I’ve been learning so much about perennial medicinal herbs and how beneficial they are to a low tox lifestyle. Did you know that many herbs can be used for culinary and medicinal purposes? Plant these 5 Perennial Herbs in your herb garden this year and you can enjoy them for years to come!
*This post is purely for informational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. Consult a professional before treating yourself or others.*
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Perennial, Annual, Biennial
Last year I started learning more about herbs and their medicinal properties. I am in such awe that God has really provided everything we even need right out there in nature.
Many herbs that I already had in the garden, I was actually able to use for sinus relief, as well as disinfectant. We’ll get into that in just a minute but first, let’s go over what a perennial herb is.
There are perennial, annual, and biennial plants.
Perennial plants are plants that you plant once and they will return year after year. These are my favorite plants as they are like a gift that keeps on giving. Just beware that some perennial plants will spread and can overtake gardens, mint is known for this.
On the flip side, annual plants are a one time deal. You will only get one season out of annual plants. Think most vegetable plants, tomatoes, peppers, carrots.
Then you have biennial plants which only last for two years. So while they seem to come back the second year, they generally come back to produce seeds and then they are done. Fennel and parsley are examples of this.
And if you’re not confused already just wait because then you have plants like Dill that is actually a biennial but can be grown as an annual and a perennial.
Medicinal Herbs
If you’re like me and still learning how to use herbs as medicine, you know how much information there is and how it can feeling overwhelming. If you’re on Instagram, I recommend following Grace Walk Farm. Amber shares all about herbs as she has taken a holistic approach in healing her body from Lyme Disease. It’s been a joy watching her journey.
With that said, here’s just a few medicinal herbs and their uses :
- Calendula – infections, burns, eczema, inflammation, bee stings
- Comfrey – used as a topical on burns, cuts, bruising, painful joints
- Chamomile – promotes relaxation and stress relief
- Lemon Balm – promotes relaxation
- Valerian – used in teas for restlessness, headaches, relieves tension
- Oregano – used to aid respiratory infections,
- Thyme – helps with coughing, as an essential oil can be used as a disinfectant
- Peppermint – aids indigestion, stomachaches and bloating, great for colds
5 Perennial Herbs to Plant in your Garden
As a fellow beginner herbalist, if you will, here’s 5 perennial herbs that I have in my garden and suggest for yours as well!
Echinacea
I planted this beautiful flowering herb in my herb bed last year. I heard it talked about so much that it was just a given I had to plant it. Echinacea is a perennial flower that is absolutely beautiful in bloom and will spread as the years go on. Not only is it eye catching but it can be used to aid in boosting your immune system and fighting infections. You can harvest echinacea to make salves, sprays, tinctures, and infused honey to help during a sore throat, colds, and infections.
Chamomile
Chamomile is one of my favorite herbs I’ve grown so far. I was able to get a great harvest and create teas, and bath soaks to sell on my Etsy. Chamomile can be used to promote relaxation and sleepiness while reducing stress, nervousness, and anxiety.
Lavender
I think it goes without saying that Lavender is a must have in your herb garden. Not only can this beautiful and aromatic flower spruce up landscaping, it can be used as a medicinal herb. Lavender has a calming aroma and can be used to promote relaxation and sleepiness. It can also be used as a pain reliever, treatment for acne, eczema, asthma and high blood pressure. The entire plant can be used for aromatic purposes and not just the flower. Use it to make tinctures, salves, soaps, essential oils, infused honey, oils, and more.
Mint
Mint is by far one of my favorite herbs. With the extensive variety and many uses, the possibilities that come with mint are endless! This past year I grew a variety called Pineapple Mint and it was so incredibly heavenly! While you can use mint for an array of medicinal purposes, Peppermint is widely known to help with indigestion, stomach issues, bloating, and headaches. Peppermint can also help aid in the relief of cold symptoms. Fair warning: Mint is known to take over garden beds and can easily choke out other plants. Be sure to plant mint in a bed of its own or in large pots.
Oregano
I absolutely love growing Oregano! This beautiful bushy herb has an array of culinary uses but can also be used medicinally. I love to harvest and hang dry my Oregano many times through the Summer months as I use it in recipes just as fast as I harvest it. I use it in my Taco Seasoning recipe and in my Sinus Relief Bath Soak. As mentioned above, Oregano helps aid in respiratory infections and helps relieve cough and congestion symptoms. Again, this is a plant that can go wild and overtake a garden bed. I would suggest trimming back the plant every so often so that it doesn’t get too out of control.
These are just 5 Perennial Herb to Plant in your Garden, but please know there are thousands of herbs that you could choose from to plant. Based on needs and tastes you could have an extraordinary herb garden. What would you add to this list? Is there any you are already growing that I am missing?
I have plans to add Calendula, Elderberry, Valerian, and Comfrey this year if I can get my hands on some. One of my goals for the future is to have an entire dried herb cabinet that I can pull from for both cooking and medicinally.
Thanks for being here! Until next time,
