Herbs

Laurus nobilis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Bay Laurel. This evergreen tree or shrub produces high yields of glossy green bay leaves. The aromatic leaves are the foundation of fine cooking and are used with soups, stews, meats, fish, poultry dishes, and spaghetti sauce. It can be used fresh or dried for robust spice. The essential oil from leaves is used to alleviate arthritis and rheumatism and to treat earaches and high blood pressure. Also known as Sweet Bay, Bay Leaves, and Grecian Laurel. The small shrub plant is frost-sensitive. Heat Tolerant. Suitable for containers that can be moved indoors during winter. An excellent choice for home gardens, Farmer’s Markets, and market growers. A variety from Italy.

Dactylis glomerata. Open Pollinated. Catgrass. The plant produces green blades of catgrass. Cats love nibbling on it to help their digestive system. Perfect for indoor cats or during the winter, when your outdoor cat may not be able to find grass. This sn

Catnip

85 days. Allium schoenoprasum. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Chives. The plant produces heavy yields of chives. It is prized for its mild onion-like flavor. Use fresh or freeze for year-round use. Perfect in salads, stuffed eggs, baked potatoes, soups, omelets, cream cheese, sauces, and garnishes. Cuttings can be made all season long. A herb that can be planted indoors or outdoors. Suitable for containers and hydroponic gardening. They are great in patio pots, planted directly in the garden, and used as borders. Great as companion planting, as it is said that chives planted alongside carrots improve their growth. The lavender flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 261639. A variety from the USA.

85 days. Apium graveolens. Annual. Open Pollinated. Cutting Celery. The plant produces good yields of very flavorful leaves used fresh in salads, pasta, soups, stews, and mixed vegetables. It is bred specifically for its flavorful leaves and thinner stalks, rather than the thick, crisp stalks of standard celery. It has a stronger, more assertive celery flavor and is much easier to grow. Great for making tomato juice. Also known as Leaf Celery and Herb Celery. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

1962 All-America Selections Winner! 80 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Dark Opal Purple Basil. The plant produces good yields of beautiful, shiny, deep purple basil leaves with pink flowers. Very fragrant and tasty, with a strong, peppery basil flavor. Used as a garnish, in salads, and to make flavored vinegar. Good type for drying. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 852071. A variety from the USA.

85 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Di Genova Basil. The plant produces good yields of beautiful 4" long aromatic dark green basil leaves. Very fragrant and tasty. Perfect for salads, sauces, and garnishes. Suitable for containers. An exce

85 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Dwarf Greek Basil. The plant produces good yields of fragrant green basil leaves with white flowers. Excellent as a garnish or seasoning for poultry, beef, stews, and soups. This variety is preferred by

85 days. Thymus vulgaris. Perennial. Open Pollinated. English Thyme. The plant produces excellent yields of flavorful thyme leaves. Used in salads, stews, sauces, and pickles. Excellent for poultry and fish dishes. Suitable for containers, pots, small gardens, square foot gardens, patios, raised gardens, borders, rock gardens, herb gardens, and window boxes. A variety from the USA.

1992 All-America Selections Winner! 85 days. Anethum graveolens. Annual. Open Pollinated. Fernleaf Dill. This small plant produces very flavorful dark blue-green leaves and seeds. Seeds are used as a pickling spice, and leaves are used in omelets, fish dishes, and salads. Also used as a garnish. Leaves can be dried for later use. Also known as Dwarf Fernleaf Dill. The small plant is suitable for containers and small gardens with limited space. An excellent choice for home gardens and specialty markets. A variety from the USA.

63 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Fino Verde Basil. This small, compact bush plant produces very flavorful, tiny basil leaves. It is a popular Italian heirloom variety prized for its compact growth, tiny aromatic leaves, and intense sweet-spicy basil flavor. It has a strong, classic sweet basil taste with pungent spicy notes favored by chefs, especially for pesto. The plant is very slow to bolt, 3 weeks later than Genovese Basil. Leaves have a sweet, pungent flavor similar to that of Spicy Globe Bush Basil. Used in sauces, salads, and Italian dishes. Very attractive, excellent potted plants and landscaping borders. A variety from Italy.

