10 Herbs to Grow for Flavor & Health

Basil is a gem of an herb both inside and out. Its intense anise flavor combines well with most Italian dishes, especially with tomatoes. It’s also packed with plenty of fiber, and basil is known to calm nerves and help detoxify the liver*. Basil prefers to be grown in full sun and warm temperatures.

Tip: Cut a basil stem with at least three leaf sets, then place it in a small glass of water on the windowsill. It will sprout roots in no time, and can then be transplanted into a pot and propagated as a new plant!

Chives are a resilient perennial relative of the onion family. Their mild onion flavor and aroma can be used in salads, soups, and in just about any dish that could benefit from a splash of onion flavor. Just like the rest of the onion family, including garlic, leeks, and others, chives are able to boost your immune system. Regular use is also associated with a lower risk of developing certain cancers, including those of the prostate, stomach, and breast*. Chives are best grown outdoors in full to part shade and in well-drained soil.

Tip: The flowers of chives can be used as an edible decoration!

Lavender is often sought for its beauty and fragrance, the picture-perfect variety for an English cutting garden. The soothing, calming scent of lavender can induce restful sleep. It also contains antioxidants known as polyphenols, which fight belly bloating*. Numerous varieties of lavender are available in both the annual and perennial categories, but all varieties enjoy full, direct sunlight and rocky, well-drained soil.

Tip: Cut or brush lavender often in order to release its fragrance, which naturally repels garden pests such as deer and mosquitoes!

Cilantro is an indispensable herb for use in Mexican dishes, adding an ultra-fresh, citrusy aroma to salsas and salads. It’s also a great source of vitamin K, iron, and fiber, and it draws heavy metals such as mercury and lead from body tissues*. Cilantro is one of the few herbs that prefers cool, part shade conditions, and it can be grown both indoors and out.

Tip: If your cilantro bolts (suddenly grows quickly, stops flowering, and sets seed), go ahead and let it! The result is Coriander seed, appreciated for a nutty flavor that’s perfect for adding to sautéed spinach or grounding into pancake batter!

Parsley is an all-around easy herb to grow indoors and out. Curly or flat-leafed, it’s your choice, but use it as frequently as possible, since it’s loaded with vitamins A, C, and K. The wonderful fresh taste and aroma of parsley works in just about any salad, soup, or sauce.

Tip: Because parsley is a biennial, it will stay leafy during its first growing season and then winter over. Seeds can be collected and sown the second growing season to generate more plants.

Mint varieties are hardy and rampant growers. Their fresh fragrances can be enjoyed trailing from hanging baskets and creeping out of pots. Mint is a rich source of vitamin A, and it’s also a well-known remedy for digestion issues, nausea, headache, and bad breath. It can also relieve respiratory disorders and clarify pimples and cavities*.

Tip: Keep a pot of mint handy where you entertain guests, and drop a fresh sprig in lemonade, iced tea, or even a Mojito!

Looking for something spicy to go with your tomatoes? Try Mexican Cilantro, otherwise known as Culantro. This herb features a more pungent Cilantro aroma and flavor, and it’s typically used in Caribbean and Latin cuisine. Culantro is loaded with calcium, iron, beta-carotene, and riboflavin. It also looks very different from the Cilantro you’re used to growing in that it displays long, serrated green leaves. Culantro appreciates the same growing conditions as Cilantro, which is full sun to part shade and well-drained soil.

Tip: Culantro can also be planted to attract beneficial insects and to repel garden pests like aphids.

Thyme is a rather petite plant in the garden, and yet it really packs a punch, visually and health-wise. The tiny leaves of thyme can be added as seasoning to almost any dish including fruit salads, yogurt, and sauces. The more you use thyme, the better since it’s full of fiber, iron, vitamins A and C, and Thymol, which is an antiseptic used in the oral hygiene product Listerine*. Thyme should be grown in full sun to part shade, either outside or indoors.

Tip: If you have picky eaters, thyme is the perfect healthy addition to meals because its small leaf is barely noticed!

Sage is a hearty, robust herb in both smell and taste. It’s traditionally grown for use in comforting, holiday dishes such as stuffing and soups, though sage tea is also known to soothe sore throats and reduce anxiety. The antioxidant properties of sage can also boost memory and general health*. Sage is easy to grow indoors and out, and the plant displays wonderfully ornate foliage and color. It is well behaved in both mixed container gardens as well as herb beds in the landscape.

Tip: Tomatoes and Rosemary make excellent companion plants for sage in the garden.

Rosemary has a strong, distinctive scent, and it’s useful when fresh or dried. The strong aroma of rosemary has been proven to enhance memory and alertness. Rosemary also contains carnosic acid, which helps fight the development of cancer cells*. During the summer, rosemary prefers to be grown outdoors in full sun. During the winter, grow rosemary in a cool area indoors that receives bright natural light.

Tip: Rosemary can be combined with olive oil to make a simple pork marinade, adding black pepper and garlic to taste.