Delicious perennial herbs for a lush herbal tea garden

Growing a herbal tea garden is a fantastic way to start gardening since herbs are fairly easy to grow. Grow herbs in your windowsill or in your backyard. Attract beneficial insects increasing the biodiversity of your home. And be rewarded with delicious organic cups of herbal tea to be enjoyed while watching the butterflies.

Herbs for tea or cooking are such a wonderful thing to grow. Since not only are they easy to grow and plentiful in the harvest. Most of them are also perennials, which means that they only need to be planted out once. No yearly planning, which plants you want to grow and no messing about with seedlings. Because of this, growing herbs for your tea is the perfect way to get started with gardening and living more simply and self-sufficiently. Even more so because most herbs you can easily grow in containers and in windowsills. Enabling even those of us who wish to grow a garden while still living in apartments to grow some herbs.

The beauty of growing your own herbs is that it is enjoyable as well as being good for your mental health. Since gardening has a sort of meditative effect on your mind ensuring that you are more relaxed and feel happier. Similar to the effect of a daily nature walk but with the added benefit of growing something tasty.

Top 10 easy perennial herbs for your garden

Perrenials are perfect for beginner gardeners since most of them require very little care and will continue growing for years. They can often be grown in containers and even little pots on your windowsill. Ensuring that even those homesteaders that live in tiny apartments can grow their own herbs. Allowing all of us to have a little bit more independence and be a bit more self-sufficient by growing our own herbal tea garden.

To brew some tea, just pick some of the leaves or flowers. Then pop them into your cup and pour some hot water over them and let steep for 10 to 15 minutes. If you want to dry them for use during the winter months. Then simply hang them up in small bunches in your kitchen to dry or lay them out flat and leave them to dry for a couple of days. Once thoroughly dried, you can store them in a paper bag for about a year. After a year, they tend to lose some flavour and potency.

Lemon balm Melissa officinalis

Lemon balm has a light citrusy flavour and is incredibly easy to grow. It is a perfect herb for teas as it has a light mild flavour that won’t overpower other herbs if you mix them in your tea. But is sweet enough with its refreshing lemony flavour that it works well as a herbal tea on its own. Just having it growing in your garden is wonderful on its own since every time you walk past it, you can smell the lemon aroma coming off of the leaves.

Lemon balm is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family and grows just as viciously as mint does. It is quite a hardy plant and can be grown in growing zones 4 to 9. The plant is not very fussy and will grow in most soils and can grow in full sun as well as partial sun.

Lady’s mantle Alchemilla mollis

Lady’s mantle is an enchanting plant to watch after a rain. The tiny hairs in the leaves hold the little raindrops in place, giving a magical look to the plant. The plant itself when made into herbal tea tastes similar to green tea. Lady’s mantle is nice to use in herbal tea mixes because of its mild taste. Being famed for helping with the female issues of menstruation and menopause. It is mainly drunk to help with these issues, although you will want to consult your doctor before consuming Lady’s mantle. And because it is quite high in tannins, it is not recommended to drink it on a daily basis. It is also not advised to drink it during pregnancy or when breastfeeding.

Still, it is a wonderful plant to add to your herbal tea garden since it is easy to grow. It will grow anywhere from full sun to almost full shade and will tolerate almost any soil. Lady’s mantle self-seeds once established. Ensuring that you will end up with a gorgeous carpet full of these dew drop containing leaves and their delicate yellow flowers. It will grow in the growing zones 3 to 8.

Mint Mentha

Mint in all its myriad of varieties is a classic herbal tea that can come in a whole host of different flavours. Like the fruity apple mint or the surprisingly orangy tasting chocolate mint. If you’re looking for that typical minty fresh flavour, that is often used in things like chewing gum and toothpaste. You will want to look for the peppermint variety. And since they are so easy to grow, and come in so many varieties, why not grow a handful of varieties.

Since they are such strong and hardy plants, it is often advised to grow them in pots unless you don’t mind them taking over your garden. They will grow in anything from full sun to full shade to very clay-rich soil to quite nutrient-poor soil. A perfect beginner plant therefore that will be challenging to kill for even the worst of gardeners. Most mint varieties can easily be grown in zones 4 to 9, with some varieties even able to survive as cold as zone 3 or as hot as zone 10 and 11.

John’s wort Hypericum perforatum

St. John’s wort is a perfect herb to grow during summer, to then enjoy during the dark winter months. Especially for any of those who suffer from the winter blues. The hypericin that the St. John’s wort contains, boosts the production of the hormones serotonin and dopamine, which help to combat those winter blues. It does, however, affect certain medications, so you need to consult your doctor before you consume St. John’s wort. You should also avoid drinking St. John’s wort tea when pregnant or breastfeeding.

St. John’s wort is a rather large bushy plant and has gorgeous yellow flowers and it prefers a good amount of sun. It is not overly fussy when it comes to soil. But does prefer good drainage, so slightly sandier soil might be preferred. St. John’s wort will grow in growing zones 5 to 8.

Chamomille Chamaemelum nobile

Chamomille is famed for its delicate white flowers that produce a mild-tasting calming herbal tea. It is a great tea to drink in the evening or when you feel stressed because of these calming properties. And the taste, although it is not my favourite is not unpleasant. It is mildly sweet with some slight grassy notes. Our youngest daughter loves the flowers for her tea and often asks for a cup of flower tea, as she calls it.

