Herbs

65 days. Nigella sativa. Annual. Open Pollinated. Black Cumin Seeds. The plant produces good yields of black aromatic seeds. It is a popular herb variety prized as a spice in Middle Eastern, Indian, and North African cooking. They have been used for thousands of years in Middle Eastern, Indian, and North African cuisines and traditional medicine. Used for making Russian rye bread and rolls. Seeds can be ground and used like Black Pepper, too. The seeds have been used to make medicine for thousands of years. It helps boost the immune system, fight cancer, prevent pregnancy, reduce swelling, and lessen allergic reactions. Drought Tolerant. These quality herb seeds are great for planting outdoors in your herb garden.  United States Department of Agriculture, PI 691854. A variety from western Asia and the Mediterranean region.

Black Cumin Seeds to Grow in your Herb Garden. Follow the planting instructions below and use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Mix for successful germination results.

55 days. Borago officinalis. Annual. Open Pollinated. Borage Seeds. The plant produces good yields of flavorful leaves. The flower stalks and blooms are used as garnishes and to make summer lemonade drinks and desserts. The leaves and flowers are used in salads. The leaves can also be steamed or sauteed like spinach. Stems can be used like celery. It has a crisp cucumber flavor. Bees and butterflies love it. Also grown for its oilseed. Heat Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens.

85 days. Oenothera biennis. Biennial. Evening Primrose Seeds. The plant produces good yields of yellow blossoms, which open and disperse a fragrant odor into the moonlit night air. It is a popular herb variety prized for the seeds and their oil, which is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. Reported to be used in many medical uses, including women's health (PMS symptoms, menopause hot flashes/night sweats), skin health (e.g., eczema, dryness, acne), and diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, or other inflammatory conditions. Roots can be eaten as a vegetable, and the shoots as a salad. Suitable for landscaping too. Cold Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. An excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 443358, A variety from the USA.

65 days. Matricaria recutita. Annual. Open Pollinated. German Chamomile. The plant produces high yields of daisy-like flowers with an apple flavor. A popular herb prized for its fragrant, daisy-like flowers, used in tea, herbal remedies, cosmetics, and as a pollinator-friendly garden plant. Use it fresh or dried to make great-tasting, relaxing tea, desserts, drinks, perfumes, and hair rinses. Aids in digestion and acts as a gentle sleep inducer. Because of the herb's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile can help with conditions such as eczema, rashes, or insect bites. The dried flowers and leaves also make a great addition to potpourri. Also known as Common Chamomile. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 148624. A variety from the USA.

 

How to Grow German Chamomile Seeds. Follow the planting instructions below and use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Mix for successful germination.

50 days. Portulaca oleracea sativa. Annual. Open Pollinated. Golden Purslane. This low-growing plant produces good yields of golden colored leaves. It is a popular herb variety prized for its high nutritional value, rich in omega-3 fatty acids (ALA), vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, and antioxidants. It is an easy-to-grow, heat-loving annual succulent prized as an edible leafy green and sometimes for its small yellow flowers. Used in salads and can also be steamed or added to soups and stews; an excellent addition to a stir-fry. It also makes an attractive garnish, too. Purslane is also effective in treating oral lichen planus. Its leaves are used to treat insect or snake bites, boils, sores, pain from bee stings, bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, postpartum bleeding, and intestinal bleeding. The plant grows in poor soil and in hot weather. Heat Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. An excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 2123. A variety from the USA.

50 days. Portulaca oleracea sativa. Annual. Open Pollinated. Green Purslane. This low-growing plant produces good yields of green colored leaves. It is a popular herb variety prized for its nutritious, succulent leafy green, often grown from seeds as a heat-tolerant summer salad crop. Used in salads and can also be steamed or added to soups and stews; an excellent addition to a stir-fry. It is high in Vitamins A, B, and C. It also makes an attractive garnish, too. Purslane is also effective in treating oral lichen planus. Its leaves are used to treat insect or snake bites, boils, sores, pain from bee stings, bacillary dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, postpartum bleeding, and intestinal bleeding. The plant grows in poor soil and hot weather. Heat Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. An excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 2122. A variety from the USA.

120 days. Humulus lupulus. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Hops. The plant produces good yields of Hops. The flowering plant that is the main ingredient for beer around the world. They are vigorous growers that have golden to chartreuse leaf color. The fragrant flower cones add bitterness and flavor to beer. It is a tall growing vine. The dried flowering heads of female plants are used as a flavoring and preservative in beer and have medicinal properties for their calming effect. Drought Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

85 days. Hyssopus officinalis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Hyssop Seeds. The plant produces high yields of Hyssop. It has bright blue violet flowers. It is a popular herb variety used in soups, stews, salads, and soothing tea. Also, medicinal uses to treat colds, the flu, bronchitis, sore throat, bruises, burns, and antiviral conditions, especially for Herpes simplex. Essential oils are used in perfumes. Excellent for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Also known as Syrian Oregano. Drought Tolerant. An excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 104370. A variety from the Mediterranean region.

