|
HERB |
DESCRIPTION |
CULTURE |
HARVEST |
USE |
| Angelica |
Hardy, 3-8 feet |
Full sun, allow
plants to self-seed |
Harvest leaves
before flowering. Collect seeds in late summer. |
Display dried seed
heads for decoration. Use stems to flavor drinks or in potpourri. |
| Artemesia |
Hardy deciduous
sub-shrub 2-4 feet |
Full Sun |
Pick flowering tops
and leaves in mid to late summer. |
Decorative hedge,
use powder to make moth repellent. |
| Basil |
Annual from seed or
cuttings 18"-36" |
Warm sun, pinch
back flower heads |
Pick leaves when
young. |
Use with tomatoes &
salads, in pesto sauce, and to flavor vinegars. |
| Bay |
Evergreen tree, up
to 23 feet |
Full sun, winter
indoors |
Pick leaves as
needed. |
Use in stock,
stews. Remove leaf before serving. |
| Borage |
Hardy annual 1-2½
feet |
Open sunny spot |
Pick flowers and
leaves. |
Sprinkle flowers
for salads, add young leaves to cold drinks, and chop finely in salads.
Attracts bees to gardens. |
| Calendula |
Hardy annual
12"-20" |
Sunny spot |
Pick flowers when
open, leaves when young. |
Dry petals to add
color to potpourri, use petals to give flavor to rice, fish, yogurt, butter,
cakes. Add petals to creams. |
| Catnip (Catmint) |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial 18"-36" |
Sun or light shade |
Gather young leaves
and flowering tops. |
Rub on meat to
flavor, drink as tea, and use in salads, use dry or fresh for cats. |
| Chamomile |
Hardy evergreen
perennial 8"-12" |
Full sun,
well-drained soil. |
Gather leaves
anytime. Pick flowers when fully open. |
Infuse as a facial
steam or for a reviving bath for sunburn or use as tea. |
| Chervil |
Hardy annual
10"-15" |
Light shade in
summer, well-drained soil. Dislikes heat. |
Gather leaves
before flowering. |
Use in salads,
soups, sauces, vegetables, chicken, use as infusion to cleanse skin. |
| Chives |
Hardy perennial
bulbs 8"-3 feet |
Sun or partial
shade, well-drained soil. |
Cut leaves leaving
2" for re-growth. Pick flowers as they open. |
Sprinkle flowers on
salads, eat leaves in salads, soups, rub clove around salad bowl for flavor. |
| Curry plant |
Half hardy 18"
evergreen sub-shrub |
Full sun, rich soil |
Pick leaves
anytime, gather flowers as they open. |
Use as decorative
edge, dry petals for potpourri. Add leaves to wreaths. |
| Dill |
Hardy annual 2-5
feet |
Full sun, protect
from wind, well-drained soil. |
Gather leaves when
young, collect seed after flowering. |
Use in soups, fish
dishes, pickles, cabbage, potato salads, salmon. |
| Fennel |
Herbaceous
perennial up to 7 feet |
Full sun
well-drained soil |
Pick young stems &
leaves, collect ripe seed, and dig bulbs in fall. |
Use in sauces, fish
dishes, salads, soups. Use in facial steams. |
| Feverfew |
Hardy 2 feet
biennial/perennial |
Full sun
well-drained soil. |
Pick leaves and
flowers anytime. |
Infuse for a mild
disinfectant, use dried t deter moths. |
| Horehound
|
Hardy perennial 18
inches |
Full sun, protect
from wind, likes dry soil. |
Pick leaves and
flowering tops. |
Use in flower
arrangements, attracts bees, infuse for cough and sore throat. |
| Hyssop |
Hardy
semi-evergreen sub-shrub 18"-4 feet |
Full sun,
well-drained soil. |
Pick flowers &
young flowering tops, gather leaves anytime. |
Toss in salads, add
to potpourri, put leaves in poultice t heal wounds. |
| Lady’s Mantle |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial 6"-20" |
Full sun, rich
moist soil |
Select large leaves
as needed. Best during flowering. |
Tear young leaves
for salads, boil for green dye, infuse as an astringent. |
| Lavender |
Evergreen shrub
18"-3 feet |
Sunny open spot,
well-drained sandy soil. |
Gather flowering
stems just as flowers open. Pick leaves anytime. |
Use to flavor jams,
vinegar, put in sachets, use in potpourri or tea. |
| Lemon balm |
Herbaceous
perennial 3 feet |
Full sun, moist
soil |
Pick leaves anytime
but handle gently to avoid bruising. |
Use in salads,
white sauces for fish, mayonnaise, jellies, infuse for tea, attracts bees. |
| Lemon verbena |
Half hardy shrub
2-4 feet |
Full sun,
well-drained soil, winter indoors. |
Pick leaves
anytime, best when flowers begin to bloom. |
Infuse as herb tea,
use in drinks, cakes, and homemade ice cream, potpourri. |
| Lovage |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial 7 feet |
Full sun, rich
moist well-drained soil |
Pick leaves as
needed. Gather seed when ripe. |
Use in flower
arrangements, add seed to cordials or breads, use leaves in stock or stews. |
| Marjoram |
Hardy herbaceous or
shrubby perennial 6"-2 feet |
Full sun, gold leaf
forms need midday shade |
Pick young leaves
anytime. |
Infuse as tea, chop
for salads, meat dishes, blend with chili, and add to pizza, tomatoes,
cheese. |
| Mint |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial. 1"-3 feet |
Partial shade or
sun, well-drained soil. |
Pick leaves just
before flowering. |
Infuse as tea, use
for mint sauce, syrups and with chocolate, potpourri. |
| Monarda |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial, 2-3 feet |
Sun or part shade
in hot climate, rich soil. |
Collect leaves when
flowers from. Pick flowers when open. |
Use in flower
arrangements, use flower in salads, infuse leaf for tea. Attracts bees.
