January through April
See monthly archives in Garden Tips for those months.
May
Direct seed dill, cilantro, and parsley in the garden. They seed readily and resent transplanting, so we don't bother seeding them inside.
Begin hardening off basil and other annual herbs in a cold frame.
June
Begin harvesting perennial herbs -- oregano, thyme, tarragon, lemon balm. Cut top 3" off, but leave some to flower for the bees and other pollinating insects.
June
The top 2"-3" of Oregano, lemon balm, and tarragon, all perennial herbs, can be stored and used fresh, or they can be dried or frozen for later use.
Next month, a second harvest will provide enough for the table, for herbal vinegar, or more freezing and drying.
Basil is also pinched back to enourage a second growth. We have about 4 plants in the ground and a bunch still in pots for the farmer's market -- enough to provide about a cup for fresh use.
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa; Bugbane) takes several years to germinate outdoors, so we broke down and bought one to plant in our shady spot on a very steep, woodland slope. In its third year, it is doing well. We will try seeding in some clay pots this fall and bury them in the same garden where they will receive adequate moisture. The roots are used as an expectorant and to control tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
Table 1. Selected Herbs for Alabama |
||||||||||||
| Common Name Scientific Name |
Family | Plant Type | Height | Spacing | Form | Light Req. | Bloom Time | Foliage Color | Flower Color | Uses | Maintenance | Notes |
| Aloe Aloe spp. |
Liliaceae | tender perennial | up to 2' | container | rosette | full sun to light shade | mid- summer |
green | yellow to orange to red | medicinal | Cut out dead or yellowed leaves. | Grow in a container. |
| Basil Ocimum basilicum |
Labiatae | tender annual | 2' to 3' | 2' to 3' | bush | full sun | July and August | varies | white | culinary, aesthetic | Cut off flower stalks for better foliage. | Many cultivars are available. |
| Bay Laurus nobilus |
Lauraceae | tender perennial | up to 10' | 6' or more | tree | full sun to part shade | spring | dark green | insignificant | culinary | Remove leaves from food before eating. | May reach 15' to 30' in South. |
| Beebalm Monarda didyma |
Labiatae | perennial | 3' to 4' | 3' to 4' | bush | full sun to part shade | July to August | dark green | pink, red, white | ornamental, culinary | Divide as necessary. | Flowers are edible. |
| Calendula (pot marigold) Calendula officinalis |
Compositae | hardy annual | 18" | 1' to 2' | erect, branch- ing |
full sun | spring to fall | green | pale yellow to deep orange | ornamental, medicinal | Deadhead for better flowering. | |
| Catnip Nepeta cataria |
Labiatae | perennial | 1' to 3' | 3' to 4' | spreading | full sun to part shade | July to September | gray to green | white with lavender | cat toys, medicinal | Cats may damage foliage. | |
| Cayenne Pepper Capsicum annum |
Solanaceae | tropical | up to 2' | container | bush | requires full sun | summer | bright green | white with red, orange, or green fruits | culinary, ornamental | Keep well watered and well drained. | Edible fruits range from mild to hot. |
| Chamomile Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobilis German chamomile Matricaria recutita Marshall chamomile Chamaemelum marschalliana |
Asteraceae | perennial hardy annual perennial |
2" to 6" flowers on 1' stems up to 2' 12" to 18" |
6" to 12" 1' to 2' 2' |
mat weedy bushy |
full sun to part shade | summer | bright green | yellow and white, daisylike | ornamental, medicinal | Weed well. | Take care not to overfertilize. |
| Chives Common chives Alliumschoenoprasum Garlic chives Allium tuberosum |
Liliaceae | perennial | 1' to 2' 2' to 3' |
1' | grasslike | full sun | June | green |
purple white |
culinary | Flowers are edible. | |
| Coneflower Echinacea purpurea |