85 days. Rosemarinus officinalis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Italian Rosemary. 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. Excellent fresh or dried. Used to flavor salads, chicken, turkey, meats, stews, soups, seafood, roasted vegetables, stuffing, and sauces. It is also used to treat headaches and support circulation. Used medicinally as a massage oil for rheumatism or aching joints. It traditionally symbolizes happiness, protection, and love, and medieval brides often wore rosemary or carried it in their bouquets. Rosemary is a perennial that lives 15 to 20 years. Cold Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from Italy.

85 days. Agastache rugosa. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Korean Mint. The plant produces good yields of flavorful green mint leaves with beautiful purple flowers. It is a fragrant, herbaceous perennial in the mint family. The leaves smell like licorice. Used in salads, stir fry, and for seasoning meats and other dishes. Also makes a pleasing tea. It is known to help treat fevers and aid in digestion, chest ailments, and many other conditions. Excellent for aromatic cut flowers. Easy to grow. Attracts beneficial insects and butterflies. Also known as Korean Licorice Mint, Huo Xiang, and Giant Hyssop. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from China, Korea, and Japan.

85 days. Tagetes lucida. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Mexican Tarragon Seeds. 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.

85 Days. Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis). Perennial. Open Pollinated. Rosemary. The seeds that produce vigorous plants with highly aromatic, needle-like leaves.  This variety germinates faster and more uniformly than other varieties. Leaves have a delicious flavor and are fragrant. Excellent fresh or dried. Used to flavor salads, chicken, turkey, meats, stews, soups, seafood, roasted vegetables, stuffing, and sauces. Also is used for treating headaches, and circulation. Used medicinally as a massage oil for rheumatism or aching joints. It traditionally symbolizes happiness, protection, and love, and medieval brides often wore rosemary or carried it in their bouquets. Suitable for containers, and can live 15 to 20 years. Cold Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. Suitable for containers. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

129 days. Artemisia absinthium. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Wormwood. The plant produces abundant silvery-gray, aromatic foliage. A popular herb prized for its ornamental use, natural pest deterrence, and traditional herbal applications. Repels moths and other insects. The oil treats sore muscles, digestive issues, fever, jaundice, parasites, sprains, bruises, and lumbago. Used as a pesticide against nematode control. Also known as Common Wormwood and Green Ginger. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, W6 7089. A variety of the Mediterranean region.

 

How to Grow Wormwood Seeds. Follow the planting instructions below and use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Mix for successful germination.

60 - 90 days. Plantago lanceolata. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Boston Plantain Seeds. The plant produces high yields of narrow-leaf foliage. This unique herb is useful in the home garden as a herbal medicine, a cover crop, or livestock forage. When used as an herb, it boasts benefits such as gut healing and immune system support. As a cover crop, it reduces soil compaction and suppresses weeds. As a forage crop, this plant is most popularly used for beef and lamb raising. Also known as English Plantain, Ribwort, Ribgrass, Black Jack, Hen Plant, and Buckhorn. Will grow in any soil type, including heavy clay. It grows very well on compacted soils and helps loosen them. Tolerant of poor soil nutrients. Drought Tolerant. Heat Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens. A variety from the USA.

100 days. Silybum marianum. Annual/Biennial. Open Pollinated. Milk Thistle. The plant produces high yields of spiny green leaves, marbled in white, and crowned with brilliant purple flowers. The plant's species name, marianum, refers to the Virgin Mary because the white mottling on the leaf is said to be her tears. Used in salads, smoothies, or steamed. Use young leaves cooked or in spring salads, remove spines first. Flower stalks put out large purple thistle flowers that were eaten like artichokes. Milk thistle is a favorite in the wellness world for its natural healing properties. Silymarin, found in the flowers and seeds, has been used to strengthen and regenerate liver tissue. The Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides (40–90 AD) was the first to describe milk thistle's healing properties. Later, in 1597, John Gerard noted that milk thistle was the best remedy against melancholy diseases. Silymarin, derived from milk thistle, is the most commonly used liver protectant (hepatoprotectant) by patients in gastrointestinal clinics in the USA. In Germany, where the government regulates herbal medicine use, milk thistle has been listed in the Commission E monograph for the treatment of dyspepsia, cirrhosis, and liver damage due to toxins. Milk thistle requires little maintenance and thrives in poor, well-drained soil. Also known as Blessed Milk Thistle and Mary Thistle. Drought Tolerant. Heat Tolerant. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, NA 47041. A variety from the Mediterranean region.