85 days. Thymus vulgaris. Perennial. Open Pollinated. The plant produces good yields of very aromatic blue-green leaves with pale lavender flowers. This variety is greyer and sweeter than English Thyme. Used in salads, stews, sauces, pickles, poultry, and

90 days. Allium tuberosum. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Garlic Chives. The plant produces high yields of ¼" wide garlic chives. The flat leaves have a strong garlic-onion flavor. Excellent for gourmet cooking, salads, eggs, soups, dips, spaghetti sauces, potato salads, vinegar, Oriental dishes, stir fry, and garnishes. It can be used fresh or dried. Easy to grow and transplant. Suitable for containers and hydroponic gardening. The white flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects while discouraging other insects from chewing up other vegetable plants. They have been used in Chinese medicine since the 16th century to warm the kidneys and treat lower back and knee pain. Also known as Chinese Chives and Chinese Leek. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

88 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Genovese Basil. The plant produces beautiful, large, 2" long aromatic dark green Basil leaves. Very fragrant and tasty. It is widely considered the most popular and best basil for making authentic pesto from Genoa, Italy, as it has a balanced sweet-spicy profile with hints of clove, pepper, anise, and mint—stronger and more intense than many milder sweet basil types. Great for making sauces, stews, and salads. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 652065. An heirloom variety from Italy.

95 days. Thymus vulgaris. Perennial. Open Pollinated. German Winter Thyme. The plant produces high yields of aromatic Thyme leaves. Used in salads, beans, soups, stews, sauces, pickles, and French & Italian dishes. Excellent for poultry and fish dishes too. Medicinal herb used to treat sore throats and coughs. It is also used as tea and massage oil. This is a winter-hardy variety. It has the ability to overwinter in colder climates better than many other thyme types. Cold Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

78 days. Petroselinum crispum. Biennial. Open Pollinated. Gigante Catalogno Parsley. The plant produces good yields of rich-flavored, dark green parsley leaves. It is a popular Italian heirloom flat-leaf parsley. It produces large, smooth, dark green leaves with a rich, aromatic flavor that is stronger than that of Curled Parsley varieties. It can be dried or used fresh. Great for culinary use in sauces, salads, soups, pestos, and garnishes. It's high in vitamins A, C, E, and K. Suitable for containers. Also known as Gigante d'Italia Parsley and Gigante di Napoli Parsley. An excellent choice for home gardens. An heirloom variety from Italy.

90 days. Origanum vulgare. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Greek Oregano. The plant produces excellent yields of very flavorful dark green Oregano leaves with white flowers. One of the best-tasting Oregano varieties around. Excellent for Greek and Italian dishes. The flowers are edible and can be used in the same manner as the herb. The flowers are especially tasty in pasta salads, green salads, and pizza toppings. Attracts beneficial insects. Suitable for containers, indoor pots, and herb gardens. It can also be used for medicinal purposes, as the fresh leaves are chewed for the relief of toothaches, indigestion, or a lingering cough. Plants should be divided every 3 years. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 384485. A variety from Greece.

90 days. Ocimum sanctum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Holy Basil. The plant produces good yields of basil leaves. The leaves have a musky scent with a hint of mint. Used to make Thai teas. Medicinal used for digestive disorders. Also used in male and female t

90 days. Origanum vulgare. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Italian Oregano. The plant produces good yields of very flavorful dark green Oregano leaves. It has a mild peppery taste and a pungent scent reminiscent of mint. One of the best-tasting Italian Oregano varieties around. Excellent for pizza and Italian dishes. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from Italy.

85 days. Rosemarinus officinalis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. The plant produces good yields of very aromatic needle-like leaves. This variety germinates faster and more uniformly than other varieties. Leaves have a delicious flavor and are fragrant. Exce

75 days. Ocimum citriodorum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Lemon Basil. The plant produces good yields of beautiful, shiny basil leaves. Leaves have a lemony scent and flavor that is excellent for flavoring chicken dishes. Used in vegetable dishes, salads, pestos, tomato dishes, cheeses, omelets, tea, fish/chicken dishes, curries, and making herb vinegar. Also known as Citrus Basil. Suitable for container gardens. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from India.

85 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Lettuce Leaf Basil. This bush plant produces good yields of very flavorful and tender basil leaves. It is a popular heirloom sweet basil variety prized for its exceptionally large, crinkled, light-green leaves that can reach 4–6 inches in length and width, resembling lettuce leaves. Used in sauces, salads, veal, poultry, fish, vegetables, and gourmet dishes. Leaves can be used dried, fresh, or frozen. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 92043. A variety from Japan.

75 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Licorice Basil. The plant produces high yields of basil leaves with purple flowers. This variety has a licorice flavor. Excellent with fish, salads, and gourmet dishes. Used to treat headaches, stress, d

60 days. Ocimum americanum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Lime Basil. The plant produces good yields of 2" long lime-flavored basil leaves. Excellent with salads and fish dishes. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from Thailand.

