Evergreen shrub or small tree with leathery aromatic mid-green leaves with yellow mid-rib and contrasting reddish-brown new stems. Small, yellow, waxy flowers appear in spring followed by green oval berries which turn black in autumn. Leaves may be used fresh or dried and can be added to stock, soup and stews and are used in bouquet garni.
Height up to 26ft (8ft), spread to 12ft (3.7m) but can be pruned to keep much smaller.

Graceful yet handsome plant with wonderful feathery bronze foliage which looks beautiful in a sunny border. Gives off a delightful aniseed fragrance in sunny weather. Pick leaves regularly for fish dishes, finely chopped for salads, or they can be used by flower arrangers. Spectacular yellow flowers followed by highly aromatic seeds. Good in a kitchen garden where they attract beneficial insects, but away from beans, tomatoes or kohl rabi.
Height 4-5ft (120-150cm), spread 3ft (90cm).

Graceful yet handsome plant with wonderful feathery mid-green foliage which looks beautiful in a sunny border. Gives off a delightful aniseed fragrance in sunny weather. Pick leaves regularly for fish dishes, finely chopped for salads, or they can be used by flower arrangers. Spectacular yellow flowers followed by highly aromatic seeds. Good in a kitchen garden where they attract beneficial insects, but away from beans, tomatoes or kohl rabi.
Height 5-6ft (150-180cm), spread 3ft (90cm).

Very attractive easy to grow herb with aromatic, slightly hairy leaves and heads of tiny pink flowers in summer. Leaves are gold/green variegated with a milder flavour than other Marjorams. New growth should be cut back to near the ground in winter leaving a mat of foliage. Use leaves fresh in many dishes, or they can be dried or frozen. Flowers can be dried as they open for flower arrangements. Good antiseptic and many medicinal uses.
Height and spread 18ins (45cm).

Very attractive easy to grow herb with aromatic, golden, slightly hairy leaves and heads of tiny purple-pink flowers in summer. New growth should be cut back to near the ground in winter leaving a mat of foliage. Use leaves fresh in many dishes, or they can be dried or frozen. Flowers can be dried as they open for flower arrangements. Good antiseptic and many medicinal uses.
Height and spread 18ins (45cm).

Very attractive easy to grow herb with aromatic, soft green, slightly hairy leaves and heads of tiny purple-pink flowers in summer. Excellent flavoured leaves. New growth should be cut back to near the ground in winter leaving a mat of foliage. Use leaves fresh in many dishes, or they can be dried or frozen. Flowers can be dried as they open for flower arrangements. Good antiseptic and many medicinal uses.
Height and spread 18ins (45cm).

Very vigorous plant with roundish, hairy leaves with a scent of combined mint and apples, so more subtle than some mints and good in cooking. The heavily aromatic leaves are good for mint sauce, jelly or julep and flavouring vegetables and many dishes.
Mint also has many medicinal uses. Keep varieties of mint apart as they readily hybridize. Also, as mint is a rapid spreader, it is best restricted in some way, for example, planted in a large pot sunk into the ground. For preserving, cut leaves before the purple flowers appear in summer.

Very vigorous plant with leaves green with reddish tinge. Unique scent, sweet and spicy, excellent with tomato and pasta. The heavily aromatic leaves are good for mint sauce, jelly or julep and flavouring vegetables and many dishes.
Mint also has many medicinal uses. Keep varieties of mint apart as they readily hybridize. Also, as mint is a rapid spreader, it is best restricted in some way, for example, planted in a large pot sunk into the ground. For preserving, cut leaves before the purple flowers appear in summer.

Very vigorous plant with purple-tinged, roundish, dark green leaves. Delicious scent, to use in fruit dishes with discretion. Excellent for use in the bath. Hang under the hot water tap to perfume water and room. The heavily aromatic leaves are good for mint sauce, jelly or julep and flavouring vegetables and many dishes.
Mint also has many medicinal uses. Keep varieties of mint apart as they readily hybridize. Also, as mint is a rapid spreader, it is best restricted in some way, for example, planted in a large pot sunk into the ground. For preserving, cut leaves before the purple flowers appear in summer.

Very vigorous plant which is undoubtedly the best mint for making mint tea with its clean flavour. The heavily aromatic leaves are good for mint sauce, jelly or julep and flavouring vegetables and many dishes.
Mint also has many medicinal uses. Keep varieties of mint apart as they readily hybridize. Also, as mint is a rapid spreader, it is best restricted in some way, for example, planted in a large pot sunk into the ground. For preserving, cut leaves before the purple flowers appear in summer.

