15 Best Herbs to Grow in Your Garden

We’ve put together a list of our top 15 favorite herbs to grow in the garden. Growing your own herbs is one of the best parts of gardening in my opinion. Herbs are perfect for the beginner gardener (or even kids) as most are easy to grow, and you won’t outgrow them even with experience.
Freshly harvested herbs are so much more aromatic and flavorful than store-bought varieties which have been sitting on shelves or in storage for weeks. You just need to cut enough for your dish or cup of tea and then you get to keep coming back for more as you need it. Your herbs will keep producing throughout the season if you harvest often!

Benefits of Growing Your Own Herbs
Not only can herbs boost the flavor of your favorite dishes, but they can also offer some wellness benefits. You can use many of these herbs to infuse Tallow Balms, Lip Balms and Soaps, or make Herbal Teas and Mocktails, Stovetop Potpourri, or even Bath Teas.
Growing herbs at home is a very cheap alternative to purchasing from the store, and you’ll have a supply of tasty and pesticide-free herbs at your scissor tips all season long, plus you can dry them for use throughout the year. Keeping a steady stream of homegrown herbs means you’ll never be lacking for flavor!
I hope you’ll throw some of these herbs in your garden to grow this year. Take a look at our list of Flowers and Vegetables if you’re looking for more gardening ideas! You can also start many plants early by Winter Sowing.
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I am not a doctor or medical professional, nothing written here should be taken as medical advice or knowledge. Please consult your doctor before ingesting any herbs.

Basil
Basil is a must-have herb for any garden, big or small. It can grow in the ground or in a pot, and really doesn’t take much to flourish.
It is known for its sweet but slightly peppery flavor and it’s bright green, silky leaves.
Basil thrives in warm, sunny conditions and just need some well-drained soil. It loves to be planted with tomatoes and marigolds to help keep away the pests. Harvest basil leaves often to encourage new growth and prevent flowering.
Popular varieties include Genovese basil, Thai basil, and purple basil. Shop basil seeds.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a super hardy, evergreen herb, similar to pine in it’s fragrance and it has a very pronounced flavor.
This hearty plant is drought-tolerant and grows well in pots or in the garden with lots of sunlight. It’s perfect for any beginner as it’s pretty tough to kill.
Rosemary goes well with grilled or roasted meats, potatoes, or bread. It is also known for being rich in antioxidants and is often used in haircare products.
I do usually recommend purchasing a small rosemary bush from a local nursery instead of starting from seeds.


Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is the happy herb of the garden. With a mild, lemon scent, it will lift your spirits, bring bees to your yard, and it’s super easy to grow.
This strong smelling herb belongs to the mint family. Its beautiful and bright green leaves provide lots of leaves for brewing tea and drying.
Lemon balm is known to help calm nerves and change your mood (for the better).
Grab your Lemon Balm Seeds.
Calendula
Calendula is a flower I love to grow for wellness purposes, especially for skin irritations as you often see it used as an anti-inflammatory.
I use calendula in many of my tallow balms. Many folks enjoy using these flowers to top foods and drinks.
Calendula blooms look like mini sunflowers and make beautiful cut flowers. These hardy blooms can even handle some frost!
Take a look at our list of top flowers to grow!


Cilantro (coriander)
Cilantro, also known as coriander, has a bold, citrusy flavor that’s widely used in cuisines like Mexican, Indian, and Thai. This herb grows quickly and thrives in cooler temperatures, so it’s best planted in spring or fall.
This little plant is super beneficial to our health. It is quick to grow and will often reseed itself. You can even try growing it as a Microgreen.
Both the leaves and seeds are edible! You can save cilantro seeds and grind them into coriander powder and use it as a seasoning for both savory and sweet foods!
Cilantro also contains antioxidants and may help detoxify heavy metals from the body.
Dill
Dill is a super aromatic herb with feathery leaves and a distinctive tangy flavor. The greens looks very similar to carrot tops.
This willowy plant will grow very quickly, making it a great choice for beginner gardeners. It also prefers cooler weather, so you can get a head start or a later finish to your growing season.
Dill is most often used for pickling, but it also brightens the flavor of salads, fish, or potatoes (try our Dill Pickle Soup).
Dill flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which will benefit your whole garden.


Lemon Verbena
Another citrusy herb (see a pattern?), lemon verbena will bring a bright zest to your garden and kitchen.
It’s such a sweet fragrance, you might think you’ve grown lemonade. Bees and butterflies will love this addition to your herbs collection.
The leaves boast antioxidant properties, but they can help calm your mind and boost your mood.
Lemon verbena is not a fan of the cold, so I do bring my pot inside for the winter season. I recommend buying this shrub from a local nursery as it may take a while to grow from seed.
Chamomile
Chamomile is like a big calming hug and a big cozy blanket, and I grow it because I love to drink soothing chamomile tea.
There are two kinds of Chamomile: Roman and German, but German seems to be the most common for the backyard gardener as it is an annual and doesn’t take over like the Roman variety tends to.
Chamomile is fairly easy to grow, often reseeding itself throughout the season. These cheery flowers will delight you every time you’re in the garden.
The daisy-like blooms give a slight apple scent and attract pollinators, and are used for pain relief or as a sleeping and calming aid. Your skin and body will thank you!


