Fresh herbs are often the key to creating memorable meals that stand out from the usual fare. Instead of spending for herbs, though, why not try growing some right by your kitchen window or on your patio? Aside from providing you with a source of freshly-picked flavor, you’ll find that keeping small potted herbs in the kitchen or shrubs in the garden adds simple accents of color to any home.

Herbs for Décor

Perennial flowering herbs serve a dual purpose in your garden. While they do offer you instant ingredients for cooking, refreshments and even potpourri, the blossoms from some of these herbs make for attractive additions to your garden as a whole. If you’re a dedicated gardener, you’ll be glad to know that many flowering herbs can attract some helpful insects, too.

Some flowering herbs that can add both use and color to your garden include marsh mallows, lavender and anise. The marsh mallow, from which today’s spongy confection was traditionally made from, can be used in salads. Lavender, particularly the English Lavender, presents a wide range of uses, from flavoring food to keeping moths away from stored clothing. Finally, anise is a very fragrant herb that serves as a great addition to potpourri.

Herbs for Cooking

Planting herbs for cooking doesn’t take a lot of work. In fact, herbs are probably some of the easiest plants to take care of, whether in your garden or right on your kitchen windowsill. Even in winter, you can simply bring your herbs indoors and set them close to a bright window.

If you’re considering potted herbs for your kitchen, choose from basil, chives, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, parsley or cilantro. Make sure that they get at least six hours of sunlight a day.

To get the most flavor out of your herbs, take note of a few gardening tips to keep them fresh and fragrant. This way, you’ll always be ready to whip out your best herb-infused dishes for friends and family.

Inspired to start an herb garden? We’d love to hear your ideas.