Want to start an herb garden? The 10 best herbs to start with.

Herbs have been a part of my life since I was an infant in my mother's arms. As an adult, I have never been without an herb garden, carrying uprooted herbs to new homes to re-establish them in my new yard. Herbs carry with them the wisdom of the earth, quietly offering remedies, flavor and insight drawn from the deep intelligence of our planet.

Growing your own herbs is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to start gardening. Whether you have a backyard plot, a sunny balcony, or just a windowsill, fresh herbs are low-maintenance, space-saving, and full of flavor. Plus, nothing beats the taste and aroma of freshly snipped herbs in your cooking, and they can be used beyond the kitchen, as time honored remedies for an upset stomach or even to calm your nerves. Keep reading to find out about my favorite herbs to grow, and I'll give you a bonus natural cough remedy that beats the nasty red stuff in the cold and flu aisle.

    I grow most of my herbs in the ground and also use planter boxes for a select few to maximize space in my small backyard garden.

Here are 10 essential herbs you’ll want to grow - and why they deserve a spot in your garden:

1. Basil

This versatile herb is a must-have for any garden because it's easy to grow and brings both flavor and function to your space. It thrives in sunny conditions, adds a fresh, aromatic touch to countless dishes, and grows quickly with minimal effort. Beyond its culinary uses, basil can help repel garden pests and attract pollinators, making it a valuable companion plant, especially for tomatoes. With regular harvesting, it produces an ongoing supply of leaves all season long, giving you fresh, homegrown flavor at your fingertips. I have two varieties in my garden - Italian basil and Tulsi basil.

Culinary uses: Basil adds rich flavor to pasta sauce, makes a great garnish for caprese salad, and is the main ingredient for pesto.

Medicinal uses: Tulsi Basil (also know as Holy Basil) is an adaptogenic herb, meaning it helps the body respond to stress. I use it in Feel Good Herbal Tea Blend. This powerhouse herb is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial and rich in antioxidants to help strengthen the immune system. It improves digestion, regulates blood sugar, detoxifies the body by supporting liver function and improves mental clarity and focus.

2. Cilantro

This delicate herb adds bright, fresh flavor to a wide variety of dishes. It grows quickly from seed and can be harvested in just a few weeks. Cilantro does best in cooler weather, making it perfect for early spring or fall planting. Even when it bolts and goes to seed, you can harvest the seeds as coriander, giving you two spices from one plant. It’s a fast-growing, dual-purpose herb that’s both flavorful and versatile.

Culinary uses: Cilantro gives flavor to salsa and guacamole, adds zest sprinkled over tacos, and catapults rice to an entirely new level when accompanied by lime.

Medicinal uses: One of cilantro’s most powerful health benefits is its ability to bind to heavy metals like mercury, lead, and aluminum and help flush them from the body. Drinking cilantro juice or tea may help support your body’s natural detoxification processes. Cilantro is also a rich source of antioxidants that can help protect the body against cancer and heart disease.

3. Lavender

It has been said that lavender is for the soul. This wonderful herb is both beautiful and fragrant. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it easy to care for and drought-tolerant once established. Its silvery-green foliage and purple blooms add visual appeal and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, supporting a healthy garden ecosystem. Lavender is well-known for its calming scent, which is used in aromatherapy to reduce stress, anxiety, and promote better sleep. It can be harvested and used in sachets, teas, bath products, or even homemade skincare. Additionally, lavender helps repel pests like mosquitoes and moths, acting as a natural insect deterrent. With its combination of beauty, fragrance, and function, lavender is a standout herb that enhances both your garden and your well-being. There are several varieties of lavender, including English, French and Spanish lavender. I prefer English lavender for its deep purple flowers, delicate foliage, and classic lavender scent.

Culinary uses: When cooking with this plant, lavender simple syrup is a great place to start and can be used to flavor various beverages and food. Lavender flavored donuts? Yes, please!

Medicinal uses: A couple drops of lavender essential oil mixed with a carrier oil and rubbed on the bottoms of your feet calms the body and supports sleep. You can also brew it into a tea for its anti-inflammatory and pain relief properties. This potent herb is also known to calm the nervous system and lift your mood simply by inhaling the fragrant scent.