Asteraceae | perennial | 2' to 4' | 1' to 1.5' | stem with basal rosette | full sun | midsummr to frost | dark green | purple to pink | ornamental, medicinal | Deadhead old flowers for better blooming. | 'Bright Star' is a good choice; white cultivars are available. |
| Cilantro/Coriander Coriandrum sativum | Umbelliferae | hardy annual | 1.5' to 2.5' | seed, thin to 4" | erect with lacy foliage | sun to part shade | spring or mid to late summer | bright green | white or mauve | culinary | Weeding and mulching are necessary. | This plant self-seeds; young leaves are cilantro; seeds are coriander. |
| Costmary Tanacetum balsamita (formerly Chrysanthemum balsamita) |
Compositae | perennial | 2' to 3.5' | 1' to 2' | leggy, upright with staking | sun to part shade | late summer | bright green | daisylike, white rays | culinary | Prune to prevent flowering. | Divide rhizome to propagate. |
| Dill Anethum graveolens |
Umbelliferae | annual | 3' to 5' or less | seed, thin to 6 to 18" | lacy with erect stems | full sun | early summer | blue to green | yellow umbels | culinary | Prune flowers for better foliage. | Sow seed in spring and fall. |
| Fennel Foeniculum vulgare |
Umbelliferae | perennial or annual | 3' to 5' | 2' to 3' | upright with feathery foliage | full sun | June to August | green or bronze or purple | compound yellow umbels | culinary | "Bulb" may be harvested for salads, etc. | This is the preferred host of swallowtail butterflies. |
| Foxglove Digitalis purpurea |
Scrophu- lariaceae |
biennial | 3' to 4' | seed indoors, transplant to 1' | upright stem with staking | part shade | June to July | deep green | purple with spots of white and purple | ornamental, medicinal | This plant needs lots of water to bloom best. | Toxic! This is the source of digitalis heart medicine. |
| Germander Teucrium chamaedrys |
Labiatae | evergreen perennial | 1' | 2' | bushy and clump forming | full sun to light shade | summer | bright green | pink and purple | ornamental | Keep moist; avoid hedge pruning. | 'Variegatum' has ivory variegation. |
| Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis |
Labiatae | evergreen perennial | 2' to 3' | 1.5' | upright and shrubby | light shade | June to August | green | blue spikes | ornamental, medicinal | Prune, deadhead for best blooms. | This is a good bee and butterfly plant. |
| Lavender English lavender Lavandula angustifolia Spanish lavender Lavandula stoechas |
Labiatae | evergreen perennial | 2' to 2.5' 1' to 2' |
3' 3' |
shrubby shrubby |
full sun | June to September | grayish green | purple | ornamental, medicinal | Watch for rot if plant gets too wet. Prune hard in July for rebloom. |
This plant is highly prized for its
essential oil. This is the best cultivar for the South. |
| Lavender Cotton Grey lavender cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus Green lavender cotton Santolina virens |
Compositae | evergreen perennial | 1' to 2' | 2' to 4' | shrubby | full sun | June and July | gray green |
bright yellow | ornamental | Plant in light, dry soil. | Harvest before flowering for best aroma. |
| Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis |
Labiatae | perennial | 2' to 3' | 3' to 4' | low and bushy | full sun to shade | July to September | green to coppery | white or yellow | culinary, ornamental | Divide every 3 to 4 years. | Use this for its lemony taste. |
| Lemon Verbena Aloysia triphylla |
Verbenaceae | tropical perennial | up to 6' | 3' to 4' | shrubby and leggy | full sun | late summer to fall | lime green | lavender | ornamental, culinary | Overwinter this herb in a container inside. | This herb is susceptible to spider mites and whiteflies. |
| Marjoram Origanum majorana |
Labiatae | tender perennial | up to 3' | 4' | rounded, spreading | full sun | August to September | grayish green | tiny, pink or white | culinary | Pinch back before flowering to keep shape. | This herb keeps well dried. |
| Marsh Mallow Althaea officinalis |
