Wanting to start your own medicinal herb garden, but don’t know where to start? Here a few pointers that may help you.

There are some considerations to look at before you decide just what form your garden will take. The first question is, how much space do you have to work with? Do you only have space for some potted plants on a windowsill or deck or will you set a side a special area designated as the herb garden. The other question to ask yourself is how much time you have to spend tending your garden. It is really easy to make the garden space bigger than you have the time for, a sure way to get discouraged. Start small and work up.

What plant you decide to grow depends on your personal tastes and what plants you will actually use. The other deciding factor is your climate. Your geographic location will be a limiting factor in any kind of garden you want to grow. That you will have to discover by asking your neighbors or the extension agent and by looking around at what is already growing in your area. Check here to find your USDA Zone.

If your garden space is limited to pots or just a few plants, consider growing plants that have several purposes. Many herbs that are generally thought of as culinary are also medicinal in larger quantities. Plants such as sage, thyme, rosemary, basil, lemon balm and mints can be grown in containers and do double duty as culinary flavorings, teas to drink, cosmetic aids and medicinal remedies. If you do not have much sun, try supplementing the light with fluorescent grow lights. Aloe vera is another good medicinal windowsill plant.

Theme gardens are a popular way to grow herbs. These are usually small gardens, often set off by a hedge or small fence, and planted in a fairly formal manner. There can be many themes both practical and fanciful, such as culinary, tea, scent, Shakespearean, biblical or moonlight (all gray plants). In terms of medical gardens you might want to narrow the theme smaller than just general medical. It could be a garden for coughs, colds, headaches, indigestion or nervous stress. I once saw a medicinal garden planted according to an iridology chart, certainly unique, if a bit confusing. Your imagination is your only limit. See the The Medicinal Garden plant chart for ideas.

You may just prefer to plant medicinal herbs among the plants (vegetables and flowers) that you are already growing. Some medicinal plants are too weedy to be successful, but there are many beautiful choices. Some you may be surprised to be already growing, such as roses, violets, hollyhocks or lily-of- the- valley. Some of the weedier herbs may have already found a place in your garden also, such as dandelion, chickweed, shepherd’s purse, couch grass or mallow.

My personal goal is to grow an integrated garden, with most of the landscape material being herbal or edible. That is not as difficult as it sounds, as there are many choices of herbal plants, trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines and flowers. Some suggestions of plants that are hardy at least to USDA zone 4 (to find your USDA plant hardiness zone: USDA Zone).

  • Trees: willow, poplar, juniper, pine, birch, aspen, linden, hawthorn, cherry, horse chestnut, elder, witch hazel, mountain ash
  • Shrubs: Oregon grape, rose, juniper, vibernum, raspberry, box, broom
  • Vines: hops, honeysuckle, ivy, clematis, bittersweet, Virginia creeper
  • Ground covers: Roman chamomile, ground ivy, ajuga, sweet woodruff, catmint, uva ursi
  • Flowers: Hollyhock, poppies, echinacea (purple coneflower), clary sage, monarda, foxglove*, Christmas rose*, feverfew, violet, viola, lily-of-the-valley*, autumn crocus*

(*Some of these plants are for beauty and interest only, as they are far too dangerous to actually use.)

Another approach to medicinal herbs is the semi-wild garden. This can be a natural orchard, herb grove, vacant field, any out of the way place, or you may allow parts of your garden to revert. Size is not as important as the ability for nature to take its course. Wild plants are encouraged and domestic herbs are allowed to choose their own course. Take your cues from nature and observe what is already growing around you. I guarantee, wherever you live, there are wild herb plants. Find out what these are and invite them to live in your space.

For the details of soil preparation, fertilizers, pesticides and other organic gardening information see the gardening book at https://www.juniperandsage.com/

Some sources:

  • Nichols Garden Nursery
    Herbs and Rare Seeds
    1190 North Pacific Hwy NE
    Albany, OR 97321-4580
  • Horizon Herbs
    Strictly Medicinal
    PO Box 69
    Williams, OR 97544-0069
    Catalog $2.00
  • Forest Farm
    Ornamental and Useful Plants
    From Around the World
    990 Tetherow Rd.
    Williams, OR 97544-9599
    Catalog No Charge
  • High Altitude Gardens
    Idaho