Many definitions of herb garden plants abound; I’ve seen “any useful plant that grows in annual cycles” to “domesticated wild plants that make life easier”. And that is just a start. The number of plants that fall under the general description of “herbs” seems to change all the time. You now even get herb “experts” expressing opinions on whether a plant can be classified as a herb or not. Absolute poppycock!

The truth is that over the ages people noticed that certain plants possessed culinary, healing or aromatic virtues. These became the herb garden plants of the local community or healers. As communications spread and travel became widespread, people learnt that their favorite local culinary/healing/aromatic plants were not by any measure the only plants possessing virtues. Somewhere along the way someone categorised these useful plants by dubbing them with whatever name has evolved into our English description of “herbs”.

Irrespective of your primary motive for wanting to get your hands dirty in herb gardens, knowing the characteristics of various herbs will add to your pleasure and focus your choice of what herbs to grow.

My feeling is that any plant that benefits the user in exceptional ways should be included in my garden; yes, I would probably call it a herb to distinguish it from the pretty but vacuous flowers that I grow for decoration. And yes, like generations before me I would probably feel great affection towards it for the help or utility it provides.

In the broad class of plants we call herb garden plants, there are distinct divisions of type and seasonality. My 4 meter high bay tree and my 3 meter high lemon verbena can justifiably be called a perennial as I collect leaves for cooking (the bay tree). I am constantly cycle planting basil to give me a steady supply in season, which of course means that it is an annual plant. Some plants have a 2 year life cycle. They use their first year to attain growth and allow you to harvest their produce the following year, after which they die off.  These are the biennials.

Having said all of the above, I have barely touched on the topic. The subject of types of herb garden plants is vast, so explore, it’s part of the fun.

Throughout our website are references to culinary, aromatic and medicinal herb classes as well as perennial, biennial or annual plants. If you are interested in a specific genre of herb garden plants, look for it under ‘categories’ on our website to understand its care, usage and requirements. Contact us if the herb garden plants you are seeking are not yet included and we will look them up if possible and do a post on them.