Expand your herb garden beyond good old parsley
CLAYTON, CA (Mar. 22, 2025) — Herb gardening is both beautiful and rewarding.
Plant lovers delight in how easy it is to grow the herbs they use in cooking. It is great to be able to walk outside and snip some sage leaves or a sprig of rosemary to incorporate into your favorite dishes.
Herbs are also attractive garden installations. They can be grown in garden beds, borders or containers. Many have interesting looking foliage and some have pretty flowers.
Growing your own herbs has surged in popularity over the past years. Yesterday’s herb gardens featured basil, parsley and rosemary. Although those old favorites still rule the herb bed, today’s herb growers are expanding their gardens to include various flavored mints, oregano, thyme, fancy leafed and flavored sages, lemon balm and tarragon.
Sunny location
Herb gardens need to be in a mostly sun location. Install plants using a rich soil conditioner. Once established, most herbs are very water wise, requiring little to thrive. Basil, cilantro and parsley are the exceptions – they will need more water and can tolerate less sun. Fertilize herbs monthly with an organic fertilizer.
Flavored mints are all the rage; mojito, lemon and chocolate are some of the most popular. Mint can get out of hand in a garden bed, so install in a container for control.
Oregano is a large family of herbs with members just planted for cooking and some that are so pretty they can be planted just to admire. Greek and Italian oregano are two fabulous choices for those who desire fresh oregano for cooking.
You can plant Kent Beauty just for looks, although you can cook with it if you wish. Kent Beauty has a pinkish-purple flower that weeps over the sides of containers and hanging baskets. Try to remember its name because once it is blooming in your landscape, you will be asked over and over, “What is that plant?”
Thyme is another huge selection of herbs. You can find lemon, lime and orange flavored thymes, as well as coconut and oregano. All thymes are edible, but some do not have a flavorful essence that successfully passes onto your dishes.
Sage is such a large family that I could write columns on this group alone. Cooking sage has that deep, hardy fragrance and should remind you of sausage. Common sage is a great evergreen shrub in the landscape. It has large gray leaves and summer blue flowers.
A different look
If you are craving a different look in the landscape or container, seek out variegated sage. This selection has a leaf with a combination of green and yellow. Pineapple sage is a joy to grow. It does not have a traditional flavor, however. It is more for baking and flavored waters and teas. Pineapple sage is also very hummingbird friendly.
Most people include borage in herb gardens for the vivid blue flowers that entice pollinators to the area. Chamomile has dainty foliage and white, daisy-shaped flowers. Dill has two purposes in the herb garden: It’s great in dressings and on fish and is also a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies.
You can contact Nicole Hackett with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com.
Nicole Hackett
Nicole is the Garden Girl at R&M Pool, Patio, Gifts and Garden. You can contact her with questions or comments by email at gardengirl94517@yahoo.com