Herb Garden Plants

Like other types of plans, herb garden plants are annuals, perennials, or biennials. There are many different varieties of herbs and each one is different. This article will provide a general understanding of the different types of herb plants and what they are used for. If you have an interest in a specific herb, more research will be needed to understand how to best care and use that particular herb.

Basil, cilantro and summer savory, for example, are annuals. They will not survive a frost and must be planted from a seed or seedling every year.

Sage and winter savory are perennials, meaning they return year after year, and can survive colder temperatures.

Herbs that form leaves in their first year of growth and flowers and seeds in their second year, before dying, are called biennial plants. Parsley, angelica and caraway are examples of biennial herbs and they should be sown directly in the garden in late spring. The soil should be prepared first, and be a fine texture and slightly wet. After planting the seeds in shallow rows, firm the soil on top of them. To keep the soil moist during germination, you can cover the bed with wet burlap or paper. For fine seeds, use a mixture of sand, to allow them to spread more evenly.

Another way to categorize herbs is by their use. Culinary herbs are probably the most popular, with a wide range of uses in cooking. Strong flavored herbs like thyme, chives, basil, sage, marjoram, and savory are generally used in small quantities and to add flavor to foods. Parsley, an extremely popular herb, is used in cooking and as a garnish.

Pleasant smelling flowers and foliage, such as mint and rosemary, are categorized as aromatic herbs. Their oils are used in making perfumes, eau-de-toilette, and other scents. Other aromatic herbs can be used intact in the home to scent linens and clothing, such as lavender. To retain the aroma of such herds for a long period of time, they can be dried and made into potpourri. Two great herbs used in potpourri are lavender and lemon verbena.

For centuries, medicinal herbs have been thought to have properties that can cure the body. For example, Japanese honeysuckle has been used as an alternative medicine for thousands of years in Asia. Present medical knowledge recognizes that some herbs are beneficial to our health while others are quite overrated. Using herbs for medicinal purposes should be done with great care. While some herbs are harmless, others can be dangerous if eaten.

Ornamental herbs are used for their beauty, with brightly colored foliage and flowers. For example, valerian has crimson blossoms, while chicory and borage have beautiful blue flowers. Silver thyme is an evergreen with small lavender-pink blossoms.

Some herbs fall into multiple categories and have multiple purposes. Mint, for example, is a great culinary and medicinal herb.

Understanding herb garden plants categories is helpful in selecting the herbs that interest and can benefit you the most.