Herbs For Your Container Garden

When we think of planting an herb garden, most of us conjure up visions of cooking herbs like basil, oregano, chives and maybe rosemary and parsley. But the herb kingdom is much more varied and exotic than the familiar culinary favorites.

Herbs have been used for centuries in the traditional medicines of Japan, China, and South America. In many cultures, the shaman or witch doctor held an exalted position in the community because of his knowledge of herbs and how to use them to cure sickness and disease. Until the beginning of the 20th century, physicians were still primarily herbalists. Even today, with all our sophisticated pharmaceuticals and treatments, we are seeing a growing movement towards integrative medicine, which combines current state-of-the-art medical knowledge with the herbal remedies of the past. Herbs such as St. John’s wort (Hypericum spp.) and echinacea (Echinacea augustifolia) have become household names. We are re-discovering common herbs to treat modern day problems (such as ginger for arthritis and motion sickness or peppermint for upset stomach).

In most herbs, the foliage is far more interesting than the flowers, so use herbs to provide scent and texture to your garden. Foliage ranges from the tiny, smooth, rounded leaves of thyme (Thymus spp.), to the wooly, fuzzy softness of lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina). Scents abound in the herb garden, and you can choose from a myriad of sweet, spicy or earthy smelling plants. Consider some of these herbs to add a wonderful aroma to your garden:

• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has a lovely lemony scent and flavor. It grows upright and has bright green leaves. It prefers full sun, but will also tolerate light shade.

• Thyme (Thymus spp.) comes in a variety of forms including creeping, upright, variegated and wooly. It is a hardy plant which comes back easily after cutting or cold damage. The fragrance is a mix of spice and earth tones and it will release its aroma as you brush it in passing. In medieval Europe, thyme tea was thought to prevent nightmares. Thyme adapts well to being grown in a container.

• Scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) is in the same family as the ordinary garden geranium. They come in a variety of scents: rose, pineapple, apple, strawberry, lemon, peppermint and coconut. The essential oils of this plant are used in cosmetics and aromatherapy. Scented geraniums are easy to grow and thrive in full sun.

Lest you think that these lovely plants are only worthwhile for scent, texture, culinary use and medicinal properties, they also play a role in Nature’s ever-perfect circle of life in the garden. Many herbs attract bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. Plant bergamot (Monarda spp.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Fennel will be a food source for the caterpillars, and so may be eaten before the caterpillars go on to their next stage.

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