A less labor-intensive approach is to give your herb garden the bones of a formal layout and then fill it with exuberant herb plants that can be allowed to mature, fill in and spread without constant supervision.
Choosing Plants for an Herb Garden
When selecting plants for a formal herb garden, consider the growth habits and mature sizes of the plants. Place low creepers, like thyme and chamomile, on opposite path edges to complement each other. Put more aggressive herbs, like mints and lemon balm, in pots either above or below the ground. Most herbs used for culinary purposes won’t be allowed to flower early in the season. So focus on texture and foliage color to bring a sense of fullness to your herb garden design. Make sure all the plants can be accessed, both for harvesting and maintenance, without walking into the beds. The paths should be at least three feet wide for easy walking. Since this is a formal garden, the paths can be paved or mulched to provide the axis for the garden. The garden design shown here contains 20 different herb plants. Most of these plants will flower at some point in the season, but there is plenty of variety with just the plant shapes and textures. The sprawlers are kept to a minimum, to retain a somewhat formal feel. You can, of course, improvise any way that suits you. The color scheme is another unifying element that adds to the formality. It makes use of the complementary color combos of purple/yellow and blue/orange. If the orange of the calendula and nasturtiums is too bold for you, you can always substitute one of the paler yellow varieties or the pink variety of calendula. The center of a formal herb garden is usually the focal point. Even though there is a formality, the focal point is a chance for you to show your gardening personality. It could be a large herb plant, such as a sweet bay tree or large potted rosemary. Many gardeners like to put a garden ornament in the center of their herb gardens, like a birdbath, either as a bath or as a planter. Another popular feature is placing a sundial in a small center bed and surrounding it with thyme plants. Whimsy is permitted in a formal herb garden. Below is a list of plants used in this basic garden design (read on for more detail), but remember, the plants you choose to use (and number and variety) will depend on the specifics of your garden. The Monarda will spread and may need dividing after about five years. Deadheading will keep it in bloom longer and shearing back the whole plant when it starts to look tired, will revitalize it and keep it attractive into fall. The cilantro (coriander) is an annual plant that will self-seed a bit if you don’t collect the seeds to use in the kitchen. NOTE: The number of plants suggested will vary depending on the size of the plants purchased, the mature size of the variety suggested and your patience in allowing the garden to fill in.
1. Lavender Bee Balm (Monarda), 3 to 5 Plants
Two good choices: Monarda x hybrida ‘Petite Delight’
Height: 12-15" (30 - 38 cm)Width: 12" (30 cm)Zones: 4 - 9Flower Color: LavenderBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
Monarda didyma ‘Blue Stocking’
Height: 30 - 38" (76-96 cm)Width: 18 - 24" (46 - 60 cm)Zones: 4 - 9Flower Color: LavenderBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
2. Common or English Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), 1 to 3 Plants
Height: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm)Width: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Zones: 4- 8Flower Color: RoseBloom Period: Mid-SpringExposure: Full Sun
3. Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), 5 to 7 Plants
Height: 18-24" (45-60 cm)Width: 9-12" (22-30 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: WhiteBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
4. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), 1 to 3 Plants
Chose a cultivar suited to your climate: ‘Munstead’
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Width: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Zones: 5 - 9Flower Color: Deep PurpleBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
‘Jean Davis’
Height: 18 - 24" (45-60 cm)Width: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Zones: 5 - 11Flower Color: Pale PinkBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
‘French Perfume’
Height: 12" (30 cm)Width: 12" (30 cm)Zones: 5 - 10Flower Color: Deep PurpleBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
‘Grosso’
Height: 24 - 30" (60-76 cm)Width: 18 - 24"(45-60 cm)Zones: 5 - 10Flower Color: VioletBloom Period: Late SummerExposure: Full Sun
The nasturtiums and chives act as a softening edge. This will be echoed in the opposite bed with parsley and calendula. Remember that the number of plants may vary.
5. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Height: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm)Width: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm)Zones: 4 - 9Flower Color: Off-WhiteBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
6. Borage (Borago officinalis)
Height: 12-36 in. (30-90 cm)Width: 9-24 in. (22-60 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: BlueBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
7. Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Height: 12-36 in. (30-90 cm)Width: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Zones: 4 - 8Flower Color: Off-White (Inconsequential)Bloom Period: Late SummerExposure: Full Sun
8. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Height: 6-12 in. (15-30 cm)Width: 6-9 in. (15-22 cm)Zones: 10 -11, Usually grown as an annualFlower Color: Shades of yellow and orangeBloom Period: SummerExposure: Full Sun
9. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Height: 12-18 in. (30-45 cm)Width: 6-9 in. (15-22 cm)Zones: 3 - 9Flower Color: MauveBloom Period: Early SummerExposure: Full Sun
Next, there’s the almost spiky needle-like foliage of the lavender plants and their straight, slender flower heads. And finally, a sprawl of lemony thyme, to soften the edges.
10. Purple Sage (Salvia dorii)
Height: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Width: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Zones: 4 - 10Flower Color: Lavender-BlueBloom Period: Late SpringExposure: Full Sun
11. Dill
Anethum graveolens ‘Fernleaf’
Height: 12-24 in. (30-60 cm)Width: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: YellowBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
Anethum graveolens ‘Dukat’
Height: 18-24 in. (46-60 cm)Width: 18-20 in. (46-50 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: YellowBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
12. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), 1 to 3 Plants
Chose a cultivar suited to your climate. Try to use a different variety from Herb Bed One: ‘Munstead’
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Width: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Zones: 5 - 9Flower Color: Deep PurpleBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
‘Jean Davis’
Height: 18 - 24" (45-60 cm)Width: 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)Zones: 5 - 11Flower Color: Pale PinkBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
‘French Perfume’
Height: 12" (30 cm)Width: 12" (30 cm)Zones: 5 - 10Flower Color: Deep PurpleBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
‘Grosso’
Height: 24 - 30" (60-76 cm)Width: 18 - 24"(45-60 cm)Zones: 5 - 10Flower Color: VioletBloom Period: Late SummerExposure: Full Sun
13. Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus or Thymus citriodorus ‘Variegata’)
Height: 6-12"(15-30 cm)Width: 12-24" (30-60 cm)Zones: 5 - 10Flower Color: LilacBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
Since the parsley is a biennial, it may seem to over-winter. However, if you are growing it to harvest, you will want to replace it in the spring, before it goes to seed and becomes bitter and unattractive.
14. Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum)
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Width: 15-18 in. (38-45 cm)Zones: 5 - 9Flower Color: WhiteBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
15. Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’)
Height: 24-48 in. (60-120 cm)Width: 15-18 in. (38-45 cm)Zones: 4-9 (Not usually long-lived)Flower Color: YellowBloom Period: Mid-SummerExposure: Full Sun
16. Variegated Golden Sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Icterina’)
Height: 18-36 in. (45-90 cm)Width: 18-36 in. (45-90 cm)Zones: 5 - 10Flower Color: LavenderBloom Period: Early SummerExposure: Full Sun
17. Calendula or Pot Marigold, English Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Width: 6-9 in. (15-22 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: Yellow, Orange or PinkBloom Period: SummerExposure: Full Sun
18. Flat-leaf or Italian Parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum)
Height: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm)Width: 12-15 in. (30-38 cm)Zones: BiennialFlower Color: WhiteBloom Period: Mid-Spring, 2nd YearExposure: Full Sun
Circling the bird bath are two annual herbs that will be used throughout the season. The harvested look of the plants and the functionality of the birdbath contribute to aging of the herb garden: It won’t look like it is strictly for show.
19. Basil Assortment, 5 to 9 plants
Height: 6-36 in. (15-90 cm)Width: 8-24 in. (20-60 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: White or PurpleBloom Period: Late SummerExposure: Full Sun
There are new basils to try every year. Some easy growers include:
‘Genovese’ - Larger leaves than ‘Sweet Basil’, with all the flavor.‘Cinnamon’ or ‘Mexican Spice’ - Green foliage, purple flowers, with a spicy, cinnamon scent.‘Finissimo Verde a Palla’ & ‘Spicy Clove’ - Quick growing compact plants that are great for containers and edges.‘Lemon’ - Gives a fresh lemony tang to pesto. Small leaves can be harder to harvest.‘Red Rubin’ - Keeps purple color throughout the season with great flavor. Wonderful in vinegar.
20. Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutit)
Height: 6-12 in. (15-30 cm)Width: 6-9 in. (15-22 cm)Zones: AnnualFlower Color: White Petals/Yellow CenterBloom Period: Mid-SpringExposure: Full Sun
