Herbs A - Z - Growing Tips for Specific Herb Plants

Bay Laurel
Best known as a seasoning, bay laurel is an evergreen shrub or tree that is native of the Mediterranean area. Although bay can grow into a tall tree, it is often kept smaller by pruning or by confining it in a container. Bay is very easy to grow. In the spring, bay has small yellow flowers which develop into purple berries in the fall.

Basil - There's Never Enough
Basil is an easy to grow tender annual. The hardest thing about growing basil is choosing which varieties to grow. Give basil some sun and good soil and you can pick leaves daily all summer long. And picking the leaves is what will keep your basil producing for the whole season. Here are some suggestions for great basil varieties and how to...

Borage - Growing and Using the Herb Borage
Borage is a freely seeding, easy growing annual plant with vivid blue flowers and leaves with the flavor of cucumbers. Borage is actually a somewhat gangly plant, but you barely notice it because the star-shaped flowers are so vibrant. They’re a true blue, hanging in downward facing clusters. Even the fussy white buds are attractive. Both...

Catmints (Nepeta) - Drought Tolerant Garden Performers
Catmint (Nepeta) is extremely hardy, drought tolerant and virtually maintenance free. All this and nepeta repeat blooms sporadically throughout the summer. Such a wonderful garden plant should be more widely appreciated and used by gardeners. Take another look here, at the pleasure of growing nepeta and its usefulness in any garden design.

Chamomile - For Tea, for the Garden
German chamomile is a delicate looking plant that is surprisingly tough. The ferny foliage tends to flop over and the tiny flowers look like miniature daisies. Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) is often used as a groundcover or creeping plant used to soften the edges of a stone wall or walkway. Roman chamomile is a perennial. The German chamomile used for making tea. Both are easy to grow and great additions to the garden.

Chives - The Gentle Onion
Faster to grow and milder in flavor than onions, chives make a place for themselves in the culinary herb garden.

Cilantro - Two Herbs for the Price of One
The seeds are referred to as coriander and the leaves are known as cilantro. Both herbs are delicious and versatile in the kitchen.

Dill - Versatile and Plentiful
A beautiful, fast growing annual herb, dill is one of those wonderful herb plants that is great fresh and even the seeds are edible.

Comfrey: Free Fertilizer
Comfrey is a tall, elegant herb that makes a nice focal point in the garden. It's very easy to grow, but use caution around it. It can be toxic, especially to the liver, if eaten or even if applied to the skin.

Jewelweed - Remedy For Poison Ivy
You’ll often find these two plants growing together, which is very smart on Nature’s part. Jewelweed can be used to offset the irritating affects of poison ivy

Garlic Scapes - An Early Treat
Garlic scapes are the twisting stalks of hardneck garlic plants. They can be cut and used like scallions or garlic bulbs. Here more info on growing and cooking with garlic scapes.

Lavender - Fragrant and Delicious Lavender
Fragrant lavender plants can be hard to grow in some areas, but not impossible. Choose a variety suited to your climate and you can have lavender blooming in your garden.

Growing Horseradish
Tips for growing perennial horseradish plants, a pungent seasoning.

Mint - Growing and Using the Fragrant Herb Mint
Plants in the mint family are very hardy perennials with vigorous growth habits. Mint, left to its own devices, will spread quickly and become a nuisance. However, it is very popular as a flavorful herb and the plants can be grown easily. Just try to chose a spot where you won’t mind the rampant growth or grow it in a confined space.

Lemon Scented Herbs
Not every gardener can grow a lemon tree, but everyone can have lemon scent and flavor in their garden by planting some lemon scented herbs. It’s amazing how much these plants mimic the essence of lemons. They are all relatively easy to grow and care for and the leaves, the most flavorful part of these plants, can be harvested and used in just...

Oregano - A Taste of the Mediterranean
Growing, harvesting and using oregano is easy, but sometimes confusing. Plants in the genus Origanum can be perennial ground covers, tender perennials or even small subshrubs. There's some confusion over what type of oregano to use in cooking, but there is no disputing the flavor when you taste it. This Plant Profile of 'Oregano' will help...

Parsley - An Under Appreciated Herb
For years, all we knew about parsley was that curly, bitter sprig at the side of our food in restaurants. Parsley is a leafy herb that adds more freshness than flavor to dishes. It’s extremely easy to grow and keep on hand and an attractive plant in the garden.

Sage - Distinctive Culinary Sage
Sage is one of those wonderful Mediterranean herbs that only asks for sun and warmth and then takes care of itself. Being an evergreen, even northern gardeners are able to harvest fresh sage leaves at Thanksgiving. And it's beautiful enough not to have on display in the herb garden or the perennial bed. Here are some tips for growing great sage.

Scented Geraniums - Edible Flowers
Tips for growing scented geranium plants. Caring for and using scented geraniums (Pelargonium).

Rosemary - Yes, You Can Grow It
It's not hard to grow rosemary. Rosemary is a heat loving herb, associated with the Mediterranean, but you can successfully grow rosemary plants just about anywhere, as long as you give it plenty of sun and bring it inside for the winter.

Thyme - Fragrant, Flavorful and Easy Growing
Thyme is an extremely easy growing Mediterranean herb that prefers dry, lean growing conditions. In fact, thyme almost grows itself. You can grow thyme in herb gardens, on rock walls, between pavers or even indoors. Here are some tips on growing and using great thyme.

Growing and Using the Herb Salad Burnet
Salad burnet is an herb with a flavor much like cucumbers. It's easy to grow from seed and perennial in most areas. Here are tips for growing and cooking with salad burnet.