|
| Myrtle |
Half hardy
evergreen shrub, 9-10 feet |
Full sun, protect
from wind, well-drained soil. |
Pick buds, flowers,
& ripe berries as available. Pick leaves when in flower. |
Use in wreaths.
When cooking pork or lamb pulverize. Add to ointment for face. |
| Oregano |
Hardy herbaceous or
shrubby perennial 6"-2 feet |
Full sun, gold leaf
forms need mid-day shade. |
Pick young leaves
anytime. |
Add to pizzas,
tomatoes, egg & cheese dishes, rub on meat, infuse for a relaxing bath. |
| Parsley |
Hardy biennial 15
inches |
Full sun or light
shade, rich deeply-dug soil. |
Pick leaves when
needed, collect seeds when ripe. |
Add to salads, egg
dishes, soups, boiled potatoes, mayonnaise, and chew to freshen breath. |
| Rosemary |
Tender evergreen
perennial, 3-6 feet |
Full sun, protect
from cold winds, needs excellent drainage. |
Pick small amounts
all year round. |
Use in salads, add
to meat dishes and herb butter, use as facial steam. |
| Sage |
Hardy evergreen
shrub 1-2 ½ feet |
Full sun, light
well-drained soil. |
Pick leaves just
before flowers appear. |
Use in wreaths,
scatter in salads, infuse for tea, use in stuffing, meats. Put dried leaves
in linen to discourage insects. |
| Salad burnet |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial 8"-30" |
Sun or light shade,
prefers limey soil. |
Pick young tender
leaves when needed. |
Use as nutty
cucumber flavor in salads, herb butters, soft cheeses, or vegetables. |
| Santolina |
Hardy evergreen
sub-shrub 1-2 feet |
Full sun,
well-drained preferably sandy soil. |
Pick flowering
stems in late summer. Gather leaves anytime. |
Use for edging
plant, dry for decorations. Use to deter moths, add to potpourri. |
| Savory |
Hardy evergreen
sub-shrub 15" |
Full sun,
well-drained soil. |
Pick leaves just as
flower buds are formed. |
Use as edging
plant. Cook leaf with beans. Throw in fires as an aromatic disinfectant. Use
in facial steam for oily skin. |
| Sorrel |
Hardy perennial 2-4
feet |
Sun or light shade,
well-drained soil. |
Gather leaves when
young for culinary use. |
Eat raw young
leaves in salads, cook like spinach, use in soups, omelets, lamb and beef
dishes. Use juice to bleach stains from linen. |
| Sweet woodruff |
Hardy perennial 12" |
Semi-shade,
particularly good under trees, moist porous soil. |
Pick leaves and
flowering stems. |
Use in garlands,
make an exhilarating drink, put dried leaves under carpets and among linens
to deter moths. |
| Tarragon |
Hardy to a few
degrees of frost, perennial, 2-3’ |
Sunny & sheltered
spot, rich light dry soil. |
Pick leaves
anytime. |
Use for tarragon
vinegar, béarnaise, tartar and hollandaise sauce, mayonnaise, salad
dressings, tomatoes, herb butter, rub on chicken. |
| Thyme |
Evergreen shrub
3"-15", creeping varieties make good ground cover. |
Full sun, light and
well-drained soil. |
Pick leaves in
summer. They are best while thyme is in bloom. |
Grow for low
hedging and creepers for aromatic carpets, add to stocks, soups, chicken,
fish, hot vegetables, use in potpourri, use in facial steams and baths. |
| Valerian |
Hardy herbaceous
perennial 2-5’ |
Full sun or light
shade, prefers cool roots and warm foliage |
Dig complete root
in second season in late autumn, remove pale roots, leaving edible rhizome. |
Add root to soups
and stews, add leaves to compost, boosts growth of nearby vegetables by
stimulating phosphorus and earthworm activity. Flower smells terrific. |
