 Aloe (Lilliaceae), "In the African Congo, the Slukari hunters rub the gel of aloe over their bodies to remove the human scent before they stalk their prey. In many countries, women rub the gel of aloe on their faces to keep their skin fresh and supple. All over the world, men and women rub the gel of aloe on burns to heal the skin." Rodale's HerbsHardiness: zone 10 Soil pH neutral Average, well-drained soil Full sun to light shade Cultivation: Grow in containers where minimum temperatures go below 41 degrees F. Separate suckers when 2 to 6 inches high. 
 Basil (Ocimum basilicum), is a favorite annual culinary herb. Ask any chef and pesto lover. An excellent ingredient for the bath, basil is also popular for sachets and incenses. Fresh basil has a peppery, spicy aroma and is preferred to dried basil which quickly loses its scent. However, basil may be frozen to retain more of this delightful aroma. Plant basil near tomato plants to enhance flavor and along borders. A walk through a garden lined with basil can only add to a pleasant stroll. Place a sprig of fresh basil in your car on roadtrips to refresh your senses.Soil pH 6.0 Rich, moist, well-drained soil Full sun Cultivation: Start seeds in pots or flats and transplant to garden when several true leaves are showing.
 Chamomile-Camomile (Matricaria chamomilla or German camomile, Anthemis nobilis or Roman camomile), one of the best loved herbs, is used for healing both humans and plants. When added to the bath this herb is excellent for relief of itchy or irritated skin and aching muscles. Drink chamomile tea for upset stomach, fever, relief of a hangover and for colicky infants. Grow this herb everywhere in your garden for healthier plants or place a potted chamomile near a sick plant for healing. Seeds are tiny and best started in pots. Chamomile loves to be walked on and can be grown in paths or around garden benches. This herb gives off an apple-like aroma, i.e. the Greeks call it "earth apple". Worn in amulets for eye complaints, this herb reached literary fame in Beatrix Potter's "Peter Rabbit".Hardiness: zones 3 - 4 Soil pH 6 - 7.0 Light, dry soil Full sun Cultivation: Prepare bed, then sow seed on top. Do not cover. Mulch in winter.
 Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum - onion chives) Most cooks only use the leaves. The pretty purple flowers separated into florets can also be added to salads for color and flavor.Hardiness: zone 3 Soil pH 6.0 Moderately rich, well-drained soil Full sun Cultivation: Easier to start from existing plants for faster results. Divide every 3 years. Plant small bulbs in clumps. Cut back after flowering to 2 inches at end of season. Can be brought indoors in containers for steady winter harvest.
 Cilantro (Coriander leaves, Chinese Parsley) has been cultivated for thousands of years. This plant has a very strong flavor which is milder in the leaves and is used in Chinese and Latin American cuisine.Soil pH 6.6 Moderately rich, light, well-drained soil Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Sow seeds directly into beds. Don't over fertilize. Weeding and mulching important. Will re-seed. Store dried leaves and seeds separately.
 Dill (Anethum graveolens - Unbelliferae)From ancient days in Athens and Rome, this favorite garden herb has been used to flavor culinary dishes, heal and decorate the home in dried flower arrangements. Soil pH 6.0 Moderately rich, well-drained, moist soil Full sun Cultivation: Sow seed in clumps directly in the garden after danger of frost. Later planting may take until second year to produce quality seed. Tall stalks and flower heads need support. Seed self-sows.
 Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae)ardiness: zone 8 - 10. Nighttime temperature above 50 degrees F Soil pH wide range Light, loamy soil Full sun Cultivation: Transplant as young hardy tree away from other plants as this tree is a heavy feeder. Water sparingly.
 Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) A gardener's favorite. Beautiful flowers are bell shaped and come in a range of pink and white. Also see Unsafe Herbs.Hardiness: zone 4 - 8 Soil pH acid Fertile, moist, humusy soil. Good drainage. Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Seeds are so small, mix with sand and broadcast. Cover lightly and keep moist. Tall plants may need staking.
 Garlic (Liliaceae), Also see Herb Vitamins and Herbs in the Medicine CabinetHardy plants Soil pH 4.5 - 8.3 Rich, deep, moist, well-drained soil Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Easier to start from cloves than seeds. Plant early spring. In colder climates plant in fall. Cut back flower stalks in early summer to encourage bulb growth. Withhold water for a few days before harvesting in mid-summer.
 Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), which is used to flavor green salads, chicken soup, lamb and poultry has a history of use as a cleansing herb and antiseptic. According to Jeanne Rose, "...penicillin mold grows and thrives on hyssop leaves." Anise-hyssop (Agastache formiculum) can be used as a sugar substitute to sweeten tea. As a general purpose garden herb and loved by bees, hyssop is easy to grow and is rarely bothered by pests.Hardiness: zones 4 - 5 Soil pH 6.7 Light, well-drained soil Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Seeds, Cuttings, division. Prune occassionally. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep.
