Perennial herbs are a fantastic addition to any garden, and there are lots to choose from. You may even be surprised to learn that many of your favorite herbs will grow back each year! In this list of perennial herbs, you’ll find a range of options for both cold and warm climates.
If you’ve ever walked out to your garden to snip off a few sprigs of fresh herbs for your recipes, then you know how wonderful and satisfying it is to grow herbs. Well, perennial herbs are even better, because they will grow back every year.
Not only are they beautiful, they’re easy to grow in pots or the garden. Some even have medicinal properties. And the best part is that most of these are flowering perennial herbs that will attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden.
There are tons options on this list of perennial herbs to grow in your garden, and it’s always fun to try something new!
What Herbs Grow Back Each Year?
There are a lot of herbs that will survive the winter, and grow back each year. Some are hardier than others, but you may be surprised to find several of your favorites on this list.
Many of these herbs are sold as annuals in colder zones. Which is why most people don’t realize they are actually perennials, and discard the plants at the end of the season.
The hardiness of the plants in this list range from tender perennials to cold-hardy herbs to grow outdoors. If you live in a warm climate, plant the cold-hardy herbs in a spot that’s protected from full sun. If you live in a colder zone, you can bring the tender perennial herbs indoors during the winter.
Rosemary is perennial in warmer climates
List Of Perennial Herbs To Grow
If you want to know which herbs survive the winter, you’ll find lots of choices in the list below. I’ve included the hardiness/growing zone for each, so you can narrow down what will work best where you live. You’re sure to find something for your garden in this list of perennial herbs…
1. Rosemary (zones 7+) – This herb is distinct with its very fragrant smell. It grows as a shrub, and has blue flowers. Rosemary is also drought tolerant, and great for dry areas of your garden. There are many culinary uses for rosemary, and it tastes great in stews and soups. Learn all about growing rosemary here.
2. Oregano (zones 4-9) – Oregano is another great addition to our perennial herbs list. As a cold-hardy plant, oregano will grow back each year in many climates. You can start it from seed, or take cuttings from an established plant. Harvest the leaves as you need them for cooking, freeze them, or store them dried.
3. Chives (zones 3-9) – One of the best things about chives is that it’s a cold-tolerant perennial herb. As a member of the onion family, it loves the sun. Chives also produce the prettiest little purple flowers in the spring that bees love. Garlic chives are also wonderful perennials that have white flowers, and taste delicious.
Chives are flowering perennial herbs
4. Thyme (zones 4+) – This hardy herb smells great, and there are so many varieties to choose from. English Thyme is one of the most popular culinary herbs. French thyme and creeping thyme are equally hardy, and can be used for cooking as well. You can grow it from seeds or cuttings, but starting the seeds can be a little tricky.
5. Echinacea (zones 2+)– Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, has beautiful flowers that attract butterflies and bees to your garden. They’re drought tolerant, and can really take the heat of summer. However, make sure you water them regularly during extended periods of drought.
6. Lavender (zones 5-8) – This super popular fragrant herb attracts pollinators to your garden. English lavender is the hardiest type, but French lavender is a perennial herb for warmer climates. It’s best to plant lavender after the soil warms up in the spring. Learn how to grow lavender here.
French lavender is a perennial for cooler climates
7. Rue (zones 5-11) – This cute little herb is drought tolerant, and perfect for dry areas of the garden. Rue has a strong smell that can help to repel bugs. It prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Like most others on this perennial herbs list, plant rue in well-drained soil. Deadhead the flowers to keep it for spreading.
8. Tarragon (zones 3-8) – A popular culinary and medicinal herb, tarragon is wonderful for a range of growing zones. The key to successfully growing tarragon in your garden is well-draining soil. Harvest it regularly, so you can freeze or dry the leaves.
9. Sage (zones 4-9) – Common sage is a very hardy plant that grows best in full sun. Make sure you plant it in an area that has good drainage. Sage is beautiful in the garden, easy to freeze or dry, and can be used in many recipes. There are a few different varieties, so be sure to check the hardiness of the type you buy.
Different types of sage are common perennial herbs
10. Lemon verbena (zones 8+) – The intense lemon flavor and aroma of this perennial herb makes it an excellent choice for use in teas and desserts. Lemon verbena has medicinal properties too. It’s said to help with digestion, and to boost your immunity. It’s also great to cook with!
11. Marjoram (zones 6+) – Marjoram is another on our list of perennial herbs that attracts butterflies and beneficial insects to your garden. It doesn’t need a lot of care, and is a great herb for beginner gardeners. For the best flavor, harvest marjoram before the flowers open.
12. Bee balm (zones 4-9)– With fun and unique flowers that come in a variety of colors, bee balm is a bee magnet. You can harvest the leaves to make tea, which is said to help fight off colds and the flu. They also make excellent cut flowers that really stand out in arrangements.
Bee balm are beautiful perennial herbs to grow
13. Winter savory (zones 5-8)– There are two types of savory: winter and summer. But, winter savory is the perennial version of the two. It loves full sun, and can be propagated by using cuttings. Just clip new shoots at the end of spring to add to a container.
14. Anise hyssop (zones 4-9) – With a licorice-like scent, anise hyssop is a flowering perennial herb that attract pollinators to the garden. You can use it in teas, and the flowers can be tossed into salads. They can be an aggressive self-sowers though, so be sure to deadhead the flowers once they fade to prevent seed formation.
15. Mint (zones 4-8)– Mint is the perfect plant to round off our list of perennial herbs. There are many varieties of mint which are all deliciously fragrant, but peppermint is probably the most popular. Mint flowers during the summer, and the pollinators love it.
All mints are easy-to-grow perennial herbs
Growing perennial herbs in your garden is fun, and beneficial too! Plus they’ll provide fresh herbs for your kitchen year after year. This list of perennial herbs will give you lots of ideas for which ones will work in your garden. Choose a few of your favorites, and get busy planting.
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- A Guide To Successful Indoor Herb Gardening
What would you add to this list of perennial herbs? Tell us your favorites in the comments below.
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