85 days. Tagetes lucida. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Mexican Tarragon. The plant produces good yields of glossy green leaves and orange flowers. Leaves are used in vinegar, sauces, and salads. The flowers are used to garnish desserts and drinks with the same sweet licorice flavor as the leaves. It has a stronger flavor than Russian tarragon. Used by Southwestern chefs. Also known as Mexican Mint, Spanish Tarragon, and Winter Tarragon. It serves as an excellent substitute for French Tarragon in warmer climates, where true tarragon often struggles. Cold Tolerant. Heat Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. High Humidity Tolerant. Easy to grow. Suitable for herb gardens, flower beds, or containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

60 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Mrs Burn's Lemon Basil. The plant produces good yields of 2 ½” " long lemon flavored basil leaves. The most lemony of all lemon basil. The plant has white flowers and very bright green leaves. The finest

110 days. Lavandula angustifolia. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Munstead Lavender. The plant produces beautiful English Lavender. It has fragrant gray-green foliage and early-blooming spikes of lavender-blue flowers. The plants bloom in early summer and, if lightly pruned after flowering, may rebloom in late summer. Munstead Lavender is the most fragrant variety. The flowers and leaves are also edible and used in salads and baked goods. The flowers can be used to garnish desserts. Used in bouquets, sachets, and perfumes. Also used to treat headaches, burns, and cuts. Used to repel moths, mosquitoes, and gnats. Cold Tolerant. Perfect for borders, rock gardens, and containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 88147. A 1916 heirloom variety from the USA.

75 days. Ocimum basilicum. Open Pollinated. Annual. Napoletano Basil. The plant produces good yields of giant 3" long by 2" wide basil leaves. The leaves are as big as your hand. Leaves are very flavorful and sometimes ruffled. Great for making spaghetti

75 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Osmin Basil. The plant produces good yields of deep burgundy red basil leaves. It has beautiful pink flowers and the leaves are very flavorful. It is the darkest of the purple basils. The leaves are smal

Piper nigrum. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Peppercorns. The plant produces excellent yields of black peppercorns. Peppercorns are dried and used to make black pepper. You can grow this tropical tree in containers and bring it indoors in the fall. Try growing your own black pepper plant. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 190223. A variety from India.

85 days. Mentha piperita. Perennial. Open Pollinated. The plant produces excellent yields of very aromatic peppermint leaves. The leaves are used to make tea, candies, and desserts. Also used for treating the common cold, asthma, congestion, and indigesti

Prospera Basil is a premium garden variety offering strong growth, dependable performance, and quality harvests for home gardeners.

74 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. (F1) Prospera Red Basil. The plant produces good yields of dark purple basil leaves. Great for adding seasoning to Italian and tomato dishes. Excellent as a garnish, herb vinegar, or seasoning for poultry, beef, stews, a

85 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Purple Ruffles Basil. The plant produces good yields of purple basil leaves. Excellent as a garnish, herb vinegar, or seasoning for poultry, beef, stews, and soups. A very beautiful plant suitable for co

75 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Red Leaf Holy Basil. The plant produces high yields of beautiful purple tinted basil leaves. The leaves are aromatic. It produces lots of leaves continuously all season long. Great for stir fry, soups, a

72 day. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Red Rubin Basil. The plant produces high yields of very flavorful 3" long reddish purple basil leaves with purple flowers. This is an improved version of the Dark Opal Basil. Perfect for garnishes and mak

85 days. Rosemarinus officinalis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. The plant produces good yields of very aromatic needle-like leaves. This variety germinates faster and more uniformly than other varieties. Leaves have a delicious flavor and are fragrant. Exce

Crocus sativus. Perennial. Open Pollinated. The plant produces good yields of saffron which is the world's most expensive spice. The plant has violet-purple flowers with brilliant orange-red stigmas that are the source of the aromatic culinary spice. It t

90 days. Salvia officinalis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Sage. The plant produces excellent yields of very flavorful silver green leaves. Used fresh or dried to season beans, cheese, poultry, pork, sausages, omelets, cheese and bean dishes, meats, sauces, and tomato dishes. Also used as a digestive and nerve tonic. Sage tea is used to gargle for sore throat. Perfect as a border plant in the herb garden. Suitable for containers. Sage naturally dies after about 5 years, so replant every 3 years. Also known as Broadleaf Sage, Common Sage, and Garden Sage. Excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

70 days. Sanguisorba minor. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Salad Burnet. The plant produces excellent yields of salad burnet leaves. It is very flavorful and tastes and smells like cucumbers. Used in salads, sandwiches, soups, and stews. Adds cucumber flavor to vinegar, cream cheese, and cold drinks. Also said to be used in facial treatments to improve skin. Also known as Small Burnet, Lesser Burnet, and Garden Burnet. Keep flowers cut to promote leaf growth. Suitable for container gardening. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 12577. A variety from the USA.

