Best Herbs for North Texas

Basil, African Blue Ocimum kilimandscharium

‘Afr. Blue’

O  Annual. 3′ Sun

Dark green leaves w/ purplish blue cast, dark purple stems, sweet camphor scent.

 

Basil, Aroma Ocimum basilicum

C/FR  Annual. 2-3′ Sun

Genovese type with heavenly fragrance. More disease resistance and more reluctant to flower…

Basil, Boxwood Ocimum Balilicum ‘Boxwood’

C/O  Annual. 6-12″ Sun

Small leaved, dense habit.  Rich basil flavor. Purple flowering plant makes great edging.

 

Basil, Eleanora  Ocimum Balilicum’Eleonora’

C/FR  Annual. 15″ Sun

Spicier flavor than traditional pesto types. Rapid grower.  Less susceptible to disease.

 

Basil, Genovese Compact Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese’

C/FR  Annual. 2-3′ Shade-Part Shade

More compact, uniform growth habit, best basil for

pesto, pinch blooms to extend life

 

Basil, Lime  Ocimum Balilicum

C/O  Annual. 16-20″ Sun-Part Shade

Compact plant with great flavor & mild citrus aroma

 

Basil, Thai  Ocimum Balilicum

C/FR/O  Annual. 2-3′ Sun

Aromatic leaves w/intense licorice-clove flavor and stunning purple flowers for gardens and containers.

 

Bee Balm  Monarda didyma

C/O Perennial. 2-3′ Sun

Scarlet, pink, salmon, & crimson blooms, attracts Butterflies

 

Catmint  Nepeta mussini

C/O/T  Perennial. 12-18″ Sun-Part Shade

Blue gray green leaves on upright stems, lavender blooms all fall

 

Chamomile, Roman  Chamaemelum nobile

C/T A 1-2′ Part Shade-Shade

Traditionally used as groundcover and between stepping stones

 

Catnip  Nepeta cataria

C/O/M/T  Perennial. 2-3′ Sun-Part Shade

Gray green felty leaves, treat for cats, may become woody, shear for neater look

 

Chamomile, German Matricaria recutita

O/M/T  Perennial. 3-5″ Sun-Part Shade

Light apple scent, small, daisy-like spring blooms, fine lacy foliage

 

Chives, Onion Allium schoenoprasum

C/O  Perennial. 12-18″ Sun

Lavender flowers, green tubular leaves, wide variety of culinary uses, repels insects

 

Chives, Garlic Allium tuberosum

C/O  Perennial 1′ Sun-Part Shade

White flowers, flat leaved variety w/ garlic flavor, globe shaped blooms

 

Cilantro Coriandrum sativum

C  Annual. 20″ Sun

Finely cut, feathery foliage, used in Mexican and Asian dishes

 

Dill, Fernleaf Anethum graveolens ‘Fernleaf’

C  Annual. 18-24″ Sun

Dwarf plant w/ dark green fern-like foliage, slow to bolt.

 

Dill, Bouquet Anethum graveolens ‘Bouquet’

C  Annual. 2-3′ Sun

Compact variety w/ finely cut foliage, many culinary uses, saffron substitute

 

Fennel, Sweet Foeniculum vulgare

C  Biennial. 2-3′ Sun

Large vigorous plant that looks like dill, used w/ fish

 

Lavender, Fernleaf  Lavendula multifida

FR/O  Tender Perennial. 2′ Sun

Soft, lacy, blue green foliage, flowers all summer, pungent scent

 

Lavender, French Lavandula dentata

O  Tender Perennial. 2-3′ Sun

Blue Narrow, downy gray leaves, camphor-rosemary scent

 

Lavender, Goodwin Creek Lavandula heterophylla ‘Goodwin Creek’

FR/O  Evergreen Perennial. 2-3′ Sun

Silver leaves, most vigorous of silver varieties

 

Lavender, Munstead Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’

FR/O  Perennial. 12-18″ Sun

Dwarf English-type, narrow, gray green leaves, flowers earlier than other varieties

 

Lavender, Provence Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’

FR/O  Evergreen Perennial. 3′ Sun

The darker the flower the more fragrant the plant is. Drought and heat tolerant. Hardy zone 5-10.

