CULINARY HERBS:

African Blue Basil
Ocimum basilicum

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 2 feet
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: aphids, leaf miners
harvest notes: harvest frequently to keep flush green growth
perennial

African blue basil is by far our favorite basil variety to grow down here in hot, humid Tropical South Florida. The flavor of this basil is most similar to Thai Basil, but it has its own unique flavor profile with typical basil characteristics. You definitely wont be making pesto out of this herb but you can use it in Thai cooking, make an anise-flavored tea out of it, plus its great for herbal steams, potpourri, burn bundles and it has lots of medical uses. Even if you plant this and don’t eat up loving the flavor in your cooking you wont regret having it around as it literally comes alive with pollinators when in full bloom. Flowering branches also great make material for floral arrangements, since they will stay fresh for a long time and the leaves have a purplish tint to them.

Medicinally, it’s a powerful carminative that will aid in the digestive process, plus its antibacterial, anti fungal and has high levels of antioxidants. Also very rich in essential oils, like eugenol, citriol and limalool. Our favorite tropical herbalist, The Garden Jules, says: “this is one of my favorite herbs to infuse in oil along with garlic and rosemary for cooking or to infuse in distilled white vinegar along with lemongrass as a house cleaner spray. The rich essential oil content makes this herb great as a natural insect repellant as well. I love to make Hydrosols and tincture it in organic witch hazel and then blend the two together for a natural mosquito spray.  You can simply burn the dried leaves and stalks to keep mosquitos away too. Also helpful for toothaches and hair growth, the leaves and flowers can be made into a strong infusion and then used as a mouth wash or hair rinse respectively.”

African Blue Basil is a very unique variety of basil bred by botanists to bear no seeds, bypassing the plants instinct to reproduce and die. Basil is notorious for going to seed quickly (bolting) and usually has to be replanted for continuous harvest. But African Blue Basil grows year round! It does produce prolific and beautiful, edible, dark purple flowers, but it will outgrow them and branch out into new shoots. Because it doesn’t go to seed this basil can get big, measuring in at 4 feet around when unmanaged. We’ve noticed this plant responds very well to hard pruning, keeping it full of fresh new growth and preventing it from falling over and becoming a monstrous messy plant.

Cuban Oregano, White and Green
Plectranthus Amboinicus

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 4 feet
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: spider mites and mealy bugs
harvest notes: fast growing, enjoy often
perennial

This hardy, fragrant herb has collected an extremely long list of nicknames, ranging from the powerful mother of herbs, mother of all herbs, queen of herbs, to the practical five in one herb, five seasons herb, all herb, five spice herb, to the international Spanish thyme, Mexican mint, Puerto Rican oregano, and Indian borage.

Cuban oregano is basically indestructible and can grow in full sun, partial shade, and almost no light and it can handle low nutrient soil, being left in a pot forever, and any amount of water you want to give it. Over the years we’ve been growing and planting this plant we do think that its favorite conditions are well draining soil with a bit of water and partial shade (6-8 hours of sun). It’s also incredibly easy to propagate from cuttings, making it great for beginner and even for using educationally with kids.

Due to its ease of cultivation and similarity in flavor to oregano, this herb is frequently used in commercial food products as a substitute for traditional Italian oregano. In India, the thick leaves are dipped in chickpea batter and fried. Dice the leaves and add them with oil, vinegar and other green herbs like garlic chives, parsley, cilantro, sage or rosemary to make a delicious green topping. Stuff a whole fish with cuban oregano leaves and lemon wedges then wrap it in ginger and banana leaves.

