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Scientific Name Allium schoenoprasum General Information Onion chives are easy, flavorful perennial herbs with mild onion flavor. The are related to garlic, leek, and bunching onion. Leaves and flowers are edible. Grown in compact clumps, their tubular leaves rise 12 to 20 inches from small bulbs…
Scientific Name Coriandrum sativum General Information Cilantro is a cool season annual herb also known as Chinese parsley. The flowers are very attractive to small beneficial insects, including syrphid flies and parasitic wasps. The leaf, flower, root, and seeds are edible. It is used as a garnish in…
Scientific Name Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’ General Information French tarragon is a 2-foot winter dormant, tender perennial that can be difficult to grow. It does not produce flowers and seeds. Therefore, all propagation is by cutting or division. French tarragon’s leaves have an anise-like flavor…
Scientific Name Lavandula species General Information Lavender is a perennial shrub with fragrant foliage and flowers. It grows 1 to 3 feet tall. Depending on the cultivar, flower colors include purple, blue, pink, or white. Deer avoid lavender.When to Plant Plant in spring after the last frost…
Scientific Name Melissa officinalis General Information Lemon balm is a fragrant perennial herb that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and is loved by bees. To avoid aggressive spread, pinch-tip stems or grow in a container. Deer avoid lemon balm.When to Plant From seed: Sow seed in spring and early fall…
Scientific Name Aloysia triphylla (Lippia citriodora) General Information Lemon verbena is a popular shrub that grows 15 feet tall in the tropics, usually shorter in northern California. Evergreen in frost-free areas. Foliage is cherished for sweet, fresh, lemony scent. Leaves and flowers are used for…
Scientific Name Cymbopogon citratus General Information Lemongrass is a fast-growing, shallow-rooted herbaceous perennial that grows up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. It must be protected in winter because it is not frost tolerant. Its blue-green leaves turn red in the fall. It produces no flowers…
Scientific Name Tagetes lucida General Information Mexican tarragon is a tender perennial often grown as an annual. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Its yellow-orange flowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds yet repel some insect pests. It is in the same family as ornamental marigolds but has a…
Scientific Name Mentha species General Information Mint is a perennial herb available in more than 600 varieties. Because of its proclivity to spread, it is best planted in a container. Removing flowers before they set seed also helps contain spread.When to Plant From seed: Some mints set seed and…
Scientific Name Tropaeolum majus General Information Nasturtiums are cool season annual that bloom spring through fall. Their peppery flower, leaf and seed are edible and a trailing branch makes a lovely addition to a flower arrangement. They can also be trained to climb up an arbor or fence.When to…
