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Growing Herbs in Containers: Light, Life Cycles, & Propagation

© Ann Cherin

Herbs are popular for growing in containers thanks to their ease of care, lovely fragrance, and usefulness. Plants that are grown as herbs are a diverse group. Although you could buy a pot of anything at a nursery and hope for the best - it helps to know the light requirements, life cycles, and propagation methods for the plants in order to help them thrive.

Light Requirements Although most of the common herbs used for cooking prefer full sun, there are many that can tolerate, or even thrive in shadier environments. So if your only spot for your container garden is on the north side of your house, or some other shady location you still have many choices for growing herbs.

Herbs Grown In Containers That Can Tolerate Light Shade: Aloe (Aloe sp), Beebalm (Monarda didyma), Caraway (Carum carvi), Catnip (Nepeta cataria), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium), Comfrey ( Symphytum officinale), Coriander/Cilantro ( Coriandrum sativum), Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia), Garlic (Allium sativum), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Lovage (Levisticum officinale), Mint (Mentha sp), Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata), Sweet Woodruff (Galium odorata), Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), Violet (Viola odorata), and Wintergreen (Gaultheris procumbens)

Herbs Grown In Containers That Need Full Sun: Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Arnica (Arnica montana), Basil (Ocimum basilicum), Borage (Borago officinalis), Calendula (Calendula officinalis), Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), Dill (Anethum graveolens), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Lemon Verbena (Aloysia triphylla), Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Mustard (Brassica sp), Oregano (Origanum sp), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis), Scented Geraniums (Pelargonium sp), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Life Cycles Plants that are used as herbs run the entire range of life cycles, including annuals, biennials, tender perennials, and hardy perennials. Container gardening is a great way to grow and keep tender perennials that might not survive through the winter outside in your area. Bringing herbs indoors during the cold months not only lets you grow a wider variety of plants, it also brings a little life inside to brighten up your home.

Annuals That Can Be Grown In Containers: Anise, Basil, Borage, Calendula, Chamomile, Chervil, Coriander/Cilantro, Dill, Garlic, Mustard, Nasturtium, Summer Savory

Biennials That Can Be Grown In Containers: Caraway, Parsley

Hardy Perennials That Can Survive In Containers Outside In Most Of The US (to USDA Zone 4): Arnica, Beebalm, Catnip, Chicory, Chives, Comfrey, Echinacea, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Sage, Soapwort, Sweet Cicely, Sweet Woodruff, Tansy, Tarragon, Wintergreen, Yarrow

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