Malvaceae | perennial | 4' to 5' | 2' | erect with spreading branches | shade | July to September | grayish green | pink or white | ornamental | Divide as needed in the spring. | Moist soil is a must! |
| Mint Mentha spp. | Labiatae | perennial | 1' to 2' | 2' | low, bushy, spreading | full sun to part shade | July and August | bright green | purple, pink, or white | culinary, ornamental, medicinal | Grow this herb in a container to control root growth. | Mints are very invasive and will take over if allowed. |
| Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus |
Tropaeolaceae | perennial | 1' to 2.5' (or 6' vine) | seed to 6" to 9" | bushy to viney | full sun to part shade | until first frost | dark grayish green | red, orange, or yellow | ornamental, culinary | Sun is necessary for plant to bloom. | Flowers are edible and are beautiful in salads. |
| Oregano Origanum vulgare |
Labiatae | perennial | 1' to 2' | 2' | bushy, spreading | full sun | July to September | green | purple or white | culinary | Prune in order to maintain shape. | Variegated is available. |
| Parsley Petroselinum crispum |
Umbelliferae | biennial | 1' to 1.5' | 1' | rosette | full sun | July to September | dark green | greenish yellow | culinary | Prune old, outside leaves or harvest these first. | Replace every year to avoid bolting. |
| Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis |
Labiatae | perennial | 4' to 6' | 3' to 4' | upright and shrubby | full sun | early summer | dark green | lilac | culinary | Prune to desired shape. Try a hedge or topiary. | This herb will not transplant well. |
| Rue Ruta graveolens |
Rutaceae | evergreen perennial | 1' to 3' | 18" | bushy | full sun | June to August | bluish gray | yellow | ornamental | Keep soil well drained. | Rue causes contact dermatitis in some people. |
| Sage Garden sage Salvia officinalis Mealy cup sage Salvia farinacea Mexican bush sage Salvia leucantha Pineapple sage Salvia elegans Russian sage Perovskia atriplicifolia |
Labiatae | perennial | 1' to 3' up to 4' 4' to 5' 3' to 4' 3' to 4' |
2' 2' to 3' 3' 3' to 4' 2' to 3' |
bushy stemy bushy bushy bushy |
full sun to part shade | June June to September August to September August to October June to August |
cultivar dependent grayish green dark green green grayish green |
white to purple light blue purple red lilac |
culinary ornamental ornamental culinary, ornamental ornamental |
Keep soil dry. Prune to keep good shape. Prune in June so stalks can hold flowers upright. |
'Berggarten' is a good choice. Butterflies love this plant! This is a gorgeous plant worth growing! |
| Texas Tarragon or Sweet-Scented Marigold Tagetes lucida |
Asteraceae | perennial | 3' to 4' | 2' to 3' | erect and bushy | full sun | fall, just before frost | bright green | yellow | culinary | Prune if desired. | Foliage has a terrific anise flavor. |
| Thyme Common thyme Thymus vulgaris Creeping thyme or mother-of-thyme Thymus praecox Lemon thyme Thymus x citriodorus Woolly thyme Thymus pseudolanuginosus |
Labiatae | evergreen perennial | 1' 2" to 3" 4" to 12" 2" |
1' 6" to 8" 1' 6" to 10" |
upright and shrubby mat upright and shrubby mat |
full sun | June to July | green dark green golden edged grayish green |
rose purple lilac pink |
culinary | Divide or replace when center dies. | Silver foliage may rot if overwatered. "Woolly" refers to the herb's fuzzy leaves. |
| Wormwood Artemisia spp. |
Compositae | perennial | 3' to 4' | 2' to 3' | bushy | full sun to part shade | July to August | silvery green | greenish yellow | ornamental | Silver varieties will rot if too wet. | A. x 'Powis Castle' and x 'Silver King' are great choices. |
| Yarrow Achillea millefolium |
Asteraceae | perennial | 6" to 10" | 3' to 4' | spreading rosette | full sun | June to September | grayish green | white, pink, yellow | ornamental, medicinal | Divide after 3 to 5 years. | Many cultivars are available. |
Source of Table: Alabama Extension Service, Publications, # ANR 1164