A little thyme here, chives there… Here we present 12 simple perennial aromatic plants to grow in a pot or planter. They require little maintenance and last from one year to the next, satisfying the gardener and the gourmet.
Mint,
Mentha
Mint is a perennial plant that can reach 90 cm in height. Copyright (c) 2020 Hikko.ne/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Mint is found in several varieties: pineapple mint, peppermint or even strawberry mint… This perennial plant can
reach 90 cm in height, with green leaves, sometimes purple depending on the variety, oval and pointed. Mint prefers moist soils with partial shade. Very resistant to cold, it requires no maintenance and can even become invasive.
This is an aromatic that can be used everywhere in the garden (in pots, in the vegetable patch) and in all cuisines around the world, from starters to desserts and even in drinks... Its taste is both refreshing and slightly spicy.
Thyme,
Thymus vulgaris
Thyme has stems between 15 and 30 cm high dotted with small, very fragrant leaves. Copyright (c) 2023 Steidi/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Lemon thyme, wild thyme, purple or even silver thyme… This perennial also offers several variants, both aromatic and ornamental. Thyme has stems between 15 and 30 cm high dotted with small, very fragrant leaves. The flowers can vary from white to purple.
Thyme has a prominent place in Mediterranean cuisine, adding a
strong, earthy flavor to dishes
. It is also a plant with multiple benefits: antioxidant, antiseptic, antitussive, digestive, anti-inflammatory…. This small plant which needs sun resists drought and cold well. You will enjoy it winter and summer!
Also read: The top 20 aromatic herbs to grow at home
Chives,
Allium schoenoprasum
Chives form clumps of around fifty centimeters with thin hollow stems. Copyright (c) 2021 Flower_Garden/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Chives form clumps of around fifty centimeters with thin hollow stems. The pompom flowers are purple or pink and also edible. This aromatic has a
mild flavor, reminiscent of onion
. Used fresh, it is perfect for garnishing dishes, salads, soups and eggs. For planting, chives prefer rich, moist soils in a sunny location. It is resistant to cold but disappears completely in winter. Think about it, chives can easily be established in a pot if you don't have a garden.
Rosemary,
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary establishes itself in a more shrubby form with evergreen foliage and it can reach 2 meters in height. Copyright (c) 2017 Creative Family/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Rosemary establishes itself in a more shrubby form with evergreen foliage and it can reach 2 meters in height. Its leaves, thin and elongated, are dark green on top and lighter below. The flowers, blue or purple, appear at the end of winter. On the palate, this perennial aromatic plant offers
strong woody notes
, capable of flavoring meats, soups, sauces and marinades. Robust to drought, it is suitable for Mediterranean climates and tolerates cold moderately.
Sage,
Salvia officinalis
Officinal sage comes in multiple varieties that can be differentiated by their foliage. Copyright (c) 2021 Monika_1/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
There are a large number of sages, you should not make a mistake with ornamental species. Sage is a perennial aromatic with oval, rough, gray-green leaves. The flowers develop in late spring or early summer, forming purple clusters erected in spikes.
From a taste point of view, sage has a
slightly bitter
taste , perfectly suited to meats and stuffings. In addition to its culinary uses, it is appreciated for its medicinal properties, particularly digestive and antiseptic. Growing sage is undemanding, it adapts to a wide variety of soils as long as they are well drained. It resists cold well and spreads quickly from year to year.
Sauce bay leaf,
Laurus nobilis
Bay leaf sauce is rich in taste, providing both a floral and woody flavor that is appreciable in stews, marinades and sauces. Copyright (c) 2022 Danny Hummel/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Here is a much larger specimen reaching up to the tree since it can exceed 10 m in height if it is not pruned! This aromatic plant has oval, smooth and shiny dark green leaves. Bay leaf sauce is rich in taste, providing
both a floral and woody flavor
that is appreciable in stews, marinades and sauces.
It also offers medicinal properties including digestive and antiseptic effects. In the garden, the laurel prefers a sunny exposure to establish itself well. Although it resists moderate frosts, younger specimens and those freshly planted require winter protection in colder regions.
