12 of the Best Plants for an Herb Garden

Are you wondering what are the best plants for an herb garden? Check out this list of 12 herb plants to start your garden today.

When starting your herb garden you want to grow the best plants to work both in your kitchen and your home. When choosing what to grow in your garden you want plants that can bring value from helping attract pollinators to providing food for your family and even improving your immune system. These 12 herbs are perfect for any thriving home herb garden giving you plenty of useful ways to use the plants you grow to get the most value for your hard work.

12 Best Plants for an Herb Garden

Mint is an essential herb for the home from garnishing dessert to making a tummy soothing tea your options with mint are nearly unlimited. Mint loves to run wild and will grow from runners. When growing mint you can use it as a ground cover in a low-traffic area that you do not mind spreading or opt to grow it in a container to prevent it from pushing out other herbs in your herb garden.

Lavender is one of the most useful herbs you can grow in your home garden. Lavender has proven health benefits like helping to reduce stress and heal skin conditions. Lavender can also be used to make sweet desserts with a delicate floral flavor or a soothing nighttime tea. Grow lavender in large pots near your front door or patio to help repel insects as well. Lavender is a perennial that will come back year after year making them best for large pots or an area of the garden that is only perennials so they can be left to grow without being dug up.

Lemongrass is another great herb for your herb garden that can help repel insects. Lemongrass is a great addition to homegrown herbal teas as well as spicing up chicken and poultry dishes. Lemongrass grows amazingly well in a post near doors and entertainment spots or in bunches for an ornamental grass herb for the back of your herb garden beds.

Oregano is a popular culinary herb that no herb garden would be complete without. Oregano is drought hardy and loves the sun. While it can get rather tall if kept trimmed it can even make a great-looking green edging plant for walkways making it one of the best herbs for finding in your garden beds and decorative areas.

Basil is an Italian favorite that can be used for adding flavor to your favorite dishes or making a tasty fresh pesto right out of your herb garden. Basil is a great plant for your first herb garden. It tends to handle neglect well allowing even new gardeners to get a large enough crop they won’t know what to do with it all. Fresh Basil is amazing in many recipes, but I also dry basil for year-long use. It’s a staple in my homemade breadcrumbs too.

Lemon balm is a beautiful flowering member of the mint family that makes a stunning addition to your herb garden. This must-have attracts bees and butterflies while providing you with a minty lemon-flavored tea, infused waters, and savory chicken and fish dishes. Grow lemon balm or another variety like bee balm in a bright and sunny area of your herb garden and allow the bright flowers to pull in your favorite pollinators.

Sage is a popular savory herb that can spice up soups and stews giving them a bold yet refined flavor. After harvesting enough sage from your herb garden you can let it got to flower to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Rosemary is an amazing herb that can be used for making savory dishes such as poultry or fish while. Rosemary can also be used as a tea or in aromatherapy to help increase focus, attention, and memory. Rosemary adds a beautiful aroma to your herb garden.

Thyme is another Italian staple every herb garden should grow. Thyme looks a lot like rosemary and can be grown with it in the garden for its amazing herb flavor perfect for pairing with lemon for fish and chicken dishes or using as a garnish for your favorite savory dishes.

Parsley is a popular garnish that is one of the best plants to grow in your herb garden. This herb is best used fresh making it ideal for growing yourself for the freshest available. Parsley loves a sunny spot in the garden and can happily thrive near other popular Italian herbs like oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme.

Dill is a common herb used in pickling. For the home, canner dill is an essential herb for growing in the home garden. Dill has a strong fragrance and delicate yellow flowers. While this herb can be used in your caning it is also a great herb for attracting bees and butterflies to your garden to help with pollination.

Echinacea also known as coneflower is a popular perennial that loves full sun and can attract bees and butterflies to your garden. Grow echinacea in your herb garden to use for making an immune system boosting herbal tea with a light floral flavor that blends well with green tea and other herbal teas.

PIN IT!