Hardy Perennial Herbs

Garlic Chives – Seeds (Allium tuberosum)

Garlic Chives are a hardy perennial herb prized for their mild garlic flavor and tender, flat green leaves. Perfect for enhancing salads, soups, stir-fries, and garnishes, these chives bring a fresh, aromatic touch to any dish.

Easy to grow and low maintenance, Garlic Chives thrive in garden beds, containers, or raised planters. They are also tolerant of colder climates and will return year after year with minimal care.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Sow outdoors: March – May

• Plant spacing: 20–25 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost

• Care: Keep soil consistently moist; trim regularly to encourage fresh growth

Key Features

• Hardy perennial with tender, flat green leaves

• Mild garlic flavor ideal for salads, soups, stir-fries, and garnishes

• Easy to grow and low maintenance

• Suitable for garden beds, containers, or raised planters

• Returns year after year with minimal care

Harvest

• Harvesting period: 60–90 days after sowing

• Snip leaves as needed; regular harvesting promotes continuous growth.

Short Tip

Trim regularly to prevent flowering and maintain tender, flavorful leaves throughout the season.

Stinging Nettle – Seeds

(Urtica dioica)

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a versatile perennial herb valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Its vibrant green leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals, making it perfect for teas, soups, and natural remedies. Hardy and easy to grow, it also provides shelter and food for wildlife, supporting pollinators and beneficial insects.

Why Grow Stinging Nettle?

• Nutrient-rich leaves for culinary and medicinal use

• Hardy perennial, easy to grow

• Supports pollinators and wildlife

• Traditional herbal remedy with multiple uses

Key Features

• Type: Perennial herb

• Height: 60–150 cm

• Leaves: Harvest from spring to autumn

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Moist, fertile, well-drained

Ideal For

• Herbal and edible gardens

• Pollinator-friendly plantings

• Natural remedies and teas

• Wildlife habitats

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in seed trays

• Sow outdoors: April–May directly in prepared soil

• Germination: 14–28 days at 15–20°C

• Spacing: Thin seedlings to 30 cm apart

• Care: Prefers consistent moisture; perennial, low maintenance

St. John’s Wort – Seeds (Hypericum perforatum)

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a hardy perennial herb known for its bright yellow star-shaped flowers and long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. It grows easily in gardens, meadows, or wildflower plantings, attracting pollinators while adding natural beauty.

Often valued for its ornamental and herbal qualities, St. John’s Wort thrives in poor soils and sunny locations, making it a low-maintenance addition to cottage gardens and naturalized landscapes.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April

• Sow outdoors: April – June, or autumn for natural stratification

• Depth: Surface sow – seeds need light to germinate

• Spacing: 30 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile, sandy or rocky soils

Key Features

• Perennial herb with golden yellow, star-shaped blooms

• Attracts bees and pollinators

• Grows well in poor, dry soils – low maintenance

• Suitable for borders, meadows, and herb gardens

• Traditional herb, long valued in folklore and medicine

Flowering & Harvest

• Flowering time: June – September

• Blooms can be collected at peak flowering if used for herbal purposes.

Russian Tarragon – Seeds (Artemisia dracunculus)

Russian Tarragon is a hardy perennial herb valued for its anise-like flavor and aromatic leaves. While milder than French tarragon, it grows easily from seed, making it an excellent choice for gardeners who want a reliable and vigorous herb. Perfect for flavoring chicken, fish, salads, and sauces, it also makes a decorative addition to herb gardens with its fine, slender foliage.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May in seed trays or pots.

• Transplant outdoors: After last frost into a sunny, sheltered position.

• Soil: Well-drained, light soil.

• Spacing: 30–45 cm apart.

• Water moderately, avoid waterlogging.

Key Features

• Hardy perennial, easy to grow from seed

• Aromatic leaves with mild anise flavor

• Reliable alternative to French tarragon

• Drought-tolerant once established

• Attractive foliage for herb borders

Ideal For

• Herb gardens and kitchen gardens

• Flavoring chicken, fish, soups, and sauces

• Growing in pots, raised beds, or borders

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – May

• Harvest: July – October

Quick Tip

Pinch back growing tips to encourage bushy growth. For best flavor, harvest young leaves before flowering.

Rosemary – Seeds (Rosmarinus officinalis)

The classic Rosemary is a hardy, evergreen perennial herb valued for its aromatic needle-like leaves and unmistakable flavor. Loved in Mediterranean cooking, it adds depth to roasted meats, potatoes, bread, and sauces. Its strong fragrance also makes it a natural companion plant, helping deter pests in the garden.

