Herb Basics

Hemlock is a poisonous plant. It is tall with white flowers and many branches. Wintergreen is an aromatic, wintergreen plant that ripens in the fall, producing red berries.

Thyme is commonly grown for use in cooking, especially in Mediterranean cuisine. It is a hardy, attractive ground cover and attracts bees. The essential oil has been used medicinally for a variety...

Salvia Officinalis, commonly known as garden sage, is a culinary herb favorite. It contains thujone in the volatile oil, which serves as an antiseptic, antibiotic and a vermifuge (expeller of...

Edible ginger root is a common ingredient in many Asian and Indian dishes. Ginger root is available all year in the produce section of most grocery stores and can also be grown at home. Learn how...

Mullein has long been a part of the herbal apothecary and is widely used in the treatment of respiratory disorders including tuberculosis and asthma. It is also commonly used as a topical ointment...

With its feathery foliage and pungent licorice scent, bronze fennel is a great addition to any garden. Plants grow from three to five feet tall, spreading three feet or more and producing tiny...

Drying mint plants to make tea is a satisfying way to provide yourself with soothing and refreshing mint tea. According to the website Farm Fresh Living, mint plants should be harvested or trimmed...

Learning how to use marijuana growing techniques to grow other herbs can be a worthwhile process. Premium marijuana is often grown using hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil. As...

Siberian ginseng is not technically real ginseng. It is closely related to other ginsengs, but not of the same genus. The plant grows wild in hardwood forests in most areas of North America....

Feverfew is a perennial herb that bears feathery, light green leaves and small daisy-like flowers. It is an ancient herbal remedy for pain of all sorts, including migraines, arthritis and uterine...

Used in aromatherapy to help calm the nerves and eliminate stress, lavender has grown in popularity over the last couple of years and today is commonly found in everything from soaps and shampoos...

Fennel is a perennial herb with a variety of culinary uses. Fennel bulbs are eaten raw, cooked or boiled, the seeds toasted and the leaves are great in sauces, soups or salads. Because the herb is...

Have you ever enjoyed the wonderful taste of homemade root beer? Chances are it was made from sarsaparilla. This attractive, flowering herb is often used as a substitute for flavoring root beer....

More than 900 types of sage plants exist, according to the University of California Cooperative Extension Service. Since ancient times sage has been known for its medicinal benefits. It is...

Many people have very little space in their gardens, or may have nothing bigger than a window box. Here are some lovely gift ideas which I hope will increase the popularity of herbal plants, and...

Growing and harvesting your own herbs can save you from spending a lot of money in the spice aisle of the grocery store. Growing your herbs outdoors in the summertime will guarantee hearty,...

Milk thistle is a popular medicinal herb. It is believed to detoxify the liver and improve its function, as well as calm upset stomachs and lessen the symptoms of gallbladder diseases. The milk...

Fresh herbs are a wonderful addition to your kitchen or garden, as they provide a fresh taste to a variety of dishes. If you want the taste of fresh herbs in your favorite dishes, do not spend...

Parsley is a popular herb for gardens, especially in English or Mediterranean herb gardens. Like most herbs, parsley is not that difficult to grow in the proper climate zones. Keep it watered and...

Grown for thousands of years, mint remains popular for beauty, cooking and medicinal purposes. Mint oil provides the base for many items flavored or scented with mint, such as salves, lotions and...

Stevia has become quite popular in the commercial market because it is a natural sweetener that has no caloric stigma attached to it. For people interested in growing stevia for the purpose of...

Oil extracted from mint leaves has many uses. In addition to acting as a flavoring agent for foods, mint oils are also used in lotions, medicines, and candy. If you grow your own mint at home, you...

The fragrance of lemon verbena is sought after because of its nurturing, calming effect. It holds up well when dried and can often be found in potpourri mixes. Fresh lemon verbena leaves can be...

Herbs are easier to grow than many types of garden plants, and usually it's only total neglect that will kill them. Still, you can optimize their growing and production by adhering to their likes...