 Italian Parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum - Plainleaf Parsley) adds rich European flavor to soups, stews, vegetables and salads. High in Vitamin A and C, parsley is a natural breath sweetener. Easy to grow.Hardiness: zone 9 Soil pH 6.0 Moderately rich, moist, well-drained soil Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Sow seeds directly into garden when temperature has reached 50 degrees. Takes approximately six weeks to germinate. Cut back often especially outside stems and flower stalks. Will re-seed.
 Lavender (Lavandula officinalis), harvested from your own garden exudes the most delicate fragrance to be used in sachets and potpourris. Popular in perfumes and toilet waters, this herb has long been a favorite for love encounters. The Chinese consider lavender oil a cure-all.Hardiness: zones 5-8 Soil pH 7.1 Light, well-drained soil. Full sun Cultivation: Use cuttings from side branches after 2-5 years growth. In 1st year clip to prevent blooms and encourage branching.
 Marjoram ( Origanum Majorana - Labiatae), called "joy of the mountains" by the Greeks, this herb is a minor antioxidant, antiseptic and a flavor enhancer in a miriad of culinary dishes as a mild oregano.Hardiness: zones 9-10 Soil pH 6.9 Light, dry, well-drained soil Full sun Cultivation: Start seed early indoors and transplant to garden after danger of frost. Weed often. Pinch back to maintain shape or grow in enclosed area or containers. Can be evasive. Water sparingly.
 MintsHardiness: zone 5 Soil pH 6.5 Rich, moist, well-drained soil Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Definitely a container species. Growing habit is rampant and cross polination possible. Plenty of moisture. Prune often to prevent leggy plants. Fresh is better than dried or frozen.
 Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), though not safe if used internally, can be used externally in a herbal bath to relieve aching muscles. In the garden, it is well used as a light green color contrast to other plants and flowers, and dried is excellent in arrangements. However, its preferred use by the Wise Ones is for dreaming. An ancient American Indian recipe calls for 1 oz. of mugwort stuffed into a pillow, while some herbals suggest using 8 oz. For the beginner, I recommend experimenting with 1 oz. for the hardy dreamer (the result is likened to traveling at light speed without a starship) and less than an ounce for the faint hearted.Hardiness: zone 4 Average to poor, well-drained soil Full sun Cultivation: Start seeds in pots.
 Oregano (O. heracleoticum), is used mostly in tomato sauces. Try it dried and sprinkled on steak before cooking. Delicious. Keep dried leaves whole and crumple only when adding to recipes to retain stronger flavor.Hardiness: zone 4 Soil pH 6.8 Well-drained, average soil Full sun Cultivation: Start with plants after choosing preferred taste or aroma from leaves. Plant in clumps. Snip after 6 inches high to dry or create bushier plants. Can be propagated by division and cuttings.
 Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), is a beautiful evergreen shrub with needlelike leaves and a piney scent. Rosemary is finicky in any garden and more so if potted, however, seaside dwellers will have less difficulty growing this herb. A strong yet popular herb, its uses are many and varied. To name just a few -- moth proofing, an aromatic in sachets, an excellent steam facial, hair rinse for brunettes, as a culinary herb for fish, lamb, poultry and game or as a vinegar, a yellow-green wool dye. Also used throughout the ages as a brain or memory restorer, if you can remember to make the tea.Hardiness: zones 8-10 Soil pH 6.5 - 7.0 Well-drained soil Full sun Cultivation: Cuttings or layering
 Sage (Labiatae) Used in stuffings and dressings. Also a good aromatic and bath herb.Hardiness: zones 4 - 8 Soil pH 6.4 Well-drained, moderately rich soil Full sun Cultivation: Can be grown from seed, however, division is best using outer growth, 4 inch cuttings, after 2nd year.
 St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Used for nervous complaints. Warning: This plant can be highly toxic and self-medication is discouraged.Hardiness: zone 5 Soil pH acid to alkaline Average to poor soil Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Can be started from cuttings, seed or division in the fall. St. John's Wort sends out runners. Bright, yellow flowers bloom in early summer.
 Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), widely cultivated, is a beautiful spreading plant. Try a handful of this herb in your dog or cat bed to repel fleas, but only if your familiar approves. Use wormwood as an excellent moth proofer. External use in tea form for bruises, sprains, arthritis and rheumatism can be recommended. However, any internal use is highly dangerous due to the active principle thujone, which is a poison and narcotic.Hardiness: zone 4 Soil pH 6.6 Well-drained clay loam far from other plants Full sun to partial shade Cultivation: Preferably grown in a large pot away from other plants. Seed easy to germinate.
 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), One of love's favorite herbs. Used in long lasting love charms, this herb has a lengthy list of common or folk names -- Millefolium, Arrow Root, Ladies' Mantle, Devil's Plaything, Old Man's Pepper, to name but a few -- which attest for its popularity all over the world. A lovely flowering herb, pink, white or yellow, each yarrow plant needs plenty of room in the garden and is relatively easy to grow.Hardiness: zone 2 Soil pH 6.1 Moderately rich, well-drained soil Full sun Cultivation: Plant seed in ground after danger of frost. Divide in spring and fall. |
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