4. Lemon Balm

This is one of my favorite herbs! It’s easy to care for, fragrant, and incredibly versatile. With its bright, lemony scent, it adds a refreshing aroma to your garden and can be used in teas, desserts, salads, and even natural remedies to promote relaxation and reduce stress. It’s part of the mint family, so it grows quickly and can fill in garden spaces nicely - just be sure to keep it contained, as it can spread and take over your garden space, much like peppermint. Lemon balm also attracts pollinators like bees while helping repel unwanted insects like mosquitoes, making it both a helpful and pleasant addition to any herb garden.

Culinary uses: As a member of the mint family, lemon balm adds a unique lemony flavor to foods like fish and seafood, poultry and pork. Use it sparingly fresh or dried and add it at the end of the cooking process to preserve its vibrant flavor.

Medicinal uses: I use lemon balm in tea for its antiviral properties to stave off cold sores, and also when I'm feeling anxious, to quickly calm me. This citrusy herb is also useful for easing bloating and digestive discomfort. It may also help with cognition and mental focus, although more studies are needed to assess the lemon balm's abilities in this area.

5. Oregano

Here's another favorite of mine. I keep it in the ground and in planter boxes year round, though it grows best in the spring and summer months. Oregano is hardy, low-maintenance, and packed with flavor. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for dry, hot climates where other herbs might struggle. As a perennial in many regions, it comes back year after year with little effort, and its flowers attract pollinators, supporting a healthy garden ecosystem. Plus, once established, it produces abundant leaves all season long. I have three types of oregano in my garden - Greek oregano, Italian oregano, and Syrian Oregano. Each has its own flavor profile, but I use them interchangeably when cooking.

Culinary uses: Oregano is a key ingredient in multiple cuisines, perfect for seasoning sauces, meats, and vegetables. Sprinkle it over pizza, add it to soup, or make a delicious marinade for your weekend barbecue.

Medicinal uses: Oregano has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It supports the immune system and digestion, aids detoxification of the body by supporting kidney function, and helps to relieve stress and anxiety.

6. Parsley

Parsley is a great herb to grow in the garden because it's also versatile and easy to care for. Parsley grows well in full sun to partial shade and doesn’t require much space, making it ideal for garden beds or containers. It’s also a nutritious herb, rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and can be harvested continuously throughout the season. Beyond the kitchen, parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and ladybugs, which help control garden pests. I prefer the flat leaf variety for the extra flavor it imparts, but you can also choose the curly variety for its flavorful, functional, and attractive addition to any herb garden.

Culinary uses: Parsley adds a fresh, vibrant flavor to a wide range of dishes, from soups and salads to sauces and garnishes. Use it in a butter sauce to accompany seafood, or throw it on roasted chicken breast for a bright splash of color and flavor. I use copious amounts of parsley throughout the year, especially in tabouli (a Middle Eastern chopped salad).

Medicinal uses: Parsley is beneficial to kidney health by acting like a diuretic to help flush the body of toxins. It's a carminitive herb that helps to relax the stomach, prevent bloating and expel gas. It's also useful for freshening the breath and supports eye, skin and hair health.

7. Peppermint

This is another must-have herb in every garden! Peppermint is aromatic and a vigorous grower that thrives in partial shade or sun, and it can be harvested continuously throughout the season. In addition to its culinary and medicinal uses, peppermint helps repel common pests like ants, aphids, mosquitoes and rats, making it a natural garden protector. Its flowers also attract beneficial insects like bees. Just be sure to plant it in a container or confined space - it spreads quickly and can become invasive if left unchecked. With its many benefits, peppermint is a powerhouse herb that earns its place in any garden, and it has positively gone crazy in mine, spreading across my small growing space. When it starts to become overgrown and leggy, I cut it down to the ground where it quickly begins to send out fresh new shoots of lovely green leaves.

Culinary uses: Peppermint's refreshing, cooling scent and flavor make it perfect for teas, desserts, and cocktails. It pairs perfectly with chocolate and can transform a simple fruit salad into a gourmet dessert. Oh, and don't forget the special place it has in mojitos! In savory dishes, peppermint balances the rich flavor of lamb and gives life to kebabs.