55 days. Coriandrum sativum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Santo Coriander. This early maturing plant produces good yields of very pungent leaves and seeds. This high-quality coriander is a fast-growing strain grown by market growers. Used in seasoning pickles, bean dishes, chicken, meats, salsa, and spicy foods. Excellent in Mexican, Chinese, and Latin American dishes. The leaves are called Cilantro, and the seeds are called Coriander. A member of the dill family. Suitable for containers. A slow bolting variety. Attracts beneficial insects. Cold Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens and greenhouses.

75 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Siam Queen Basil. The plant produces very flavorful 4" long by 2" wide green basil leaves. This is an improved variety with an outstanding licorice fragrance and flavor. Used in tea, sauces, soups, salad

45 days. Coriandrum sativum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Slow Bolt Coriander. This early-maturing plant produces very pungent leaves and seeds. Used in seasoning pickles and meats. Excellent in Mexican, Chinese, and Latin American dishes. This variety is very slow to bolt. The leaves are called Cilantro, and the seeds are called Coriander. Suitable for containers. A member of the dill family. A variety from the USA.

85 days. Mentha spicata. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Spearmint. The plant produces good yields of dark green spearmint leaves. This sweet smelling spearmint is used in candy, teas, jellies, desserts, lamb dishes, and salads. Also used as a garnish on ice cream, iced drinks, and melons. Adds fragrance to toothpaste, lotions, and tinctures. Spearmint tea is used for medical purposes to treat many ailments, including nausea, hiccups, and poor digestion. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

70 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Spicy Globe Bush Basil. This small compact bush plant produces very flavorful basil leaves. It is a compact, dwarf sweet basil variety that forms a tidy globe-shaped plant, making it excellent for containers, window boxes, edging, and small gardens. The plant has small, thin, light-green leaves with a strong, spicy-sweet basil aroma and flavor that is more intense than that of standard Genovese Basil. It is very slow to bolt. A great pollinator and friendly plant that attracts bees and butterflies. Used in sauces, salads, and Italian dishes. Very beautiful. Also known as Boxwood Basil. Suitable for containers and landscaping borders. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

61 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated, Sweet Dani Basil. The plant produces good yields of basil leaves. The leaves are beautiful and have a lemon-scented taste. Excellent for salads and Thai dishes. Good drying and freezing variety. Suitable

90 days. Origanum majorana. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Sweet Marjoram. The plant produces good yields of very flavorful Marjoram leaves. This herb has an Oregano-like flavor. Used in meats, stews, casseroles, poultry, sausages, and sauces. The flowers are used to garnish salads, soups, stews, sauces, and stuffing. It can be used dried or fresh. Also known as Knotted Marjoram. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, NSL 6410. variety from the Mediterranean region.

59 days. Ocimum basilicum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Sweet Thai Basil. The plant produces very aromatic, spicy, anise-clove-scented basil leaves. It has a distinctive sweet, spicy, anise-licorice, and clove-like aroma and taste, stronger and more pungent than common Italian sweet basil. Used in many Thai, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian dishes. Also known as Horapha in Thailand and Hun Que in Vietnam. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from Asia.

Thai Basil

Wild Bergamot is a premium garden variety offering strong growth, dependable performance, and quality harvests for home gardeners.

120 days. Stevia rebaudiana. Perennial. Stevia. Open Pollinated. The plant produces high yields of dark green leaves. It is used as a sweetener. Stevioside is 300 times sweeter than sugar but without calories. It can be used in place of sugar in drinks, baked goods, desserts, and preserves, and is also a plaque-retardant and tooth decay inhibitor. It is a useful sweetener for diabetics and dieters and is used to treat blood pressure problems. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from South America.

75 days. Trachyspermum ammi. Annual. Open Pollinated. Ajwain. The plant produces excellent yields of flavorful leaves and seeds. It is a spice native to India, Iran, and parts of the Middle East, and is widely used in Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern cooking. A spice used throughout India in pastries, fish, and curries. Also used in savory dishes, baked goods, and even sweet desserts. Ajwain is used as an effective medicine for treating indigestion. Also known as Ajowan, Bishop's Weed, and Carom. Suitable for containers. Excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 199940. A variety from Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean region.