Herb and Spice Seeds

Fresh herbs will make your garden smell good and will add lively flavors to your favorite dishes. Some can also be dried and used as wreaths or burned to create fragrant smoke. Some of these plants are used as spices, meaning that the seeds, not the leaves, are used for flavoring.

Most of the popular garden herbs can be grown from seeds, but you can also order seedlings of many of them.

You might notice that many of these herbs have medicinal or antiseptic properties. Some of them have been used medicinally for thousands of years, but you should still consult a professional herbalist before using herbs medicinally. (Although a few cups  of peppermint tea  probably won't hurt you.) The antiseptic properties of many herbs and spices also help explain why they are so much more prominent in the cuisines of countries with warm to hot climates; they help prevent food spoilage! (We still recommend using your refrigerator. )

Popular Herbs

Anise  is a sweet, highly fragrant herb. It is used across various cultures in cooking, and it also serves some medicinal purposes. The seeds are used either whole or ground.	Basil  is a tender herb that comes in a number of varieties, including purple,  royal,  Italian  and lemon.  It is commonly used in Italian and South Asian cuisine. Basil tastes best fresh, so it's a popular garden choice. It grows best in hot weather and strong sunlight, but it can be grown indoors as well.	Bergamot/Bee Balm  is an aromatic herb with a flavor similar to the unrelated bergamot citrus fruit. It is the natural source of thymol, an antiseptic, and serves a variety of medicinal purposes. It can also be used in gardens to encourage pollination (the flowers are lovely) and control pests.	Borage  is an herb used commonly in German and Spanish cooking. Its leaves have a taste similar to cucumbers and are often used in salads. The flowers of the plant are sweet tasting, and can be used to decorate cakes and other desserts. Borage also has anti-inflammatory properties.	Catnip  is an herb known for its pleasant effect on domestic cats. It's in the mint family and has a strong herbal flavor. It's not generally used for any human purposes, other than entertaining cats.

Chamomile  is an annual plant. The flowers are used to make chamomile tea,  which serves multiple medicinal needs. It can also be used in agriculture to aid in other plants' growth and health.	Chervil  is a delicate herb used to season food, particularly in French cuisine. It is closely related to parsley and has a similar flavor.	Chives  are commonly used in cooking for their light scallion-like flavor. They produce edible purple flowers that make a colorful addition to salads. They can also be used in gardens for pest control.	Cilantro  (or Chinese parsley ) refers to the leaves of the herb coriander.  It tastes similar to parsley, but it has a more juicy consistency and a touch of citrus flavor. It is used in Mexican salsas and guacamoles, along with many Asian recipes.	Cumin  seeds have a strong, warm aroma. They are used as a seasoning in many dishes in Indian, Middle Eastern, Cuban, and Mexican cooking, among others.

Dill  is an annual herb related to carrots, fennel and cumin. Its seeds are used as a spice, and its leaves are used either fresh or dried as herbs.	Fennel  is a very flavorful and fragrant herb. It can be found in the cuisines of several different cultures, including those of Italy, the Middle East, and India. Fennel tastes like a milder form of anise.	Hyssop  is a strongly flavored herb with a bitter and minty taste. It has many medicinal uses, and can also be used in gardening to promote pollination and keep pests away.	Lavender  has a variety of uses. It is featured as a flavoring in French cuisine. Its flowers  are often used in flower arrangements and potpourris for their fresh fragrance. The essential oil  of lavender is widely used in cosmetic products. It also has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.	Lemon balm  is an herb with light lemon scent. It is used to flavor ice cream and herbal teas. It adds a pleasant, light lemony scent to food and beverages. Medicinally, lemon balm is used in aromatherapy and as a mosquito repellant.

Lemongrass  has a citrus flavor and is used extensively in Asian and Caribbean cuisine, most often in soups and curries.	Marjoram  is an herb with sweet pine and citrus flavors. It is used for in a variety of cuisines, often in herb and spice combinations.	Oregano  is an herb used fresh or dry in Italian and Greek cooking. (Dried, it has a more intense flavor.) It has a warm, slightly bitter taste and some antioxidant properties. Unrelated Mexican oregano  is used in Mexican cooking and has a slightly different flavor.	Parsley  is very popular in the United States. It is often used to garnish and add flavor to dishes. Parsley is also an important ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine.	Peppermint  leaves have a pleasant, sweet taste, and are used to flavor ice cream, beverages, jellies, teas, and confections. Peppermint is also known to soothe upset stomachs and relax muscles. Be careful when you plant it; it has been known to take over entire gardens.

Rosemary  is a highly aromatic herb with a distinctive flavor. It is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine. It's delicious in both sweet and savory dishes, or just muddled in some olive oil.	Sage  has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It is used as a seasoning in Greek, Italian, and other European cuisines. It often appears as part of poultry seasoning blends and is a familiar fragrance at Thanksgiving.	Sorrel  is an herb with a tangy, lemony taste. Its leaves are used in salads, soups, and sauces.	Tarragon  is a dried herb often used in sauces, especially in French cuisine. It blends well with other herbs and is a component of fines herbes.  It's lovely on fresh peas  in the spring or scrambled eggs any time	Thyme  can be used either fresh or dried to flavor meats, soups, and stews. It is widely used in French, Greek, Italian, Persian, Spanish, and Turkish cooking. It also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

External Links

• Gourmet Gardener -- once you navigate to their herb section, you'll find lots of interesting information about growing, harvesting, and using many of the most popular herbs.

• Backyard Gardener -- information on growing herbs from seed.

• Herbal Gardens -- site devoted entirely to growing herbs.

• Growing Herbs in the Home Garden - West Virginia University's resource on use and preparation of herbs.

• Medicinal Herbs - University of Washington's herbal medicine page -- includes indices of medicinal herbs by common and botanical names.

• Garden Guides -- articles about some of the more popular herbs.