herbs
anise hyssop
Tender Perennial (zones 5-9). Full Sun. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly.
basil
Tender annual. Full sun. Direct sow. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Tastes best fresh. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite varieties: Lettuce Leaf, Bush, Dani, Dark Opal, Tulsi (Holy)
bergamont (Bee balm/Monarda)
Perennial. Full sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant.
borage
Annual. Full sun. Direct sow. Active self-seeder. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. (Do not let dogs or cats nibble on this plant…borage’s prickles effect their respiratory system)
calendula
Annual. Full sun. Direct sow. Active self-seeder. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Favorite varieties: Resina and Alpha (highest resin content, so best for medicinal use), Pacific Beauty, Zeolights
catnip
Perennial. Full sun. Transplant. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream.
chamomile
Annual. Full sun. Transplant. Active self-seeder. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Dries like a dream. Favorite varieties: Zloty Lan, German
chives
Perennial. Sun/Part shade. Direct sow. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Tastes best fresh.
coriander (cilantro)
Annual. Full sun. Direct sow. Active self-seeder. Pollinator-friendly. Harvest seeds for culinary use.
cornflowers(Bachelor’s buttons)
Annual. Direct sow. Active self-seeder. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Favorite varieties: Blue Boy, Classic Romantic, Tall Blend
cutting celery
Annual. Sun/Part shade. Direct sow. Favorite variety: Afina
dill
Annual. Active self-seeder. Direct sow. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Tastes best fresh. Harvest seeds for culinary use. Favorite varieties: Bouquet, Mammoth, Tetra
echinacea
Perennial. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Favorite variety: Purple Conehead
elderflower
Flowering shrub. Full sun/Part shade. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly.
flax
(Blue flax is a short-lived perennial; Scarlet flax is an annual) Full sun. Direct sow in early spring. Active self-seeder. Pollinator-friendly. Harvest seeds for culinary use.
garlic
Bulb planted in the fall for summer harvest. Deer resistant. Hardneck varieties produce a secondary crop called garlic scapes. Favorite varieties: Chesnok Red, Music, German Red, Siciliano, Early Italian
garlic chives
Perennial. Full sun. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant.
goldenrod
Perennial. Full sun/Part shade. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant.
lavender
Tender Perennial. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite varieties able to overwinter in cold climates: Hidcote, Munstead
lemon balm
Perennial. Full Sun. Transplant. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings.
lemon verbena
Tender Perennial (grown as an annual in cold climates). Dries like a dream.
mint
Perennial. Sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite varieties: Mojito
oregano
Perennial. Sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite varieties: Greek (stronger taste than Common Oregano)
parsley
Biennial. Full sun. Transplant. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Tastes best fresh. Favorite varieties: I love the flat leaf varieties best for culinary use. Favorite variety: Italian Flat Leaf
red clover
Perennial (short-lived). Full sun. Direct sow. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Dries like a dream.
rosemary
Tender perennial (zones 6-10). Full sun. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite varieties: Barbecue, Tuscan Blue, Arp
sage
Perennial. Sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite variety: Common
scallions
Annual. Full sun/Part shade. Transplant. Deer resistant. Favorite varieties: White Lisbon, Evergreen Hardy White, Deep Purple
shallots
Grown as bulbs planted in fall or spring. Full sun. Deer resistant. Favorite varieties: Prisma, Conservor
summer savory
Annual. Full sun. Direct sow. Tastes best fresh.
sweet woodruff
Perennial. Part shade. Direct sow in autumn (seeds need a period of cold to germinate). Deer resistant.
tarragon
Perennial. Deer resistant. Tastes best fresh. Favorite varieties: I prefer the French variety over the Mexican and Russian. Give a leaf a nibble before buying your plant to make sure it has that licorice bite.
thyme
Tender perennial. Sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers. Pollinator-friendly. Deer resistant. Dries like a dream. Easy-to-propagate via stem cuttings. Favorite varieties: Winter and English (best for zones 5-8), along with Orange, Lemon and French (these varieties don’t always overwinter well here in zone 5)
viola
Annual (technically it’s a perennial, but it often doesn’t survive the full blast heat of summer so it’s mainly grown as an annual). Full sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers.
violet
Annual/Biennial. Full sun/Part shade. Transplant. Edible flowers.
winter savory
Perennial. Full sun. Transplant. Dries like a dream.
a few notes…
deer resistant varieties
Note the word resistant…it is not deer-proof. When not given other choice nibbles, deer very well may munch some of your “deer resistant” plants.
letting your culinary herbs go to flower
The blossoms of culinary herbs like oregano, thyme and rosemary beckon pollinators from all around, and add a touch of whimsy in the kitchen with their edible flowers. BUT…once you’ve let your culinary herbs flower, their leaves will begin to bitter, losing that their yummy signature taste. So create a balance by keeping a patch of your culinary herbs pinched back and producing tasty leaves all season long, and then have another spot for a few more plants that you let go to flower for some nibbling by you and your pollinator pals.
preserving your herb harvests
Some herbs are a dream to dry, while others are best enjoyed fresh. Find out which are which in our article on HOW TO DRY HERBS
herbs in the kitchen
For some of our favorite culinary herbal recipes, please visit HERBAL EATS
Herbs for your skin & home
Many of these herbs offer countless uses outside of the kitchen. For some great herbal skin and body care recipes, check out HERBAL MAKE And learn more about the incredible herbal properties and powerhouses growing right out in your own yard HERE.