Medicinal uses: Peppermint tea can help with stomach discomfort like gas and indigestion. Used in a steam, menthol (the main chemical component of peppermint) is an effective decongestant to clear airways and as an expectorant to loosen phlegm and bring it up from the lungs. A 2021 study found that peppermint oil significantly reduced the frequency of nausea, vomiting, and retching in people undergoing chemotherapy.

8. Rosemary

This aromatic herb is hardy, drought-tolerant, and very flavorful. It thrives in sunny, well-drained spots and can grow into a beautiful, evergreen shrub that provides year-round harvests in many climates. Rosemary is known to freshen up your garden, repel certain pests, and even be used in natural cleaning or beauty products. Plus, it’s a perennial in warmer regions, so once established, it keeps growing with minimal care. Its needle-like leaves and small blue flowers also add ornamental value to your garden.

Culinary uses: Rosemary adds a bold, earthy flavor to roasted meats, potatoes, breads, and more, making it a staple in Mediterranean cooking. Add it to sourdough bread along with garlic for a savory rosemary and garlic loaf.

Medicinal uses: Rosemary has a potent, stimulating aroma that warms the body and supports circulation. Modern research supports traditional claims that rosemary has anti-inflammatory, cognitive-boosting, and hair growth effects. I infuse it into my hair and scalp oil to help promote a healthy scalp and support hair growth.

9. Sage

This herb is another hardy herb, low-maintenance, and packed with flavor. It thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it perfect for a variety of garden conditions. Sage is a perennial plant, so once established, it comes back year after year, providing a steady supply of leaves. It also produces attractive, soft gray-green leaves and delicate purple flowers that add beauty to your garden while attracting pollinators.

Culinary uses: Throw sage into a marinade for roasted chicken or into browned butter for extra, earthy flavor. Traditionally, it pairs well with Thanksgiving dishes like stuffing and takes roasted acorn squash to the next level.

Medicinal uses: Sage has natural antimicrobial properties and has been used traditionally as a gargle to reduce throat irritation and coughing. It's also good in tea form for relieving hot flashes and night sweats during menopause.

10. Thyme

Thyme is another versatile herb to grow in the garden. It's easy to grow, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil with minimal care, making it ideal for gardeners of all levels. As a perennial, it returns year after year and can even serve as ground cover to help suppress weeds. Thyme supports a healthy garden by attracting pollinators like bees and naturally repels pests with its strong scent. I have both common thyme and lemon thyme in my garden, preferring the latter type for the amazing flavor it imparts to food.

Culinary uses: Thyme offers exceptional flavor to poultry, pork or lamb, roasted or sauteed vegetables like carrots and potatoes, and is a classic ingredient in soups and stews. My favorite way to use lemon thyme is in tomato-based pasta sauce and sprinkled over homemade pizza.

Medicinal uses: This herb has antifungal and antiseptic benefits and helps to soothe irritated skin. It has also been traditionally used to ease coughs and aid digestion. I’ve successfully used it in a homemade cough syrup and used to give it to my children when they were young and came down with a cold. It's so much better than the nasty red stuff and much safer for your littles.
Here's the natural cough syrup recipe I promised you. You'll need:

• 2 tablespoons dried thyme
• 2 cups of water
• 1 cup of honey

Instructions: Boil the dried thyme in 2 cups of water for about ten minutes. Strain into a mason jar and add the honey, stirring until completely dissolved. Give to kids a tablespoon at a time to ease cough and dry throat. Keep in the refrigerator and discard after seven days.
Which herbs will you grow in your garden? 

It's a magical world of herbs out there!

I hope you enjoyed this overview of ten great herbs to grow in your garden. But don’t feel limited to just these! There are plenty of other wonderful herbs worth exploring, like chives, dill, tarragon, and lemongrass, just to name a few. The herbs featured here were chosen for their culinary, medicinal, and aromatic qualities. And did you notice they have a lot in common as pollinators and pest repellants? From easy-to-grow staples like parsley and thyme to fragrant favorites like lavender and rosemary, each one offers something special. Whether you’re enhancing a meal, easing a cold, or attracting pollinators, there’s an herb to suit every garden.

I would love to hear your thoughts. Let me know what you think in the comments.

(All photos are the property of Blue Jewel Handcrafted and its owner).