Medicinally, it is used to treat a variety of ailments, from colic too malaria to scorpion stings. It also encourages lactation in new mothers, promotes liver functioning, and, if you’re a fan of using oregano oil, using this fresh herb is a way of receiving all the benefits its volatile oils have to offer. Our resident tropical herbalist, The Garden Jules, says:  Cuban Oregano is one of my favorite medicinal and kitchen herbs. I love to dice the leaves and use them in soups and stews to add flavor and digestive benefits.The leaves can also be boiled or simmered to cleanse the air of your home space and kill any airborne pathogens and or as a herbal steam to clear congestion and mucus.This is a great ally for colds and flus, especially if one has a cough that won’t go away. I love to make a ginger Cuban oregano syrup for coughs but also as a digestive aperitif. The syrup added to sparkling water or herbal tea makes for a delicious beverage.”

We grow two varieties of cuban oregano, the more common “variegated cuban oregano” is green with white tips and variegation, and the harder to find “tricolor cuban oregano” which has an extra color thrown in, lime green. We’ve found that the “variegated” one has more scent and flavor and that the “tricolor” prefers less sun and more shade.

culinary thyme
thymus serpyllum

days to maturity: 90 days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours hours
look out for: overwatering causing rotting
harvest notes: prune off whole branches at base
annual

Thyme is another culinary herb that makes bringing fresh flavor to the kitchen an easy process. It thrives in hot conditions, loves full-sun, and doesn’t need constant watering or attention. Plant thyme in both containers and within the garden. In order to obtain the best and most potent flavor, harvest thyme just before the plant flowers. Thyme is one of those herbs, like oregano or sage, which tastes great both fresh and dried. Clip a few sprigs as needed and also give your plants a  nice haircut every now and then when they get too big and dry your harvest in a dehydrator in put the oven on low.

We offer thyme as a plant for sale in South Florida because we know how much people want to grow it and occasionally we see it doing well in gardens but beware, it can be challenging growing thyme successfully here due to the humidity. Do not put your thyme anywhere remotely shady or wet, and dont try to plant it outside of the fall & winter growing season. Thyme is also used medicinally for lung & throat issues like cough & sore throat, wound healing, lowering blood pressure & digestive health.

Dominican Oregano
Lippia micromera

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 3 feet
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: mites and aphids
harvest notes: aggressive grower
perennial

Jamaican Oregano, also known as Spanish Thyme, Oregano del Pais, Oregano Poleo, Puerto Rican Oregano, Dominican Oregano, Oregano Chiquito, False Thyme, Oregato and Oreganillo, is a highly aromatic tropical perennial herb with a long history as a spice and medicine in the Caribbean and the Americas. This tender, woody shrub has cascading branches, small fragrant leaves, and tiny white flowers that are very attractive to bees and other pollinators. It can easily be grown in containers and over-wintered indoors.  Similar in flavor to Mediterranean Oregano, the aroma and taste is much more rich and intense, a staple spice in Caribbean cuisine. Traditionally used for asthma, bronchitis, cough, cold and flu, oliguria, and supporting digestion, it is most commonly prepared as a decoction for respiratory disorders.

garlic chives
allium tuberous

days to maturity: 90 days
plant spacing: 3 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours hours
look out for: snails at the base
harvest notes: harvest whole clump every 2 weeks, grows back very quickly
perennial

Garlic chives, aka Oriental garlic, Asian chives, Chinese chives & Chinese leek, is a species of plant native to the Chinese province of Shanxi, and cultivated and naturalized elsewhere in Asia and around the world. It can be found growing wild throughout Asia & Europe, and is classified as invasive in other parts of the world. You can identify garlic scallions by their “strap shaped” leaves that are flat like a blade, versus rounded and hollow (like other alliums like scallions).

The flavor of this herbaceous plant is more like garlic than chives. Both the leaves and the flowers are edible. Another traditional way to eat garlic chives is to blanche them. To try this technique, cut the garlic chives down at the base of the plant, then cover the plant with a pot from the kitchen or anything else solid so that no light reaches the plant. About 5 days later take the pot off and the plant will be regrown but neon yellow, since it couldn’t make any chlorophyll in the dark.