Mint
Mint is a vibrant, strong, and refreshing herb to grow. It has a cooling aroma and it very hardy, often coming back year after year.
I ALWAYS recommend growing it in pots because otherwise it will take over your entire garden. The good news is it’s hard to kill, but that’s also the bad news!
Mint is a refreshing and aromatic herb that comes in many varieties, such as peppermint, spearmint, and chocolate mint. I like spearmint or peppermint varieties best.
It’s perfect for flavoring teas, drinks, and desserts, and its scent can even help repel ants and mosquitoes. Plus, it can help calm stomach and nerves.
Thyme
Thyme is the underdog of the herb garden. It boasts a subtle, earthy flavor and adds a touch of savory flavor to your meals.
This herb is easy to grow, and requires very little to survive. It just need a dry, sunny spot to flourish.
There are several varieties, including common thyme and lemon thyme, each with its unique aroma. Dried thyme continues to hold its flavor well too.
Thyme is also said to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, so it is often used in natural remedies for coughs and sore throats.


Oregano
Oregano is THE classic herb you think of when you think of Mediterranean food. It’s warm, bold, and slightly bitter and spicy all at the same time.
Used in everything from sauce to pasta to soups, this peppery herb isn’t just for the kitchen. It contains antioxidants and has natural antibacterial properties.
It thrives in sunny, dry conditions and requires minimal care once established. In fact, it takes neglect like a champ.
Oregano can be easily dried for use.
Butterfly Pea
These beautifully blue blooms of the butterfly pea plant are showstoppers! The deep blue color will have you smiling every time you pick.
Growing on climbing vines, they love a warm sunny space and will continue to produce all season.
The real whimsy of these flowers comes when you brew them as a tea – your water will turn a magical purple. Add in some lemon juice and it will turn to a brilliant pink!
Butterfly pea flowers aren’t just gorgeous either, they are packed with antioxidants and are known to be calming.
Pollinators will flock to your garden when they see these!


Sage
Sage is a silvery-green herb with velvety leaves and an earthy and slight peppery flavor. Most often used to flavor meat and stuffing, this savory herb can also bring magic to sauces.
It is super hardy, thriving in well-drained soil and sunny locations, and is very low maintenance once established. Sage is also known for having some medicinal properties, including aiding digestion, soothing a sore throat, or reducing inflammation.
If you are lucky enough to see it bloom, you’ll be treated with delicate purple flowers. Plus, it’ll attract pollinators, which means more bees and butterflies in your garden. Sage dries easily, so you can stock your spice cabinet for the year.
Lavender
This pretty purple delight is the queen of calming! The distinct scent will have you dreaming in no time.
Lavender is known for its relaxing properties, and works great as a tea or mocktail, in the bath, or in homemade body care products.
It is a hardy plant that loves the sun and well-drained soil, and can handle some heat. Plus, it is a huge pollinator magnet and brings all the beneficial bugs to your yard.
Dried lavender keeps it strong fragrance for months, so it makes the perfect plant to keep around.


Parsley
Parsley is a quick-growing vibrant herb that is great for any home garden. It usually comes in two kinds: flat-leaf (Italian) and curly. I prefer to use the flat-leaf variety.
It grows well in garden beds and in pots, and just needs a little sunlight and regular watering.
Parsley is often underestimated and only used as a garnish, but its mild, slightly peppery flavor makes it a staple ingredient in soups, salads, and sauces. It is also packed with vitamins A, C, and K!
If that’s not enough, parsley is also loved by the caterpillars of swallowtail butterflies!
Essential Tips for Growing Herbs Successfully
To make sure your herbs thrive, prep your garden or pots with nutrient-rich soil and make sure they will be well-drained. Many herbs need around 6+ hours of sunlight every day, so be sure to pick a sunny spot in your garden. Water herbs regularly, but try to avoid overwatering so you don’t end up with root rot. Harvest your herbs often encourage and promote new growth and prevent them from bolting and flowering.
Get your herbs seeds started indoors for the upcoming season using some basic tools:
- Seed Starting trays (Extra Large and Regular Size)
- Soil Blocker
- Grow Lights
- Soil
- Indoor Greenhouse
- Seeds: Botanical Interests or Baker Creek
I hope you will get your own herb garden started this year so you can level up your kitchen creations and contributing to your well-being. So grab some seeds, dig in, and start your herb-growing journey today!
Let us know in the comments which ones you plan to try growing or if you have other favorites you like to sow.
FAQS
Basil, mint, dill, chamomile, and cilantro are great options for beginners due to their low-maintenance nature and ability to grow well.
Yes, many herbs grow well indoors with enough light and care.
Most herbs prefer to be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.
Most herbs can be dried, frozen, or made into herb-infused oils and butters for long-term storage.
Some herbs like dill and thyme attract beneficial pollinators, while others like mint and rosemary can repel pests.
I’m wanting to start a front porch herb garden this year. thank you for the ideas!
I’m hoping to do a kitchen herb garden soon, and this post gave me some great ideas for what to include! Thanks for sharing!
I love growing herbs in my garden! Thankyou for sharing helpful info about each one!
I love this post so much! Thank you for all the information! I garden in zone 9B here in central Florida so I’m getting ready to plant my spring garden and I can’t wait to add some fun herbs this year. I will definitely be checking back with this post!
Agree with all of these. Cannot wait for planting season!
Love this! It has given me great ideas for this Spring!
This list is your staple for garden herbs! If you have any questions, you can ask me right here in the comments section and I’ll get back to you as fast as I can!