.
As a biennial herb, parsley produces foliage in its first year and flowers in its second year. Parsley flowers, which are umbellifers, make a beautiful ornamental addition to a kitchen garden and support a wealth of beneficial insects.
Read More: The Best and Worst Companion Plants for Parsley
5. Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a tender perennial herb, though gardeners in colder climates typically grow it as an annual. It needs full sun and poor, well draining soil in order to thrive. But once it does, rosemary produces incredibly aromatic leaves that complement everything from potatoes and poultry to breads, fish, beef, and lamb.
Part of the beauty of growing rosemary is that it's just as useful in the winter, when the plant has died or gone dormant, as it is in the summer. Dried rosemary keeps very well in a pantry and will continue adding its summery flavor (and beneficial polyphenols) to your cooking year-round.
Rosemary oil is also known to help stimulate hair growth, making it a popular DIY project-- although you may consider making that recipe using the non-consumable essential oil, instead.
Read More: The 11 Best Companion Plants for Rosemary
6. Sage
Sage (Salvia officinalis) is known as a savory addition to meat dishes, soups, stews, and stuffing, but it also offers useful medicinal properties. Sage is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, and it's traditionally been used to alleviate digestive issues, soothe sore throats, and even enhance cognitive function.
In the garden, sage's resilience makes it a great choice for beginner gardeners, as well. Sage thrives in well-drained soil and sunny locations and requires minimal watering once established, making it a low-maintenance addition to an herb garden. Sage is also resistant to pests and diseases, and can make a useful companion plant for other Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, oregano, and thyme.
7. Thyme
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is one of the easiest herbs to grow in all but the coldest gardens. Its earthy flavor is ideal for roasted vegetables, sauces, and grilled meats. Beyond its culinary contributions, thyme offers an impressive array of health benefits, from its high concentration of antioxidants to its antimicrobial properties. As a medicinal herb, thyme can also help soothe respiratory issues and digestive discomfort.
Thyme is a versatile and adaptable plant-- it'll even overwinter as far north as zone 5. Thyme likes well-drained soil and partial to full sunlight, and it can thrive in containers, raised beds, or directly in the ground, making it suitable for gardens of all sizes. Thyme is another low-maintenance herb, though it does require somewhat regular harvesting to prevent the plant from developing bare, woody stems.
8. Oregano
Oregano is another easy-to-grow Mediterranean herb with an earthy, almost spicy flavor. As a medicinal herb, oregano is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and rich in antioxidants. A simple homemade oregano tea can support digestion and immune function, and its anticatarrhal and expectorant properties make it ideal for relieving congestion.
There are several varieties of oregano: common oregano (Origanum vulgare), Greek oregano (Origanum heracleoticum), and Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens). For traditional Italian sauces and medicinal uses, look for Origanum vulgare. As a general rule, avoid more ornamental, variegated varieties if you want to grow oregano for culinary purposes.
Whichever type you grow, oregano is a hardy perennial herb that prefers well-drained soil and full sunlight. As a member of the mint family, it spreads easily, so just a few plants can easily produce an abundance of leaves that can be dried, stored, and used throughout the winter. Companion planting with oregano can also attract beneficial insects and pollinators to a vegetable garden.
9. Mint
There are countless varieties of mint, from the familiar spearmint and peppermint to more unique varieties like apple mint, chocolate mint, banana mint, and orange mint. Regardless of the variety you grow, mint is a very hardy herb that tends to grow as a perennial in almost all gardens.
Mint thrives in moist, well-drained soil and partial to full sunlight, though it's highly adaptable and will grow well in a wide range of situations. In fact, mint's proclivity for spreading through its rhizomes make it notorious as an aggressive, invasive herb. All types of mint are best suited to growing in containers, where they won't be able to overtake other plants.
After harvesting, mint has a wide array of uses, from cooking and baking to preparing medicinal products, bug sprays, room sprays, and beyond. Used as a tea, mint can help soothe digestive discomfort, alleviate headaches, soothe respiratory conditions, and ease muscle cramps. Mint also offers antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties when applied topically.
10. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has an irresistibly bright fragrance and is a staple in any medicinal garden. Though lemon balm has a strong citrusy scent, its flavor is mild and makes for a subtle addition to salads, sauces, and desserts. As a medicinal plant, lemon balm is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and can aid with stress relief, digestive discomfort, and even sleep issues. A simple lemon balm tea is easy to make and the dried leaves will keep all winter in a dark pantry.
Growing lemon balm is easy, as this mint family plant loves to spread. Give it well-draining soil, full or part sun, and regular watering and it will happily take over an herb bed. Regular harvesting and pruning can keep lemon balm in check, but it may be best to grow it in containers to avoid it colonizing your herb bed.
11. Chamomile
Chamomile produces tiny, daisy-like flowers and a subtle, calming scent that make it one of the most popular medicinal herbs among home gardeners. Those little flowers also attract beneficial insects and pollinators to a kitchen garden, making chamomile a useful companion flower for vegetable gardens. Prepared in an herbal tea, chamomile offers anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, nervine, and mildly sedative effects, promoting relaxation and easy digestion.
There are two main types of chamomile: German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). German chamomile grows taller and has a stronger scent, while Roman chamomile offers a more subtle, apple-like aroma. Both are useful as sleep aids, but Roman chamomile is more commonly used as a medicinal plant for soothing anxiety and digestive discomfort.
Whichever variety you plant, give chamomile well-draining soil and partial or full sun. If you're growing chamomile from seed, you can expect to start harvesting flowers within three months.
12. Comfrey
Comfrey is an invaluable herb for the organic gardener. Though it's not grown to eat-- in fact, it can be toxic to consume-- comfrey is useful as compost and as a medicinal herb. It's also a quick grower and incredibly low maintenance.
Comfrey produces a long taproot that mines nutrients from deep in the soil and sends them up to its massive leaves. This makes comfrey leaves an excellent green mulch for plants that need a lot of nutrition in the soil, like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and potatoes. You can also make comfrey tea-- a liquid fertilizer-- by simply leaving chopped up comfrey leaves in a covered bucket of water for about a month. When it smells like manure, it's ready to use.
As a medicinal plant, comfrey has many uses. It's best known for its ability to help soothe muscle pain and joint aches, help heal wounds, and promote bone growth. Making a DIY comfrey oil is an easy way to dip your toes into the world of herbalism.
13. Yarrow
Yarrow is a drought-tolerant ornamental flower, a useful companion plant, and a versatile medicinal herb. Its umbelliferous flowers support a host of beneficial insects, and they're also some of the first perennials to bloom in the early spring. You can find many varieties of yarrow, with flowers ranging from white to bright yellow to pinks and foliage ranging from deep green to silver.
As a medicinal herb, yarrow is one of the best herbs for tea. As a diaphoretic and anti-catarrhal, yarrow can help break fevers and clear sinus congestion. Yarrow oil is also anti-inflammatory and can help soothe inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, rashes, and burns. Possibly the most popular use for yarrow is as a homemade styptic powder, to help encourage clotting and stop bleeding.
14. Lavender
Growing lavender is a gift to the garden, its pollinators, and the gardener alike. Lavender thrives in well-drained soil and full sunlight, and it does well in rock gardens or containers with plenty of added drainage. Its flowers can range from deep purple to white, and its medicinal benefits range from soothing stress and promoting relaxation to soothing minor burns and bites.
There are several varieties of lavender to choose from, each suited to slightly different growing conditions. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is well adapted to cooler climates, can grow as a perennial down to zone 5, and has a more compact growth habit. It's also better suited for cooking and baking, as it has a mild flavor and scent. French lavender (Lavandula dentata, Lavandula stoechas) prefers warmer zones, is only hardy down to 10ºF, and has a stronger, more rosemary-like scent. Regardless of the variety you grow, lavender offers a plethora of benefits, both in the garden and in the home apothecary.