The leaves are used as a flavoring in a similar way to chives, scallions as a stir fry ingredient. In China, they are often used to make dumplings with eggs, shrimp, and/or pork. A Chinese flatbread similar to the scallion pancake may be made with garlic chives instead of scallions. Garlic chives are a key ingredient in traditional Korean kimchi recipes, and there is also a type of kimchi made just with garlic chives, called “buchu-kimchi”.

Besides being delicious Garlic Chives are also quite nutritious. They are are rich in vitamin C, which may prevent common colds and flu, and are also rich in riboflavin, potassium, vitamin A, iron, thiamine and beta-carotene which when consumed increase blood cell count, maintain blood pressure and boost the immunity. Garlic chives contain the bio active element Allicin, also found in garlic, which is known to boost heart health. This phytonutrient relaxes the blood vessels surrounding the heart and thus prevent high blood pressure. Chives also contain another element called Quercitin, which reduces plaque accumulation in the arteries and keeps cardiovascular diseases at bay. 

This is one of the strongest & most resilient plants we see in gardens. Even when a garden has been neglected and laid unattended for years we find patches of garlic chives still thriving amongst the weeds. This is attributed to their incredibly strong root systems which are dense and span way larger than the aboveground parts of the plant. Garlic chives can be propagated by seed or by dividing mature clusters. Harvest your garlic chive patch once a week and itll grow back so quickly, making it a very productive herb crop.

Italian oregano
origanum vulgare

days to maturity: 90 days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours hours
look out for: overwatering causing rotting
harvest notes: grab a little clump of growing tip and cut with pruners
perennial

Oregano is a classic mediterranean herb that thrives during Miamis fall/ winter/ spring and “survives” the summer if treated properly. We like to tell people to “treat oregano like its in Italy” because thats the climate that it grows in naturally… hot and dry. Oregano prefers well drained soil and water only once or twice a week. It also does best when its watered at the base, instead of getting the whole plant and all of its leaves wet. Oregano is predominantly used as a culinary spice but it also functions as a preservative (preserved meat in ancient times) and as a medicinal plant. Oregano is used for immune support and it contains many volatile oils that are antimicrobial, anti fungal, and contain antioxidants. Oregano can also be used to treat indigestion, heartburn, and low stomach acidity.

Nashia/Moujean Tea
Nashia inaguensis

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 4-12 feet
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: mealy bugs
harvest notes: can be kept small if preferred
perennial

Moujean Tea also known as pineapple verbena or Bahama berry, Nashia or Caribbean Thyme is a large bushy shrub indigenous to the Bahamas and very well suited to our subtropical growing climate.

The plant is covered in tiny shiny leaves with a rough texture that emits a delicious aroma when crushed. It has been compared to vanilla, honey, pineapple, and citrus. The leaves and flowers are used to make a tasty, sweet herbal tea or you can use them in cooking like you would thyme, just keep in mind they are more woody than a normal thyme leaf.

Our herbalist, The Garden Jules, says: Moujean tea makes a relaxing and calming tea that can ease the nerves and reduce anxiety. I love to blend the leaves with passionflower leaves and Lippia Alba leaves for a calming and homegrown before bed brew. Because of its strong aroma, Moujean tea is a great herb for infused body oil, Hydrosols or even herbal steams to cleanse and scent your home. I mainly work with the fresh leaves when making herbal medicine with it as garbling the dried leaves can be quite a task. Garbling is the separation of the part of the plant you want to store from the part you don’t want, usually meaning separating the leaves from the stems or stalks. Although the leaves do dry fairly quick and easy, I wouldn’t suggest this unless you’re feeling particularly patient.”

Bees go absolutely wild over this plants barely visible white flowers, as to the beloved Atala butterfly. Moujean tea loves humidity and heat! Be warned that Moujean Tea does not tolerate drying out. In fact, once of it’s nick names is “I dry, I die” so consider that your warning! Additionally, it can become a leggy if grown in partial shade, and it can become a giant if not harvested regularly but if pruned the plant can become a very nice, compact plant.