 

Lavender, Sweet Lavandula heterophylla

C/FR/O  Evergreen Perennial. 2-3′ Sun

Most popular variety, compact, narrow foliage, more delicate aroma

 

Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis

C/FR/O/T  Perennial. 2 -3′ Sun-Part Shade

Member of mint family, very small white flowers, strong lemon scent, re-seeds

 

Lemon Grass Cymbopogon citratus

C/FR/O  Tender Perennial. 4-6′ Sun-Part Shade

Leaves used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking

 

Marjoram, Sweet Origanum marjorama

C  Tender Perennial. 10-12″ Sun

Leaves add strong, spicy flavor similar to oregano

 

Mint, Mojito Mentha villosa

C/FR/O  Perennial. 2-3′ Sun – Part Shade

Used to make mojitos and to flavor lamb and other meats

 

Mint, Chocolate Mentha piperita ‘Chocolate’

C/FR/T  Perennial. 12-16″ Part Shade

Member of Peppermint family w/ faint chocolate scent

 

Mint, English Mentha spicata

O/FR/C/T  Tender Perennial. 12-18″ Part Shade

Traditional English favorite for jellies, juleps and teas

 

Mint, Grapefruit Mentha x piperita ‘Grapefruit’

O  Perennial. 10-20″ Part Shade

Spearmint flavor w/ strong grapefruit overtone, Vigorous

 

Mint, Lime Mentha aquatica

C/FR/T  Perennial. 18″ Part Shade

Member of Peppermint family w/ crisp, citrus scent

 

Mint, Peppermint Mentha piperita

C/FR/M/T  Perennial. 10-15″ Sun-Part Shade

Culinary and garden favorite, all time classic mint

 

Mint, Pineapple Mentha suaveolens ‘variegata’

C/FR/O/T  Perennial. 12″ Sun-Part Shade

Similar to Apple Mint w/ sweeter, fruity scent, more upright, non-invasive

 

Mint, Spearmint Mentha spicata

C/FR/T  Perennial. 15-18″ Sun-Part Shade

Best cooking mint for vegetables and mint sauces

 

Oregano, Golden Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’

C/O  Perennial. 3″ Sun

Mild oregano flavor, useful in rock gardens and as edging

 

Oregano, Greek Origanum vulgare

C/O  Perennial. 12-18″ Sun

The true oregano, very hardy, excellent flavor, strong green color

 

Oregano, Hot & Spicy Origanum Vulgare

C/O  Perennial. 18-24″ Sun

Aromatic herb with spicy flavor. Blooms white flowers in summer.  Great for borders.

 

Oregano, Italian Oreganum x majoricum

C  Perennial. 12-15″ Sun-Part Shade

Strong flavor, similar to Sweet Marjoram, light green and more trailing variety

 

Parsley, Curled Petroselinum crispum

C/O/M  Annual. 1-2′ Sun

Classic curled variety for cooking or garnish, attracts Swallowtail butterflies, can be perennial in N. Texas

 

Parsley, Italian P. crispum var. neapolitanum

C/M  Annual. 1-2′ Sun

Flat leaved variety, stronger flavor than curled, can be perennial in N. Texas

 

Rosemary, Hardy Rosmarinus officinalis

C/FR/O/M  Evergreen Perennial. 2-3′ Sun-Part Shade

Blue flowers, large, coarse leaves, classic bush form, very fragrant, great for cooking

 

Rosemary, Trailing Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus

C/FR/O/T  Evergreen Perennial. 18-24″ Sun

Classic trailing rosemary, blooms readily, great for mixed herb containers

 