85 days. Achillea millefolium. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Yarrow Seeds. The plant produces abundant blooms of beautiful white flowers and is commonly used as a medicinal herb and in herbal teas. It attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Good for cut flowers too, as it dries well. Blooms in the summer. Used for medical purposes to treat colds, fevers, and wound healers. It is one of the most popular herbs for colds and flu. Used topically to stop bleeding by crushing flower tops and leaves. It was used medicinally to slow the flow of blood from wounds. A hot cup of tea made from leaves and flowers induces sweating to help throw off heat and toxins. Yarrow is also commonly known as Nosebleed Plant, Old Man's Pepper, Sanguinary, Soldier's Woundwort, Thousand Leaf, and Devil's Nettle. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. A variety from the Mediterranean region.

78 days. Satureja montana. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Winter Savory. The plant produces good yields of small, shiny leaves on a spreading woody plant. This popular herb is excellent for low-maintenance gardening and is used for culinary and ornamental purposes, especially if you want a strong flavor. Winter savory is a perennial herb with a strong flavor and is evergreen, lasting through cooler weather better than summer savory. It has pink, lavender, or white flowers. Use the leaves with beans, gravies, stews, soups, dressings, butter, vinegar, sausages, and salami. It makes a good salt substitute. The essential oil in the leaves is also used for digestion and as a mild antiseptic. Suitable for borders, rock gardens, containers, or xeriscape plantings, as it grows 6–15 inches tall and spreads 8–24 inches. Drought Tolerant. Deer Resistant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. A variety from the Mediterranean region and southern Europe.

95 days. Solanum xanthocarpum. Annual. Open Pollinated. Kantikari. The plant produces good yields of roots, fruits, and seeds. It is a popular herb variety prized for its respiratory support, as it is said to help with asthma and breathlessness. The whole plant, especially roots, fruits, and seeds, is used medicinally. The root is used to treat cough, sore throat, asthma, toothaches, and chest pain. This herb contains a high concentration of solasodine, which is used to manufacture cortisone and sex hormones. The plant is widespread in India, especially in dry wastelands and on roadsides, and grows as a low, spiny, diffuse shrub with lobed leaves, violet/blue flowers, and small globular berries that turn yellow when ripe. The berries are used in Indian curries. Commonly called yellow-berried nightshade, wild eggplant, or Indian nightshade. Also known as Kantakari. Drought Tolerant. Handle with care when harvesting; use gloves due to sharp spines. Excellent choice for herb gardens. A variety from India.

Glycyrrhiza glabra. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Licorice. The plant produces good yields of licorice. It is a popular herb prized for its sweet roots, which contain glycyrrhizin, up to 50 times sweeter than sugar. It is used for cooking and medicinal purposes. Used to make delicious candy, liquor, and sweetener for tea, flavorings, traditional medicine, and other products. It is known to help treat throat, stomach, urinary, and intestinal problems. The plant features silvery-green foliage and produces small white, blue, purple, or lavender flowers in summer, followed by seed pods. Drought Tolerant. Deer Resistant. Rabbit Resistant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. A variety from the Mediterranean region.

 

Note: Licorice seeds have a hard coat and often show low or erratic germination without pretreatment.

85 days. Saponaria officinalis. Perennial. Open Pollinated. Soapwort. The plant produces abundant blooms and dark green leaves. A popular heirloom herb prized for its high saponin content, fragrant pink or white flowers (often clove-scented and stronger in the evening), and ornamental use in cottage gardens, borders, rock gardens, or as groundcover. Leaves, roots, and seeds produce a gentle lather when mixed with water, historically used as a mild soap or detergent for delicate fabrics, wool, and skin. Used to make homemade soaps and shampoo by soaking the roots and leaves in hot water. Also used to relieve skin itchiness and pain, and as a soap. Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It is low-maintenance once established. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 4758. An heirloom variety from Europe, Asia, and the USA.

85 days. Perilla frutescens. Annual. Open Pollinated, Perilla Green Ao Shiso. The plant produces good yields of cinnamon-flavored green leaves. It is a popular Asian herb variety prized for its complex and aromatic flavor, often described as a mix of mint, basil, cinnamon, clove, anise, citrus, and mild spice. Use it as an edible garnish, chopped in salads, wrapped around sushi, or made into tempura. Chefs sprinkle seeds on salads and rice. Great for rice dishes, pickling, teas, cocktails, or chopped into stir-fries. Used fresh in Japanese, Korean, and other Asian cuisine. Also known as Ao Shiso and  Green Ohba Shiso. Heat Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. A variety from Japan.

95 days. Thymus vulgaris. Perennial. Open Pollinated. German Winter Thyme. The plant produces high yields of aromatic Thyme leaves. A popular herb variety prized for its strong, robust, heavily branched plants that produce high yields of aromatic 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 overwintering better in colder climates than many other thyme types. Cold Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. Excellent choice for herb gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI  12347. A variety from the USA.

 

How to Grow German Winter Thyme Seeds. Follow the planting instructions below and use Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Mix for successful germination.