Growing Herb in containers is easy, you can propagate the plant from seeds, cutting, or transplant. Plus the herb plants take less space and produce edible foliage and flowers.
Here I have listed the 8 best perennial herbs that can grow in containers or gardens.
So, let’s read about them one by one.
How to grow herbs in containers
While gardening in a container, the first thing is to choose the right container.
Photo source: Warren Layton
Your container should be large (not extra-large) enough so that the roots of the plant can easily spread in the soil.
Some people often use soil from the ground in the container. But, it’s a mistake as ground soil is not for gardening, it has no nutrition and if you water then it becomes a big clump of dirt.
How to water container plants
You should always water in the base if you water from the top of the plant then it might get attacked by bacteria. People often over water that is not good as it blocks the air circulation of the plant.
Photo source: Brooke Peterson
You can identify whether you’re overwatering or not by simply looking at the plant’s leaves, yellow leaves mean you’re overwatering.
To save from overwatering, you can choose a container or pot that has a hole in the bottom. The hole helps to flow excessive water from the pot.
Also, to boost the growth of your potted plant you can add water-soluble fertilizer in the growing season.
How to prune herb plants?
When growing a herb plant you should pluck flowers from time to time, the herb plant is grown for its leaves. If you don’t plunk the flowers then the plant uses all energy in growing them, and the leaves grow smaller.
Photo source: Amanda Slater
Pruning leaves at a young age results in the rapid growth of the edible foliage in the herb plant.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Chives are a commonly used herb and are grown by many gardeners. You can easily grow them in your home garden. They have onion and garlic flavor.
Photo source: Paul
Growing Chives has many benefits. It is widely used in many salads and dishes. Their flowers and leaves both are edible and used in making salads and dishes.
This herb blooms in early spring and stores for at least 4 months in the freezer.
Oregano
Oregano is a perennial herb flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. The oregano leaves are used for flavor.
They are aggressive growers, if you leave them in your garden then they’ll cover a large portion of your garden. So, it’s important to prune them from time to time, to keep them compact.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a woody perennial herb fragrant. They have evergreen needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers.
Photo source: Tony Alter
Rosemary is a native plant of the Mediterranean region. It’s an aromatic evergreen shrub with leaves similar to hemlock needles. This species is invasive and can live as long as 30 years.
Mint (Mentha)
Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial herbs that are also called great Basil from the family Lamiaceae (mint), grow for their leaves.
They have 13 to 25 species and many hybrids and cultivars around the world.
The leaves of mints are used to add flavor to teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and Ice-creams.
Photo source: Nate Steiner
I remember in my childhood, I added mint to my glass of ice and enjoyed its flavor.
The fresh leaves of mints are dried and stored in containers. You can easily grow mint in a pot, use a large container.
The leave’s colors are dark green and gray-green to purple, blue, and sometimes pale yellow. The flower color of mint turns white to purple when it gets mature.
Basil
Basil is an annual, or sometimes perennial, herb used for its leaves. It is a tender plant, and can easily grow in a container. Basil flowers are small and white.
Photo source: Julie
It grows a thick, central taproot so plant it in a container that large and has a water drain hole at the bottom. The drain hole flows water if you overwater them.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sage is a perennial, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers.
Photo source: Carl Lewis
It belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae.
Thyme
Thyme is an aromatic perennial evergreen herb, belonging to the mint family Lamiaceae.
Photo source: Rob Hodgkins
They are relatives of oregano and can propagate by seed, cuttings, or dividing rooted sections.
Gardeners planted thyme spring and thereafter grows as a perennial. They are hardy plants and can tolerate drought well.
Cilantro (Coriander)
Cilantro is an annual herb in the family of Apiaceae. It’s often harvested and pruned by gardeners, the plant’s all parts are edible.
Photo source: miss bossy
Ideally, its fresh leaves and the dried seeds (as a spice) are the parts most traditionally used in cooking.
Love lies bleeding
“Amaranthus caudatus” is a species commonly called love lies bleeding or tassel flower due to tiny deep-crimson petalless flowers.
It blooms in the long, hanging, tassel-like, terminal, and axillary panicles throughout the growing season. It has big green leaves and grows anywhere from 1 to 2.5 meters (3 to 8 feet) in height.
They can handle a variety of conditions, arid as well as humid. Love lies bleeding is also called Pendant amaranth, Velvet flower, Foxtail amaranth, andouillette.
Calamint
Calamint herb enlivens the garden with its decent scent, lovely flowers, and leaves properties. They have little flowers and an intense leaf texture that attracts beautiful butterflies and bees. The leaves of the herb spread camphor scent in the air when they get crushed.
Turmeric
You can easily grow turmeric if you provide them with proper conditions. It grows like a weed and rewards you with a fresh harvest and attractive tropical foliage.
It is a tropical plant that belongs to the ginger family. They thrive in warm, humid conditions and well-drained soil.
The plant thrives in a green-white stem and a few pink flowers. Turmeric leaves are also edible. The leaves are used in making tea or herb soup.
Anise-hyssop
Agastache foeniculum is a perennial plant. Commonly called anise hyssop, lavender giant hyssop, blue giant hyssop, and fragrant giant hyssop.
They belong to the Lamiaceae or mint family and are native plants of central and north regions of North America. They are also found in Canada.
It is an edible plant that is used to make tea and has many health benefits. In 2019 anise hyssop received the title of the herb of the year by an international herb organization.
Lavender plants
Lavender is a bushy perennial plant that belongs to the Mediterranean. In the warm region, its green foliage remains evergreen throughout the year and can thrive in some of the toughest growing conditions. If you’re planning to grow lavender, this article will give you the right direction.
This plant is known for its attractive fragrance, medical properties, and beautiful bluish-purple color.
Also, read
25 Best Perennial Fall Flowers for the beautiful garden