10 Perennial Herbs To Grow In Your Garden

Here are the best herbs to plant that will return year after year.

Herbs are super-easy to grow in garden beds or containers, and nothing tastes better than fresh herbs snipped from your garden for all your homecooked favorites. But while you may always plant annual herbs, such as basil, dill, and cilantro, you’re missing out if you’re not growing perennial herbs. Perennial herbs come back year after year, making them a smart investment in your garden. Many also have beautiful flowers that pollinators love.

Lavender Plant in Pot

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Like most annual herbs, perennial types typically need full sun, which is at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. But many perennial herbs will tolerate—or even prefer— afternoon shade during the steamiest part of the summer. Herbs that don’t mind a little afternoon shade include bay, chives, and most types of mint. Most herbs don’t like to stay soggy, so let them dry out in between waterings.

01 of 10

Rosemary

Rosemary Plant

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  • Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or loamy
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0)

Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary’s pine-like fragrance is refreshing in everything from roast chicken to potato dishes to mimosas. It does very well in pots. Rosemary can survive winters in the Mid to Lower South, but because it’s not frost tolerant, bring it indoors if you live in a colder zone or expect a freeze.

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Chives

Chive Plants

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  • Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun but will tolerate some shade
  • Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy or loamy
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0)

Chives have a slight onion-y flavor and pretty purple flowers, which pollinators adore, in spring. Their clumping habit that looks great in planting beds or pots, and critters such as bunnies tend to steer clear of its pungent flavor. Snip the leaves for soups and salads, or use the edible flowers as garnishes.

03 of 10

Sage

Sage plant in pot

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  • Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0)

Fresh sage tastes so much better than dried in casseroles, cornbread, and dressing. It’s winter-hardy throughout most of the South, though it doesn’t love humidity and is sometimes grown as an annual in the Coastal and Lower South.

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Mint

Mint Plant

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  • Botanical Name: Mentha
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun but will tolerate some shade
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0)

From chocolate to peppermint to apple to orange, there are many kinds of mint to grow. Mint can be a bit of bully, growing aggressively and taking over the rest of the garden, so keep it planted in pots to control its growth. Use it in everything from the iconic julep to salads and pasta dishes.

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Garlic Chives

Garlic Chives

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  • Botanical Name: Allium tuberosum
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0)

This perennial herb has flatter leaves than onion chives and pretty white flowers, which bloom in mid to late summer. Its mild garlic flavor is used the same way as onion chives, sprinkled over salads, potatoes, soups, and stews.

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Oregano

Oregano Plant

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  • Botanical Name: Origanum vulgare
  • Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.5-7.0)

Oregano is nearly impossible to kill because it doesn’t mind poor soil and heat. Like mint, it can be aggressive so be mindful of where you plant it or keep it in a pot to contain its spread. Fresh oregano is amazing on a tomato tart or substituted for dried in recipes such as homemade spaghetti sauce.

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Thyme

Thyme Plant

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  • Botanical Name: Thymus
  • Sun Exposure: Full to Part Sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.0-8.0)

There are many different types of thyme including variegated, creeping, or citrus-scented varieties. It’s evergreen in most of the South, making it an attractive groundcover that’s dotted tiny pink, lavender, or white springtime flowers that pollinators love. Try it in pot pie, potatoes, or pound cake.

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Lemon Verbena

Lemon Verbena Plant

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  • Botanical Name: Aloysia citrodora
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining, loamy
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic (6.0-7.0)

This woody deciduous shrub with a strong lemon scent can reach 4 to 5 feet tall and wide in warm climates. It’s winter-hardy in the Lower South, but keep it in a pot and overwinter it in the garage if you live in a colder zone. Lemon verbena can be used in pesto, marinades, fruit salads, or teas.

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Lavender

Lavender Plant in Pot

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  • Botanical Name: Lavandula
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining, dry
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline (6.5-8.0)

Lavender’s beauty and soothing fragrance make it a must-have in any garden. Native to the Mediterranean, lavender prefers hot, dry conditions. It can sometimes struggle in high humidity, but many new varieties, such as Phenomenal, have been introduced that stand up to the South’s summers. Dry the buds or stems for floral displays or sachets, or use them in lemonade, blueberry hand pies, or shortbread.

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Red-veined Sorrel

 Red-veined Sorrel

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  • Botanical Name: Rumex sanguineus
  • Sun Exposure: Part shade
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Acidic to neutral (5.5-7)

If you live in the Upper to Middle South, you can grow sorrel, a little-known herb with a delightful lemony kick. Sorrel has beautiful red-veined leaves that can be eaten fresh in salads or pureed into tangy sauces for fish. It prefers cool weather so once temperatures heat up, it will bolt, or go to seed, like many other types of greens. But it will reappear early next spring.

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