American Herb Gardens

A few potted herbs and a planting box can start an herb garden.

According to the American Herb Society's "New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses," an herb garden contains plants that are grown for, "flavor, fragrance, medicinal and healthful qualities, economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties and coloring materials (dyes)."

History

Herbs of various kinds have been grown and used in America since pre-Colonial times. Often, they were not grown in dedicated herb gardens but in vegetable or cottage-style gardens. Formal herb gardens were sometimes created as knot gardens, a form that has been common in Europe since the Renaissance.

Native Plants

An American herb garden might contain only herbs native to North America. These include native species of mint, members of the echinacea family, native sage, tobacco, purslane, chickory, monarda and St. John's wort. Native plant societies can often supply lists of native herbs.

Modern American Herb Gardens

A modern American herb garden might have plants native to many countries and parts of the world. Among the American Herb Society's "Top 10 Celebration Selection of Herbs" are: summer savory, sorrel, Italian parsley, Thai, lemon and Italian basils, cilantro, calendula, borage and dill.

References

• New Jersey Native Plant Society: Native Plants: Essex County
• The Herb Society of America: Celebration Selection of Herb Seeds: The Top 10
• The Herb Society of America: About Herbs: What is a Native Herb?
• "The New Traditional Garden"; Michael Weishan; 1999