Less vigorous form with very pretty variegated cream and green leaves. Good in hanging baskets. The heavily aromatic leaves are good for mint sauce, jelly or julep and flavouring vegetables and many dishes.
Mint also has many medicinal uses. Keep varieties of mint apart as they readily hybridize. Also, as mint is a rapid spreader, it is best restricted in some way, for example, planted in a large pot sunk into the ground. For preserving, cut leaves before the purple flowers appear in summer.

The most widely grown mint with dark green pointed leaves with serrated edges. The heavily aromatic leaves are good for mint sauce, jelly or julep and flavouring vegetables and many dishes.
Mint also has many medicinal uses. Keep varieties of mint apart as they readily hybridize. Also, as mint is a rapid spreader, it is best restricted in some way, for example, planted in a large pot sunk into the ground. For preserving, cut leaves before the purple flowers appear in summer.

Dark green leaves with pink tinge underneath, slightly hairy and aromatic. Very decorative pink/mauve flowers in summer. Good with tomato dishes, other vegetables and milk based desserts.

Best known of all garnishing herbs. Aromatic, fresh-flavoured, brightish green leaves, with curled and toothed edges. Small cream-white flowers in flat heads in summer. Grow in rich, moist soil in sun or partial shade. Use stalks in stews or add chopped leaves, cooked or raw, at the end of food preparation to keep the flavour.
Height 12-16ins (30-40cm), spread 12ins (30cm).

Best known of all garnishing herbs. Flat, dark-green leaves are stronger in flavour to curled parsley. This variety overwinters better as the flat leaves shed the rain or snow. Small cream-white flowers in flat heads in summer. Grow in rich, moist soil in sun or partial shade. Use stalks in stews or add chopped leaves, cooked or raw, at the end of food preparation to keep the flavour.

One of the earliest flowering with masses of light-blue flowers in early spring and summer, then often again in autumn. Arching, spreading branches, excellent for pots, trailing over walls or on sunny banks. Use in sprigs or finely chopped with lamb, oily fishes and stews.
Height 12ins (30cm), spread to 3ft (90cm).

Hardy evergreen with soft, textured green leaves which are highly aromatic. Attractive purple flowers in hot summers. The most widely grown, very popular variety.
Sage has good healing properties especially for problems in the mouth and throat, and is a very useful culinary herb if used with discretion. Works as a preservative as well.
Height 12ins (30cm), spread to 3ft (90cm).

Hardy evergreen with soft, textured green leaves which are highly aromatic. Attractive purple flowers in hot summers. Less vigorous than Common Sage so useful where space is limited. Very attractive leaves, green with gold edges. Slightly less pungent than other Sages.
Sage has good healing properties especially for problems in the mouth and throat, and is a very useful culinary herb if used with discretion. Works as a preservative as well.
Height and spread 18ins (45cm).

Hardy evergreen with soft, textured green leaves which are highly aromatic. Attractive purple flowers in hot summers. A most ornamental form with unusual dusty-purple foliage and mauve-blue flowers in summer. Very attractive if planted alongside silver-leafed plants.
Sage has good healing properties especially for problems in the mouth and throat, and is a very useful culinary herb if used with discretion. Works as a preservative as well.
Height and spread 28ins (70cm).

Dark green, spicy, peppery, linear leaves are excellent in bean dishes, and can be substituted for coriander, basil or oregano when these are not available. Crushed they help to alleviate itching from bites and stings. Small, pinkish-white flowers in summer.
Height 12ins (30cm), spread 8ins (20cm).

Mid-green, lance-shaped leaves should be picked regularly when young, and the flower heads removed. Leaves have a wonderful lemony flavour and can be cooked as spinach, or eaten raw in salads where they will give a real ‘zing’.
Height 2-3ft (60-90cm), spread 1ft (30cm).

Large, shiny, rounded leaves which are good as a herb or for use raw in salads. Dark purple flowers in summer. Good ground cover plant or for use in baskets. A good garden plant with flowers attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves are good in many varied forms of culinary dishes. A good antiseptic and anti-fungal herb.
Height 3ins (8cm), spread 8ins (20cm).

Good carpeting habit for rockeries, between paving, or in a herb garden. Small leaves have unique caraway flavour. Profusion of rose-pink flowers completely smother the plant in summer. A good garden plant with flowers attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves are good in many varied forms of culinary dishes. A good antiseptic and anti-fungal herb.
Height 1in (2.5cm), spread 8ins (20cm).

Most widely grown Thyme, with upright habit, thin green, aromatic leaves and mauve flowers in summer. A good garden plant with flowers attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves are good in many varied forms of culinary dishes. A good antiseptic and anti-fungal herb.
Height 12ins (30cm), spread 8ins (20cm).

Very pretty silver-green variegated leaves, tinged pink underneath. Pink flowers. A good garden plant with flowers attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves are good in many varied forms of culinary dishes. A good antiseptic and anti-fungal herb.
Height and spread 12ins (30cm).