Rosemary, Tuscan Blue R. officinalis ‘Tuscan Blue’

C/FR/O  Evergreen Perennial. 4-6′ Sun

Dark Blue flowers, upright habit easily formed into columns, very fragrant, great for cooking

 

Rue Ruta graveolens

C/O/M  Evergreen Perennial. 2′ Sun

Pungent, bitter leaves used sparingly in stews/soups. Host plant for Black Swallowtail butterflies

 

Sage, Berggarten Salvia officinalis ‘Berggarten’

C/O/M  Evergreen Perennial. 18″ Sun

Numerous culinary uses, large silver leaf, interesting leaf

 

Sage, Golden Salvia officinalis ‘Aurea’

C/O/M/T  Tender Perennial. 1-2′ Sun

Wonderful chartreuse-yellow foliage w/ dark green veins, nice in mixed flower borders

 

Sage, Pineapple Salvia elegans

C/FR/O/T  Tender Perennial. 3-4′ Sun

Pineapple scent, brilliant red flower color, bright green yellow leaves

 

Sage, Purple S. officinalis ‘Purpurascens’

C/O/M/T  Evergreen Perennial. 2′ Sun

Aromatic purple foliage, strong growth habit nice in mixed flower borders

 

Sage, Tricolor Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’

C/O  Tender Perennial. 18-24″ Sun

Aromatic gray green foliage w/ white & pink streaks, nice in mixed flower borders

 

Stevia Stevia rebaudiana

C  Tender Perennial. 12-15″ Part Shade

Sugar substitute, hundreds times sweeter, pleasant flavor

 

Tarragon, French Artemisia dracunculus sativa

C  Perennial. 12-18″ Sun-Part Shade

True culinary tarragon, green, silvery leaves

 

Thyme, Creeping Mother of Thymus praecox

C/FR/O/M  Evergreen Perennial. 2-3″ Sun

Light Pink flowers, low creeping variety good between stepping stones, used as garnish, popular in cooking

 

Thyme, Doone Valley  Thymus pulegiodes ‘DooneValley’

C/FR/O/M  Evergreen Perennial. 2-3″ Sun

Golden mottled leaves, turns green in summer

 

Thyme, Elfin Thymus pracox articus

FR/O  Evergreen Perennial 1-2″ Sun-Part Shade

Pink flowers, extremely compact and low growing, used in rock gardens

 

Thyme, English Thymus vulgaris

C/O/M/T  Evergreen Perennial 12-15″ Sun

Lavender flowers, most utilized variety, aromatic, culinary uses

 

Thyme, Lemon Thymus x citriodorus

C/O  Evergreen Perennial 8″ Sun

Lavender flowers, lemon scented, true green color, very hardy

 

Thyme, Lemon Variegated Thymus x citriodorus variegata

C/O  Evergreen Perennial. 8-10″ Sun

Distinct yellow variegation, citrus scent, turns green in summer

 

Thyme, Pink Chintz Thymus pracox ‘Pink Chintz’

FR/O  Evergreen Perennial. 1-2″ Sun-Part Shade

Excellent specimen w/ fuzzy, silver foliage and sweet licorice scent

 

Thyme, Woolly Thymus pseudolangiunosus

FR/O  Evergreen Perennial. 1-2″ Sun

Low carpet of gray woolly leaves

 

Verbena, Lemon Aloysia triphylla

C/FR/M/T  Tender Perennial. 1-2′ Sun

Strong lemon scent, used in teas and other dishes using lemon, sweet tasting blooms

 

Mosquito Repelling Herbs

  • Basil
  • Catmint
  • Bee Balm
  • Lavender
  • Lemon Balm
  • Lemon Grass
  • Lemon Thyme
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Mexican Mint Marigold
  • Peppermint
  • Rosemary

 

Butterfly Attracting Herbs

  • Catnip
  • Catmint
  • Chives
  • Dill
  • Fennel
  • Lavender
  • Parsley
  • Rue