Your beginner plant list

01
ChamomileFull sun; light afternoon shade can help in very hot climates · Annual; readily self-sows where conditions suit it
02
PeppermintFull sun to partial shade; at least 3–4 hours of direct light · Fast-spreading herbaceous perennial
03
LavenderFull sun, ideally 6–8 hours · Short-lived evergreen perennial shrub
04
Lemon BalmFull sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot regions · Fast-growing herbaceous perennial
05
CalendulaFull sun; afternoon shade can extend bloom in hot areas · Cool-season annual that often self-sows
06
EchinaceaFull sun to partial shade; strongest flowering in sun · Long-lived herbaceous perennial
07
YarrowFull sun for sturdy stems and dense flowering · Spreading herbaceous perennial
08
Tulsi (Holy Basil)Full sun; light afternoon shade in extreme heat · Tender perennial, usually grown as an annual
09
OreganoFull sun, at least 6 hours · Spreading herbaceous perennial
10
SageFull sun; partial shade tolerated with looser growth · Short-lived evergreen or semi-evergreen perennial shrub
11
Thymefull sun · woody perennial
12
Rosemaryfull sun · evergreen perennial shrub
13
Basilfull sun with afternoon relief in extreme heat · warm-season annual
14
Parsleyfull sun to partial shade · biennial usually grown as an annual
15
Cilantrosun in cool weather; afternoon shade in heat · cool-season annual
16
Dillfull sun · annual
17
Fennelfull sun · short-lived perennial or annual
18
Chivesfull sun to partial shade · clump-forming perennial
19
Garlic Chivesfull sun to partial shade · clump-forming perennial
20
Boragefull sun to light shade · self-sowing annual
21
Comfreyfull sun to partial shade · deep-rooted perennial
22
Feverfewfull sun · short-lived perennial
23
Marsh Mallowfull sun · herbaceous perennial
24
Valerianfull sun to partial shade · herbaceous perennial
25
Catnipfull sun to partial shade · short-lived perennial
26
Bee Balmfull sun to light shade · spreading perennial
27
Hyssopfull sun · woody perennial
28
Anise Hyssopfull sun to light shade · short-lived perennial
29
Lemon Verbenafull sun · tender woody perennial
30
Lemongrassfull sun · tender clumping perennial
31
Steviafull sun · tender perennial
32
Garden Sorrelfull sun to partial shade · leafy perennial
33
Nasturtiumfull sun to partial shade · frost-tender annual
34
Broadleaf Plantainfull sun to partial shade · rosette-forming perennial
35
Dandelionfull sun to partial shade · taprooted perennial
36
Stinging Nettlepartial shade to sun · spreading perennial
37
Mugwortfull sun to partial shade · rhizomatous perennial
38
American Skullcappartial shade to sun with moisture · moisture-loving perennial
39
Milk Thistlefull sun · spiny annual or biennial
40
St. John's Wortfull sun · short-lived perennial
41
Gingerbright shade or filtered sun · tender rhizomatous perennial
42
Turmericbright filtered light · tender rhizomatous perennial
43
Garlicfull sun · bulb crop usually grown as an annual
44
Horseradishfull sun to partial shade · vigorous perennial root crop
45
American Elderberryfull sun to partial shade · deciduous suckering shrub
46
Red Raspberryfull sun · perennial crown with biennial canes
47
Blackberryfull sun · perennial crown with biennial canes
48
Highbush Blueberryfull sun · deciduous fruit shrub
49
Garden Strawberryfull sun · short-lived herbaceous perennial
50
Aloe Verabright light to full sun after acclimation · tender succulent perennial

Print-and-use planning checklist

  • ☐ Record direct sun at morning, noon and late afternoon.
  • ☐ Choose no more than four first plants.
  • ☐ Separate moisture-loving herbs from dry-soil herbs.
  • ☐ Put spreading mint-family plants in containers.
  • ☐ Label every plant with its botanical name.
  • ☐ Plan how you will water during a hot week.
  • ☐ Read safety guidance before any non-culinary use.

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