Sage, a plant native to the Mediterranean region, is a popular herb used in savory dishes. Although sage is a hardy, fairly climate-tolerant plant requiring little direct care, you can do a few...

A bay plant, also known as a laurel, is a Mediterranean plant that was worn as a garland by ancient Greeks. It is also known as bay laurel and sweet bay. Bay is used as an herb and can be...

Super Milk Thistle is a brand of a dietary supplement containing primarily milk thistle. Useful for many bodily functions, milk thistle has been marketed as a liver and kidney aid for years.

Essential oils made out of herbs have long been used in alternative medicine, aromatherapy, and beauty treatments. Many types of recipes call for drops of essential oils added to bath salts, bug...

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a Mediterranean herbaceous plant. Its name comes from its citrus-like smell. Lemon balm can reach a height of up to 5 feet and is grown for ornamental and...

Harvest saffron from the delicate, thread-like stigmas of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Requiring 4,000 flowers to produce one ounce, this spice is an expensive delicacy used for its...

Mint oil is sometimes used to flavor recipes, as well as to scent rooms. The most common plants used for mint oils include peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha apicata). While mint...

Bay leaves grow on the sweet bay or laurel tree. Native to Asia Minor, the aromatic laurel tree is now also found in the Mediterranean region and regions of similar climate. Bay leaves are a...

Aloe vera is a popular herb used in natural medicinal remedies. Many people keep an aloe house plant to remedy minor injuries, as it is best known for its healing abilities. The gel from inside an...

Fresh dill weed adds subtle flavor to fish dishes, even when plucked fresh out of your garden. Cooking dill weed often diminishes the flavor, so in order to make dishes with dill weed snap, you'll...

Herb grinders are used to grind up herbs and spices to add to foods. They come in a variety of sizes and are very easy to use. Herb grinders have a top that screws onto a base. There is usually a...

Bergamot (Monarda didyma), with its square stems, is a perennial flower in the same family as mint. Its flowers bloom from June to September. An American herb, bergamot was used by the Oswego...

Borage is a refreshing and tasty herb commonly used to accent salads, soups and dips. Since it's difficult to dry, and often rots in the process, the herb is generally used fresh. Its...

Lemon balm is also known as melissa officinalis. It's a lemon-scented member of the mint family of herbs. Easily grown in an herb garden, this hardy perennial grows prolifically. It's...

Yarrow, a perennial, drought-resistant herb with the tongue-twisting scientific name of Achillea Millefolium, is a versatile garden performer. Its propensity to spread makes it an attractive...

These tiny purple berries are picked from elder trees found in Europe, North America, and the western regions of Asia. According to horticultural science expert Dr. Alice B. Russell, raw...

Turmeric is a spice that is commonly used in Indian and Caribbean cooking. Traditionally the plant is grown in these locations but it is possible to grow turmeric at home as well. The rhizomes...

Herbs can be planted in herb gardens for culinary or medicinal use or for ornamental decoration. Herb gardens can be planted outside in the spring or indoors in containers.

Yellowroot is a deciduous subshrub (a woody-stemmed, short plant), with the scientific name Xanthorhiza simplicissima. It is grown for aesthetic purposes and is used in traditional medicine as a...

Borage is a decorative plant used mainly in culinary practices and can be used medicinally. This plant has shallow root systems, and a purple flower. The leaves are often used for tea, or put on...

There are several species of echinacea that can be identified by the conical flower center. One of the best-known members of the species is Echinacea purpurea, which is used as an herbal medicine...

The borage plant is an herb indigenous to most European and Mediterranean countries. It has some interesting characteristics and medicinal uses, although be aware of the hazards before attempting...

Stevia is an herb native to South America that has quickly become popular with American consumers for its sweeter-than-sugar qualities and safe use by hypoglycemic and diabetic people. Growing and...

Fresh herbs are a delicious way to add flair to all sorts of meals, including pasta, sandwiches, soups and marinades for meat. You can find fresh herbs at the grocery store, but why not create a...

All parts of the herb angelica can be used holistically to treat medical maladies. Commercially they are used to enhance the flavor and presentation of culinary dishes.