Growing Herbs Quick Guide
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Type: Hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun–light shade
Soil: Well-drained, average soil
Start: Direct sow spring/fall or start indoors
Water: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Notes: Excellent pollinator plant; licorice-mint flavored leaves for tea
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Type: Tender annual (NJ)
Sun: Full sun, heat-loving
Soil: Sandy, well-drained
Start: Indoors 6–8 weeks before frost
Water: Low–moderate
Notes: Needs long warm season; root crop if season is long enough
Baikal Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis)
Type: Hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained, sandy/loamy
Start: Indoors or direct sow after stratification
Water: Moderate
Notes: Root harvested after 2–3 years; dislikes winter wet soil
Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)
Type: Hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Average, well-drained
Start: Direct sow or transplant carefully
Water: Moderate
Notes: Deep taproot; slow spring emergence; ornamental + medicinal root use
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Type: Hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun–light shade
Soil: Poor–average soil tolerated
Start: Direct sow or transplant
Water: Low–moderate
Notes: Spreads easily; strong pollinator + feline attraction
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Type: Self-seeding annual
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Light, well-drained
Start: Direct sow (spring/fall)
Water: Light–moderate
Notes: Needs light to germinate; excellent tea herb
Codonopsis (Codonopsis pilosula)
Type: Perennial vine
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Deep, loose, fertile
Start: Stratify seed or start indoors
Water: Moderate
Notes: Slow first year; medicinal root after 2–3 years
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Type: Aggressive perennial
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Rich, moist soil
Start: Root crown or division
Water: Moderate–high
Notes: Deep roots; excellent for compost/mulch; hard to remove once established
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Type: Annual (self-seeding)
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Average, well-drained
Start: Direct sow spring/fall
Water: Low–moderate
Notes: Cold tolerant; great cut flower + pollinator plant
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
Type: Tall hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Deep, rich, moist but drained
Start: Direct sow or transplant
Water: Moderate
Notes: Large roots harvested year 2+; can reach 4–6 ft tall
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Type: Hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Rich, well-drained
Start: Direct sow or transplant
Water: Moderate
Notes: Spreads aggressively; best contained; strong lemon aroma
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis)
Type: Perennial
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Moist, rich soil
Start: Stratified seed or early spring sow
Water: Moderate–high
Notes: Root crop (year 2+); thrives in consistent moisture
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Type: Hardy perennial
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Average–poor soil
Start: Direct sow fall/spring
Water: Low–moderate
Notes: Self-seeds freely; strong nervine; tall wild growth habit
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)
Type: Hardy vine perennial (marginal in NJ)
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Well-drained soil
Start: Scarified/stratified seed
Water: Moderate
Notes: Dies back in winter; returns from roots; needs trellis
Plantain (Plantago major / lanceolata)
Type: Perennial
Sun: Full sun–shade
Soil: Any soil
Start: Direct sow anytime
Water: Low
Notes: Extremely hardy; medicinal leaf; spreads easily
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Type: Perennial
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Well-drained soil
Start: Surface sow (light needed)
Water: Low–moderate
Notes: Yellow flowers; red oil infusion; can self-seed
Skullcap – American (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Type: Moisture-loving perennial
Sun: Full sun–part shade
Soil: Rich, moist soil
Start: Stratify or direct sow shallow
Water: Moderate–high
Notes: Nervine herb; prefers woodland edge conditions
Spilanthes (Spilanthes acmella)
Type: Tender annual in North Jersey (perennial in warm climates)
Sun: Full sun (best growth in heat)
Soil: Moist, rich, well-drained soil
Start: Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost; transplant after frost danger passes (late May)
Water: Moderate–high; prefers consistent moisture
Spacing: 8–12 inches apart
Height: 8–18 inches (low, spreading habit)
Temperate Tulsi (Ocimum africanum)
Type: Tender annual
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Rich, well-drained
Start: Indoors before frost
Water: Moderate
Notes: Pinch for bushiness; harvested for leaves/tea
Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
Type: Long-lived perennial
Sun: Full sun
Soil: Dry–average, well-drained
Start: Scarified seed or transplant
Water: Low
Notes: Deep taproot; slow establishment; very drought hardy