Not only culinary, rosemary is also prized for its decorative qualities – perfect for herb gardens, containers, and borders. With its resilience and longevity, rosemary is a must-have for any kitchen garden.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: February – April in seed trays or pots

• Transplant outdoors: After last frost in a sunny spot

• Soil: Light, well-drained, sandy soil

• Position: Full sun

• Care: Water sparingly, avoid waterlogged soil, prune regularly for bushy growth

Key Features

• Aromatic, evergreen perennial herb

• Classic Mediterranean flavor for cooking

• Hardy and drought-tolerant once established

• Excellent for borders, pots, or herb gardens

• Natural companion plant with pest-repelling properties

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: February – April

• Harvest: All year once established

Lemon Balm – Seeds (Melissa officinalis)

Lemon Balm is a hardy perennial herb valued for its refreshing lemon-scented leaves. Perfect for teas, desserts, and savory dishes, it also makes a soothing herbal remedy often used to promote relaxation. Its fragrant foliage attracts bees and pollinators, while its resilience makes it an easy-to-grow choice for gardens, pots, or borders.

How to Grow

• Sow indoors: March – May in trays at 18–20°C.

• Sow outdoors: May – July in a sunny or lightly shaded spot.

• Thin or transplant seedlings to 30 cm apart.

• Prefers fertile, well-drained soil.

• Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh growth.

Key Features

• Hardy perennial with refreshing lemon scent

• Aromatic leaves for teas, salads, and cooking

• Excellent for herbal remedies and relaxation

• Attracts bees and pollinators

• Easy to grow in borders or containers

Ideal For

• Herbal teas and drinks

• Culinary use in sweet and savory dishes

• Herb gardens, borders, and patio pots

Sowing & Harvest

• Sow: March – July

• Harvest: May – October

Quick Tip

Pick leaves early in the morning for the best flavor and fragrance.

English Plantain – Seeds (Plantago lanceolata)

English Plantain is a hardy perennial herb valued for its medicinal properties and ecological benefits. Known for its narrow, lance-shaped leaves, it is often used in herbal remedies, teas, and natural skincare preparations. English Plantain is also a beneficial plant for pollinators and soil health, making it perfect for ecological or medicinal gardens.

This low-maintenance plant thrives in a variety of soils and conditions, returning year after year with minimal care.

How to Grow

• Sow outdoors: March – May

• Plant spacing: 20–25 cm between plants

• Position: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

• Care: Minimal maintenance; water during dry periods; remove weeds to prevent competition

Key Features

• Hardy perennial with lance-shaped leaves

• Medicinal uses for teas, herbal remedies, and skincare

• Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant

• Supports pollinators and improves soil health

• Suitable for ecological, medicinal, or wildflower gardens

Harvest

• Harvesting period: 60–90 days after sowing

• Leaves can be harvested as needed; best used when young and tender.

Short Tip

Sow in well-drained soil and allow natural self-seeding to create a sustainable, low-maintenance plant patch.

Giant Hyssop White – Seeds (Agastache mexicana)

Giant Hyssop White (Agastache mexicana) is a stunning perennial that produces elegant white flower spikes with a delicate fragrance. Blooming from summer to early autumn, its aromatic foliage and nectar-rich flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Hardy, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow, it adds vertical structure, fragrance, and brightness to borders, herb gardens, and pollinator-friendly plantings.

Why Grow "Giant Hyssop White"

• Tall spikes of elegant white flowers

• Fragrant foliage with a long flowering season

• Hardy, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance

• Highly attractive to pollinators

Key Features

• Type: Perennial (Agastache mexicana)

• Height: 60–100 cm

• Flowering: Summer to early autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, herb gardens, cottage gardens, pollinator planting

Ideal For

• Adding height and brightness to borders

• Pollinator-friendly and wildlife gardens

• Cottage-style and herb gardens

• Drought-tolerant, easy-care planting

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: April–May after frost

• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings 25–30 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

• Water sparingly once established

Giant Hyssop Blue – Seeds (Agastache mexicana)

Giant Hyssop Blue (Agastache mexicana) is a striking perennial producing tall spikes of fragrant blue-purple flowers from summer to early autumn. Its aromatic foliage and nectar-rich blooms make it highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, ensuring a lively pollinator-friendly garden. Easy to grow and drought-tolerant once established, it adds height, color, and fragrance to borders, herb gardens, and cottage-style beds.

Why Grow "Giant Hyssop Blue"

• Tall spikes of vibrant blue-purple flowers

• Aromatic foliage with a long flowering season

• Hardy, drought-tolerant, and easy to grow

• Excellent pollinator magnet

Key Features

• Type: Perennial (Agastache mexicana)

• Height: 60–100 cm

• Flowering: Summer to early autumn

• Position: Full sun

• Uses: Borders, herb gardens, cottage gardens, pollinator planting

Ideal For

• Adding vertical height and fragrance to borders

• Pollinator-friendly and wildlife gardens

• Cottage and herb garden displays

• Drought-tolerant, low-maintenance planting

Sowing & Growing

• Sow indoors: February–April in trays or pots

• Sow outdoors: April–May after frost

• Germination: 14–21 days at 18–22°C

• Thin seedlings 25–30 cm apart

• Prefers well-drained soil in full sun

• Water sparingly once established