Plant a Flowering Herb Garden

The word herb is short for “herbaceous”. Herbs are plants that are used for culinary, or medicinal purposes. Herbs have flowers, many of which are not noticeable, but some of them are stunning.

Herb gardens can create an area that is beautiful, as well as useful. Herb flowers tend to have a delicate, airy look. The herb plants are usually aromatic, as well. Lovely scents for the herb plants permeate the air. As herb garden is useful for the cook, as the herbs can be picked fresh to use in cooking. At season’s end, herbs can be cut and dried for usage through the winter months.

Following are flowering herbaceous plants, that create a lovely, yet practical, garden.

All Heal – Valerian: Originally of Mediterranean origin, the plant traveled to England in the 16th Century and has been used medicinally, as a condiment, and also as a perfume. Spur shaped flowers come in white, pink and red. Valerian grows in full sun and do well in poor soil The plants grown one to three feet tall, making them a great backdrop to the garden. Place behind shorter plants.

Anise Hyssop: Perennial plant is native to North America, known for it’s anise scented foliage. Violet colored flowers bloom in July, The plant attracts bees for honey. Butterflies and hummingbirds are also attracted to this plant. Anise is used in seasonings and in making teas. Medicinal usage has been for respiratory disorders.

Basil: Popular seasoning.

Bee Balm – Monarda: Native to North America, this plant was used by Native Americans to brew Oswego tea, used medicinally as an expectorant and to treat digestive problems. Bee Balm adds striking color to the garden. Blooms come in four inch wide clusters of airy looking flowers. Flowers may be white, red, pink and salmon. The plant may grow two to four feet, making it an excellent backdrop to shorter plants. Bee Balm like full sun. Perennial.

Borage: Borage grows to about eighteen inches high, with striking bright blue star shaped flowers.

Chives: Chives belong to the onion family, with an onion like scent. Hardy, drought tolerant perennials, Chives grow eight to twenty inches tall. Large round flower heads are produced in June or July. Flowers are red or pink. Chives are used are a flavoring in many foods. Chives like full sun.

Dill: Dill is an easy to grow herb that is very useful in the kitchen for seasoning soups, salads or main dishes. Dill has tiny flowers in flat cluster, called seed heads. Dill can grow two to two and a half feet tall.

Elecampane: Large plant grows in damp, shady ground. The erect stem grows from four to five feet tall. Bright yellow flowers bloom from June to August.

Feverfew: Small, daisy-like heads of yellow flowers. Perennial has a history of herbal medical usage.

Hyssop: Evergreen, bushy herb grows one o two feet high. Flowers are in whorls of blooms colored in red, white and blue.

Lavenders: Shrubby plant with small aromatic flowers in shades of lavender and purple. Lavender is popular in perfume and aromatherapy. Dried flowers are great in sachets or in pot-pourri. English Lavender is more aromatic that French Lavender.

Marsh Mallow: Hardy planat with erect stems, three to four feet high. Blooms are soft and blush colored.

Meadowsweet: Fragrant wild flower that grows two to four feet high.

Nasturtium: Easy to grow annual plants grow eight to twelve inches tall. Plants feature rounded leaves and bright flowers in shades of red, yellow, orange, cream or crimson. Nasturtium like full sun.

Oregano: Popular seasoning.

Pot Marigold – Calendula: Calendula is an old English cottage garden flower that has been used medicinally and for cosmetics. Annual flow great in containers and borders. Bright yellow-orange blooms on stems that grow one to two feet.

Roman Chamomile: Small, aromatic plant.

Rosemary: Spiky evergreen leaves are dark green. Popular seasoning.

Rue: Hardy evergreen plant with bluish green leaves and greenish yellow flowers.

Sage: Varieties of sage have purple spikes of colored blooms.

Scented Geraniums: Scented geraniums have fragrant leaves that can be used in perfume, sachets and potpourri.

Thyme

Sweet Woodruff: Woodruff grows in shady areas and have small white flowers in May and June.

Tansy: Tansy grows two to three feet high. Heads of flat, round, yellow flowers bloom in August.

Violet: Dainty blooms on short plant. Spring blooms in yellow, purple, violet and white.

Yarrow:

Resources:
Burpee: The Complete Flower Gardener, by Karan Davis Cutler and Barbara W. Ellis

Reference:

• www.holoweb.com/nature, www.botanical.com