What is an herb??? Botanists describe an herb as a small, seed-bearing plant with fleshy, rather than woody, parts; a plant of which the stem dies to the ground at the end of the season. Herbs may be annual, biennial or perennial. In addition to herbaceous perennials, herbs include trees, shrubs, annuals, vines, and more primitive plants, such as ferns, mosses, algae, lichens, and fungi. This is a group of plants that at some time in history has been valued for flavor as a seasoning, medicinal and healthful qualities, fragrance, or general household use. As a group they are also valued for their economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties, and coloring materials (dyes).

Herbs are great in beds, borders, and containers and many make great ornamentals and others are quite indispensable in a culinary garden. A mixed planting in a container, can be quite striking. Yet a formal herb garden is just darling too! Almost too many uses in the garden space to house them all!