Orange Mint
Mentha Piperita Citrata

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 2 plant per square foot
sunlight requirement: 6 - 14 hours
look out for: snails and slugs
harvest notes: cut 2"-4" inch branches from plant
perennial

Orange mint Is a mint hybrid known for its strong, pleasant citrus flavor and aroma. It’s prized for its culinary uses both for cooking and beverages. The flavor of Orange mint works best in fresh preparations. Use chopped in fruit or grain salads. Add minced leaves to dressings, vinegars, jellies and sauces. Its flavor is excellent in cream, fruit and chocolate based dessert preparations such as ice cream, crème brule and tarts. Orange mint can be used as a flavor infuser for teas, cocktails and lemonade. Whole leaves may also be used as a garnish for sweet desserts and certain savory dishes. Orange mint is believed to be one of the secret ingredients in true Chartreuse liquor, an herbal French liquor made up of 130 secret herbs, plants and flowers produced by Carthusian Monks since 1737. Mint is forgiving in the garden and can tolerate part sun or full shade and likes to remain most. Be careful when planting mint in your raised bed as it will take over via its aggressive root runners. We recommend keeping your mint in a large pot (much bigger than the one we sell the seedling in!)

Peppermint
Mentha X Piperita

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 2 plant per square foot
sunlight requirement: 6 - 14 hours
look out for: snails and slugs
harvest notes: cut 2"-4" inch branches from plant
perennial

Peppermint is a very easy to grow and popular hybrid of the mint family that is very similar in growth habit and flavor to spearmint but is slightly more sharp flavored; think candycane flavor instead of gum flavor. Peppermint oil has a higher content of Menthol than spearmint so it has a more medicinal and sinus opening flavor. Mint is forgiving in the garden and can tolerate part sun or full shade and likes to remain most. Be careful when planting mint in your raised bed as it will take over via its aggressive root runners. We recommend keeping your mint in a large pot (much bigger than the one we sell the seedling in!)

Rosemary
rosmarinus officinalis

days to maturity: 90 days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours hours
look out for: overwatering causing fungal issues in the roots
harvest notes: harvest whole sprigs low down so they grow back healthy
perennial

Rosemary is a classic heat loving herb that will grow perennially here if you get it established in the fall and keep it in well drained soil and bright sun through the (moist and humid) summer. We tell people to “treat your rosemary like its in Italy” because thats the type of hot climate it enjoys… dry dry dry! well draining soil and not-often watering is key to keeping your rosemary happy. Also try not to water the whole plant from above but rather just water the soil. Rosemary has been long associated with memory, youth, fertility and romance. Its culinary uses are many and its also been long used as a preservative for meat alongside thyme and oregano. Medicinally rosemary is used to support the heart, digestive system, brain & cognition, and the liver and blood cleansing organs. Its loaded with antioxidants and supports a healthy inflammatory response. Rosemary is antimicrobial and it can enliven our nervous system. “If you are feeling weak, exhausted, depressed, or lost in mental fog, seek rosemary for strength and clarity” (wildfoodsandmedicines.com) Because rosemary is a little bit slow growing we prefer to sell larger plants so you can start harvesting immediately instead of having to wait 6 months for your first harvest.