Tarragon,
Artemisia dracunculus
Tarragon is widely used in cooking for its unique, slightly aniseed taste. Copyright (c) 2021 CarlosHerrerosfotografia/Shutterstock.
Tarragon is another aromatic widely used in cooking for its
unique, slightly aniseed taste
. It flavors sauces like béarnaise, enhances salads, eggs and even chicken. Tarragon also has the property of stimulating the appetite and helping digestion.
There are two notable varieties of tarragon, French tarragon which is richer in flavor and Russian tarragon which is less strong in flavor but more robust. Aesthetically, the leaves are long and narrow, arranged along stems that can stretch 120 cm in height. Like many aromatic herbs, tarragon likes sun with rather dry soil.
Lemongrass,
Cymbopogon citratus
Lemongrass is one of the tropical perennial plants. Copyright (c) 2020 Rory Glanville/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Lemongrass is one of the tropical perennial plants. It is immediately identifiable by its long, thin, arched leaves forming large tufts (up to 2 meters high). As its name suggests, it gives off a
powerful lemony scent
. Essential in Asian cuisine, lemongrass infuses dishes, soups, marinades and tea with its
tangy taste
.
It is a slightly more demanding aromatic that likes to have the foliage in the sun but the roots in rich, moist soil. Furthermore, it must be absolutely protected from frost. In cooler regions, growing in pots allows it to be kept indoors in winter. In addition, lemongrass is a powerful mosquito repellent plant and is used in aromatherapy, contributing to relaxation and stress reduction.
Dill,
Anethum graveolens
Dill is an aromatic plant full of finesse with its feathery, tender green leaves. Copyright (c) 2016 kwanchai.c/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Dill is an aromatic plant full of finesse with its feathery, tender green leaves. In the heart of summer, it can reach 1 meter and is adorned with multiple umbels of small yellow flowers. Dill offers a
fresh aniseed taste
that goes perfectly with fish dishes, for salads and in sauces. Its seeds, with a stronger scent, are also used in cooking and baking.
Dill thrives in rich soil with sunny exposure and can be planted very well in a pot. It is basically an annual aromatic, however as dill reseeds very well, it grows back spontaneously each season, provided it is not too cold!
True lavender,
Lavandula angustifolia
How can we not talk about lavender with its delicately scented purple spikes attracting pollinators... Copyright (c) 2015 Robert Przybysz/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
How can we not talk about lavender with its delicately scented purple spikes attracting pollinators... This bushy perennial about 60 cm high, which produces long floral stems with narrow, grayish green leaves. Lavender has many virtues, notably relaxing, widely used in the form of essential oil.
In cooking, lavender flowers add a
floral and slightly sweet touch
to desserts, jams and drinks. This aromatic plant is also easy, very resistant to drought and loves full sun, it is perfect for rock gardens.
Also read: How to successfully grow your lavender in pots?
Oregano,
Origanum vulgare
Oregano forms dense clumps 30 to 60 cm high, decorated with small oval, dark green leaves. Copyright (c) 2020 cristo95/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Also perennial, oregano forms dense clumps 30 to 60 cm high, decorated with small oval, dark green leaves. In summer, it offers pretty clusters of purple or pink flowers, bringing color to the garden and attracting insects. With its
spicy and slightly bitter flavor
, oregano is widely used to flavor pizzas, pasta dishes and salads. It is a robust plant that prefers light soils with a sunny exposure. It can nevertheless adapt to different environments, including drought conditions.
Lemon balm,
Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm is an herb that gives off a pleasant lemony scent when you crush its large light green leaves. Copyright (c) 2019 Wagner Campelo/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Lemon balm is an herb that gives off a pleasant lemony scent when you crush its large light green leaves. It grows up to 150 cm in height and flowers in summer, displaying small white or slightly pink flowers. If lemon balm is popular for its calming, relaxing and digestive properties, it goes well with salads, drinks and desserts with its
lemony taste
.
Lemon balm requires moist, rich soil, with a preference for a semi-sunny exposure. It is resistant to cold and can spread quickly, sometimes becoming invasive if conditions are favorable.