Herbs: Flavors, flowers, and remedies
By Dolly Dearner
Herbs are well known for their versatility. What other group of plants can add flavor to foods, make a nice cup of tea, soothe minor ailments, add beauty to your landscape, repel unwanted bugs, attract pollinators, and host butterfly larvae? Whether you are an experienced gardener, a new gardener, or even a non-gardener, you can benefit from and enjoy some of these amazing plants.
Some gardeners prefer to separate herbs from other plants either within the same plot or in a dedicated herb garden. This creates a formal, curated look. Others prefer interplanting, with herbs alternating and sharing space in the garden. This creates a more casual, rustic appearance. Of course, both approaches can be used together, with some herbs in a separate area and others scattered here and there. Some herbs help protect nearby plants by repelling harmful insects.
Familiar culinary herbs such as basil, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, and others grow abundantly in Oklahoma gardens, as they are native to hot, dry climates. Many can be started from seeds, and plants are readily available at garden centers.
Herbs can be planted directly in the ground or in containers. Container-grown herbs will need good potting soil (using ground soil in containers is not recommended) but normally do not need much fertilizer. Though some herbs are drought tolerant, container plants might need more water. Mint, lemon balm, chives, garlic chives, and oregano are particularly known for their wandering and spreading habits and are best planted in containers or raised beds. Otherwise, you will end up with more than you want in places you don’t want them.
Culinary herbs add new dimension and variety to everyday foods. Some of these same herbs are strikingly beautiful and can take their place among the ornamentals. Thai basil is impressive with clusters of burgundy blossoms and is tall enough to be visible from a distance. Borage has intense blue flowers that attract hummingbirds. When garlic chives are ready to flower, they send up long slender stalks with a puff of white blooms at the end. They are handsome and elegant, but an oddity among flowers because of their distinct onion fragrance.
Some herb gardeners prune or pinch flowers to maintain the best flavor. If you plant more than you need, your extras can produce flowers to attract pollinators or become part of floral arrangements. If you allow one herb plant to flower and produce seeds, you can save them for next year’s garden.
Herbs have been used medicinally for centuries, and a trip to the tea aisle in the grocery store bears witness to their remedial use even today. This topic is long and space is short, so here are a few resources on the healing virtues of herbs:
Content - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center
Top 10 Medicinal Herbs for the Garden | Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
This OSU Fact Sheet provides comprehensive information about planting and using culinary herbs:
Culinary Herbs for Oklahoma Gardens: Culture, Use and Preservation | Oklahoma State University