Chamomille is an easy plant to care for, and it doesn’t need very fertile soil. So perfect for any spots in your garden that might not be fertile enough for growing hungrier plants like veggies. It will also grow in anything from full sun to partial shade. Although it will be more flavourful and produce more flowers in sunnier spots. As it is a hardy plant, that can also withstand quite a bit of heat, it can be grown in growing zones 3 to 10.

Valerian Valeriana officinalis

Valerian root tea is widely used by many to help improve sleep and relieve stress. Unlike the other herbs in this list, you don’t use the leaves or flowers of the valerian for your tea. Rather, you use the roots. Which are best harvested in spring or autumn when your plant is at least 2 years old. To dry, just clean your roots and leave them to dry in a well-ventilated space or in a warm oven (40C or 105F). The tea doesn’t have a very pleasant taste. But when mixed with a herb like chamomile, it becomes quite a pleasant tea. Since the chamomille will disguise the slightly bitter taste of the valerian a bit. As with some herbal teas, the strong medicinal nature of Valerian root tea makes it advisable to consult your doctor before drinking the tea.

Valerian can grow in full sun as well as partial shade. However, it does prefer well-draining soil. So if you have very clay-heavy soil, you might want to add in some sand or compost to improve drainage. Valerian is quite a hardy plant. And can survive quite heavy frosts, although it does die back in winter. You can grow valerian in growing zones 3 to 9.

Nettles Urtica dioica

Nettles might not be your typical thing to grow in a herbal tea garden. Mainly because they are usually considered a weed. But I consciously grow them in my garden because they are such a versatile plant and really are quite delicious. Alternatively, you could also easily forage for nettles. Just make sure you don’t forage next to roads and are allowed to harvest where you are.

You can cook with them just like you would spinach. Although until they are cooked you must be careful with the stinging leaves. But some sturdy gloves will protect your hands from any uncomfortable stings. Once the leaves have either been exposed to heat by steeping them in your tea or been dried thoroughly, they will no longer be able to sting you. I love their full herbal flavour that with a small drizzle of honey, will be enjoyable to almost all tea lovers.

You might not have to find a new space for any nettles that you might want to grow. Since they might already be growing in your garden. All you would need to do then is make sure they can thrive without smothering other plants you might have. Ideally, if possible, try and grow them in a container or a raised bed. So that they won’t be able to take over your garden. You don’t have to worry too much about growing conditions as long as the soil has reasonable drainage. They will also grow in anything from full sun to partial shade and grow well in growing zones 3 to 10.

Lavender Lavandula angustifolia

Lavender, with its lovely lilac cloured flowers and calming scent, is a wonderful plant to have in your herbal tea garden. Even if you wouldn’t use it for herbal tea, it would still be a great addition to any garden. Its flowers can be dried and hung up in closets to deter moths or in the bathroom for use as a natural air freshener. As a tea, you can use the flowers in some hot water. Which will give you a floral tea that is perfect for warm summer evenings. Although if you are pregnant or breastfeeding it is not advised to drink lavender tea. Nor is drinking the tea advised for those with blood pressure issues, consult your doctor if unsure.

Lavender likes plenty of sun and good drainage, but it doesn’t need very fertile soil. You can grow the lavender in containers to ensure that the plant has the right soil type. Growing it lavender in a container will also allow you to move it inside during winter and place it in a sunny spot during summer. Lavender is not particularly hardy like some of the other herbs in this list. But will still be able to be grown in zones 5 to 9.

Thyme Thymus vulgaris

As a child, I would often be given thyme tea whenever I had an issue with my throat like a cough. I would then have to sip the tea throughout the day, and the cough would always disappear within a day or two. And just like my parents, I give my children thyme tea whenever they develop a cough. But you don’t have to reserve this tea for the days that you have a cough. Because thyme tea has a delicious herbal flavour that can be enjoyed on a daily basis. And with a well-established thyme plant growing in your garden, you will be able not just be able to enjoy cups of tea. But also use it in your cooking for any chicken stews or soups you might like to make.

Grow your thyme in a good sunny location much as you would your lavender. Thyme also prefers somewhat sandy soil that has good drainage. There are many varieties of thyme that all are equally delicious and gorgeous. Some low growing varieties lend themselves well as a groundcover. While other varieties become small shrubs and look wonderful when spilling out of terracotta pots. You can grow thyme in growing zones 5 to 9.

Echinacea/Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea with its tall vividly purple coneflowers is a gorgeous sight to behold in any garden. But perhaps even more so in a cottage type herbal tea garden. Where it can really give a pop of colour. And whether you use the flower petals fresh or dried in a cup of tea, it is sure to liven up your herbal tea. The petals have quite a strong floral taste. But when combined with other herbs like nettles or perhaps some green tea, it becomes a very delicious herbal tea. Although it isn’t advised to drink Echinacea tea while pregnant or breastfeeding. It is also not advised for children or anyone with immune issues. As with some herbal teas, the strong medicinal nature of Echinacea makes it advisable to consult your doctor before drinking the tea.

Echinacea will grow best in full sun, although it will tolerate partial shade. You want to grow Echinacea in well-draining soil. When the plant is full-grown it will be rather large. So if growing in a pot, you will want to keep in mind to give it a large pot. Echinacea will grow well in growing zones 3 to 8.

Which herbs would you plant in your herbal tea garden?

Let me know which herbs haven’t I added to the list, that you would have wanted to see in the list. Let me know down below in the comments, or send me a DM on Instagram.

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