Useful plant growing guides
Build a garden you can identify, maintain and harvest. Every profile begins with cultivation and keeps traditional-use claims in their proper context.
Chamomile
German chamomile is a compact annual grown for small, apple-scented flowers used in tea and crafts. It is one of the simplest useful herbs to start from seed when the seed is kept near the soil surface.
Matricaria chamomillaRead →
Peppermint
Peppermint is a vigorous, moisture-loving mint best grown in a container when control matters. Because it is a hybrid, division or cuttings give more predictable plants than seed.
Mentha × piperitaRead →
Lavender
English lavender rewards drainage more than fertilizer. Give it full sun, an airy crown and lean mineral soil; most container failures begin with wet roots rather than drought.
Lavandula angustifoliaRead →
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is an adaptable lemon-scented herb that tolerates partial shade but spreads by seed and rhizomes. Containers and timely deadheading keep it useful rather than weedy.
Melissa officinalisRead →
Calendula
Calendula is an easy annual grown for bright edible petals, pollinator value and repeated flower harvests. It prefers mild weather and responds to regular deadheading.
Calendula officinalisRead →
Echinacea
Purple coneflower is a native perennial for sunny beds, pollinators and seed-eating birds. Seed often germinates more evenly after a cold, moist period, so patience is part of the project.
Echinacea purpureaRead →
Yarrow
Yarrow is a durable, pollinator-friendly perennial for lean sunny soil. It can spread by rhizomes and seed, so site choice matters as much as planting technique.
Achillea millefoliumRead →
Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Tulsi is a warm-season basil relative grown for fragrant leaves, tea and cultural importance. It wants warm soil, sun and regular pinching, and it is easier from seed than woody Mediterranean herbs.
Ocimum tenuiflorumRead →
Oregano
Oregano is a sun-loving Mediterranean herb that develops best flavor in lean, well-drained soil. Harvest before full bloom and divide old clumps when the center thins.
Origanum vulgareRead →
Sage
Culinary sage prefers the same sunny, dry rhythm as oregano and lavender. Good drainage, light spring pruning and restrained harvest in year one help the plant stay compact.
Salvia officinalisRead →
Thyme
Thyme is a woody perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Thymus vulgarisRead →
Rosemary
Rosemary is a evergreen perennial shrub grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Salvia rosmarinusRead →
Basil
Basil is a warm-season annual grown in full sun with afternoon relief in extreme heat. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Ocimum basilicumRead →
Parsley
Parsley is a biennial usually grown as an annual grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Petroselinum crispumRead →
Cilantro
Cilantro is a cool-season annual grown in sun in cool weather; afternoon shade in heat. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Coriandrum sativumRead →
Dill
Dill is a annual grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Anethum graveolensRead →
Fennel
Fennel is a short-lived perennial or annual grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Foeniculum vulgareRead →
Chives
Chives is a clump-forming perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Allium schoenoprasumRead →
Garlic Chives
Garlic Chives is a clump-forming perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Allium tuberosumRead →
Borage
Borage is a self-sowing annual grown in full sun to light shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Borago officinalisRead →
Comfrey
Comfrey is a deep-rooted perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Symphytum officinaleRead →
Feverfew
Feverfew is a short-lived perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Tanacetum partheniumRead →
Marsh Mallow
Marsh Mallow is a herbaceous perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Althaea officinalisRead →
Valerian
Valerian is a herbaceous perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Valeriana officinalisRead →
Catnip
Catnip is a short-lived perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Nepeta catariaRead →
Bee Balm
Bee Balm is a spreading perennial grown in full sun to light shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Monarda fistulosaRead →
Hyssop
Hyssop is a woody perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Hyssopus officinalisRead →
Anise Hyssop
Anise Hyssop is a short-lived perennial grown in full sun to light shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Agastache foeniculumRead →
Lemon Verbena
Lemon Verbena is a tender woody perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Aloysia citrodoraRead →
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a tender clumping perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Cymbopogon citratusRead →
Stevia
Stevia is a tender perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Stevia rebaudianaRead →
Garden Sorrel
Garden Sorrel is a leafy perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Rumex acetosaRead →
Nasturtium
Nasturtium is a frost-tender annual grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Tropaeolum majusRead →
Broadleaf Plantain
Broadleaf Plantain is a rosette-forming perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Plantago majorRead →
Dandelion
Dandelion is a taprooted perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Taraxacum officinaleRead →
Stinging Nettle
Stinging Nettle is a spreading perennial grown in partial shade to sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Urtica dioicaRead →
Mugwort
Mugwort is a rhizomatous perennial grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Artemisia vulgarisRead →
American Skullcap
American Skullcap is a moisture-loving perennial grown in partial shade to sun with moisture. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Scutellaria laterifloraRead →
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle is a spiny annual or biennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Silybum marianumRead →
St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort is a short-lived perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Hypericum perforatumRead →
Ginger
Ginger is a tender rhizomatous perennial grown in bright shade or filtered sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Zingiber officinaleRead →
Turmeric
Turmeric is a tender rhizomatous perennial grown in bright filtered light. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Curcuma longaRead →
Garlic
Garlic is a bulb crop usually grown as an annual grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Allium sativumRead →
Horseradish
Horseradish is a vigorous perennial root crop grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Armoracia rusticanaRead →
American Elderberry
American Elderberry is a deciduous suckering shrub grown in full sun to partial shade. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Sambucus canadensisRead →
Red Raspberry
Red Raspberry is a perennial crown with biennial canes grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Rubus idaeusRead →
Blackberry
Blackberry is a perennial crown with biennial canes grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Rubus fruticosus aggregateRead →
Highbush Blueberry
Highbush Blueberry is a deciduous fruit shrub grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Vaccinium corymbosumRead →
Garden Strawberry
Garden Strawberry is a short-lived herbaceous perennial grown in full sun. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Fragaria × ananassaRead →
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a tender succulent perennial grown in bright light to full sun after acclimation. This profile focuses on site fit, propagation, harvest and cautious household use.
Aloe veraRead →