Best Herb Garden Plants for Beginning Gardeners

Herbs add fragrance, beauty, and culinary or medicinal value to any garden. Many new gardeners hesitate, unsure where to start, but numerous herb varieties are perfectly suited for beginners.

Basil

Exceptionally easy to grow indoors or out, basil thrives on sunny windowsills or in rock gardens. Its fragrant leaves enhance countless recipes. As an annual, it needs yearly replanting, but it's virtually carefree and grows in nearly any climate zone.

Sage

Beyond Thanksgiving stuffing, sage's silvery leaves and blue flowers beautify containers, rock gardens, and borders. This perennial returns year after year.

Parsley

Versatile in cooking and easy to grow, parsley comes in many varieties for gardening experimentation. As a biennial, one planting yields two seasons of harvest.

Oregano

The main challenge is containing its spreading roots. Otherwise, it thrives on neglect and returns annually. Excellent in Hispanic and Italian dishes with multiple varieties available.

Nearly any herb is beginner-friendly—your choices are limited only by taste preferences and local availability.