Scallions Aka Bunching Onions
Allium Fistulosum

days to maturity: 65 days
plant spacing: 6 plants per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: root rot caused by overwatering
harvest notes: harvest whole scallions by pulling plant or cut above the soil and let them regrow
annual

Fun fact: bunching onions are scallions. They are the easiest onion family plants we can grow in South Florida and luckily we can grow them most of the year without complications. You can squeeze about 6 clumps of scallions into one square foot in your garden, and you can either choose to harvest them from the roots and use the whole thing, or cut them just above the soil and let them regrow a few times during the season. The difference there is that if you cut and come again you wont get the tender white blanched bases which are more prized by chefs. If you want to take your scallion growing game to the next level, consider “mounding” soil up around the base of the plants 2 times before harvesting, to make the blanched section of the scallion longer and longer. Soil that is rich with compost holds water longer, which the scallions like, therefore amend the planting area with fresh compost before planting your scallions. Aesthetically, we love having a scallion patch in a kitchen garden because they add a very different texture, shape and growth pattern to the garden with their upright pointy shiny smooth stalks.

spearmint
mentha spicata

days to maturity: 70 days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 4-14 hours
look out for: crawling plant taking over your garden
harvest notes: prune new growing tips down to the base
perennial

Spearmint is one of the many mint varieties that grow well in our rainy summer season. Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive, spreading nature. The plant prefers partial shade, but will also flourish in full sun. Spearmint is best suited to loamy soils with abundant organic material. Spearmint leaves can be used fresh, dried, or frozen. They can also be preserved in salt, sugar, sugar syrup, alcohol, or oil. Spearmint is the mint variety used in Mojitos, gum & toothpaste and it also has multiple medicinal uses. Spearmint contains vitamins, antioxidants and is used primarily as a digestive aid that helps with nausea, indigestion & cramps. Spearmint also has anti fungal properties, improves memory and can help alleviate stress headaches. We love feeding kids fresh spearmint leaves because they tend to think that all leaves taste like salad, but spearmint tastes like gum! how fun is that!?

West Indian Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 3 feet
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: rust
harvest notes: prune
perennial

Lemongrass is a perennial grass often grown for its fragrant leaves and stalks. There are two common varieties of Lemongrass: West Indian and East Indian. West Indian is grown more for its stalk, the East Indian is grown more for its leaves. We prefer West Indian because the plants get larger but also it produces thick stalks that are more traditionally used in cooking than East. While perennial, lemongrass typically has a life span of around 4 years before it looses vigor and should be harvested entirely and replanted.

The stalks (leaf bases) of the plant are commonly used to flavor dishes in Southeast Asia & India and the heart of young shoots may be cooked and consumed as a vegetable. The tougher less edible leaves are used to flavor dishes or made into tea. Try using your lemongrass to flavor marinades for fish, stews and curries.

The extracted essential oil is commonly used in insect repellents, perfumes and soaps, and while people think that means a lemongrass plant in the yard will keep mosquitos away, thats actually not the case since the plant needs to be crushed and its oils extracted in order for it to repel insects. To capture its aromatic oils put fresh plant matter in hot or cold oil or alcohol. Most aromatics are fat soluble and are not easily captured in water.

Our resident herbalist, The Garden Jules, says “Lemongrass is super rich in vitamins A & C, so this is one of my favorite plants to make a Hydrosol out of for my skin care routine. I also love using a Hydrosol blended with a lemongrass and beautyberry witch hazel extract tincture as a natural mosquito repellent."

MEDICINALS: 

Holy Basil/ Tulsi
Ocimum Tenuiflorum

days to maturity: 60 days
plant spacing: 1-3 plants per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: aphids
harvest notes: harvest whole branches 6” down
perennial

Holy Basil is a highly-valued, potent medicinal plant, sacred to Hindus and practitioners of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medicine tradition. It has been used medicinally and spiritually in India for thousands of years, for which it has no equal. Ayurveda classifies tulsi as an adaptogen, helping the body to cope with stressors of all forms: emotional, physical, and environmental. Spiritually, Tulsi is thought to offer divine protection - the plant an incarnation of the goddess, Tulsi in Hindu mythology. Many Indian families grow Tulsi inside or outside their homes for protection from misery, fear, poverty and disease. 

Vana Tulsi
Ocimum Tenuiflorum

days to maturity: 60 days
plant spacing: 1-3 plants per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: aphids
harvest notes: harvest whole branches 6” down
perennial