Herbs are a group of plants that generally affect you in one way or another, whether it is a culinary herb, medicinal, aesthetic, or poisonous.
Annual, biennial and perennial herbs list
Plants have a life phase consisting of either annual, biennial or perennial, and the herb plants belong in all three of these life phases, depending on their type, location, and in some cases, cultivation methods. Note that some annual and biennial herbs can cross between annual, biennial and sometimes a few extra years, depending on climate and cultivation approaches. In turn, given an unfamiliar harsh climate or poor soil or just plain bad gardening, some perennials can also last but a year! Herbs make excellent plants for edible landscaping, medicinal uses, a source of fragrance and colour, and as a source of enjoyment in creating specific type herb gardens.
Here is a list (in progress), showing the different types of herbs according to their life phase.
Annual herbs:
- Anise
- Arugula, also known as rocket
- Basil
- Blessed thistle
- Borage
- Calendula, also known as marigold
- Caraway
- Cayenne
- Chervil
- Chinese mustard
- Cilantro, also known as Coriander
- Dill
- Garlic
- German chamomile
- Lemon balm
- Marjoram
- Nasturtium
- Papalo (Porophyllum ruderale)
- Perilla
- Water pepper
- Willow herb, also perennial
Biennial herbs:
- Angelica
- Clary sage
- Evening primrose
- Foxglove
- Parsley (considered to have better flavour when grown as an annual though)
- Poppy, may also be annual or weakly perennial
- Sweet rocket
Perennial herbs:
- Anise hyssop
- Artemesia, see also Mugwort
- Aztec sweet herb, also known as Dulce buttons {Phyla dulcis)
- Bee balm
- Bay tree
- Bergamot
- Bladder campion
- Bloody dock
- Cat grass (Dactylis)
- Catnip
- Chicory
- Chives
- Chinese flowering leek
- Comfrey
- Cinquefoil, potentilla
- Cornflower
- Costmary
- Crocus
- Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum)
- Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower
- Elecampane
- Epazote
- Fennel
- Feverfew
- French tarragon
- Garlic chives
- Geranium
- Germander
- Ginger
- Gingko
- Ginseng
- Golden rod
- Horehound
- Horseradish
- Hyssop
- Lady's mantle
- Lamb's ear
- Lavender
- Lemon balm
- Lemongrass
- Lemon verbena
- Linden leaf sage (Salvia tiliifolia)
- Liquorice, also spelled licorice
- Lovage
- Marjoram
- Mint - many varieties such as Peppermint
- Mountain mint
- Mugwort
- Oregano
- Pineapple sage
- Pennyroyal
- Roman chamomile
- Rosemary
- Rue
- Sage
- Salad burnet
- Santolina
- Savory - two varieties, namely Winter savory and Summer savory
- Soapwort
- Sorrel
- Southernwood
- Spearmint
- Sweet cicely
- Sweet marjoram
- Stevia
- Tansy
- Tarragon
- Tea camellia
- Thyme
- Toothache plant (Acmella oleracea)
- Vietnamese coriander
- Valerian
- Vervain, see also Verbena
- Viola
- Watercress, also known as an aquatic vegetable
- Wintergreen
- Woodruff
- Wormwood
- Yarrow
Hardy evergreen herbs able to withstand winter include:
Indoor growing of herbs: Regardless of the length of time a herb is meant to live for, herbs grown indoors tend to have a reduced lifespan. Hence, it is best to treat indoor herbs as short-lived plants.