Top 20 Herbs For Container Pots

20 Top Herbs for Pots

Containers are great for growing herbs because of the ability to control the climate. By moving an herb pot one can remove cold, increase heat, absorb moisture and many other aspects of growth necessary for successfully growing and using herbs. Many people live in areas such as apartments, condos, on sandy or clay soil and do not have outside areas to grow herbs. Containers offer not only garden areas but also add to the beauty of landscaping with herbs. This guide is intended to help you choose live herb plants that do well in containers and also blend together for beauty and function.

We also produced a "Container Herb Garden Video" you can watch for planting and care instructions.

(1) ‘Siam Queen’ Thai basil Purple bloom spikes on 14-inch plant

(2) ‘Spicy Globe’ basil Bushy 10-inch plants have tiny, fragrant leaves.

(3) Bay laurel Slow-growing shrub is superb in a large container; move it inside for winter.

(4) Calendula Annual, 1- to 2-foot plants bear colorful, daisylike blooms.

(5) Chives Spiky leaves, 6 to 10 inches tall, topped with pink blooms.

(6) Dill Dwarf ‘Fernleaf ’ grows 18 inches tall; needs good drainage and a pot at least 10 inches deep.

(7) Heliotrope 12- to 24-inch plants bear fragrant violet-blue to deep purple blooms.

(8) Horseradish Vigorous plant with large, strappy leaves needs a big pot and rich, moist soil; harvest pungent roots in fall.

(9) Hyssop Dark green glossy leaves and showy, 14-inch spikes of deep blue flowers.

(10) Lavender All types excellent for pots; 8- to 30-inch plants bear fragrant blue or white blooms in midsummer.

(11) Lemon verbena Tender shrub prized for its lemon-flavored leaves; move inside for winter.

(12) Lemon balm Bright green, lemon-flavored leaves; ‘Aurea’ has gold markings.

(13) Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare) Trailing, tender perennial with gray woolly leaves makes a beautiful edger.

(14) Mint All thrive in containers; standouts include ‘Banana’, ‘Chocolate’, ginger and orange mints.

(15) Oregano Recommended culinary varieties include Greek and Italian; decorative types are ‘Herrenhausen’, ‘ Hopley’s Purple’ and dittany of Crete.

(16) Parsley Both Italian flat-leaf and curly parsley thrive in pots.

(17) Rosemary All kinds suitable for pots; drought-tolerant plants have fragrant, needlelike leaves and blue, pink or white blooms.

(18) Sage Both culinary and ornamental varieties are attractive alone or in mixed plantings.

(19) Scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) Fragrant and ornamental; try ‘Almond’, ‘Ginger’, ‘Mabel Grey’ and ‘Prince of Orange’; trailers include ‘Coconut’, ‘Green Apple’, ‘Nutmeg’ and ‘Round-Leaf
R o s e ’.

(20) Thyme Low-growing and drought tolerant; for culinary use, try English thyme, ‘Narrow-Leaf French’ and ‘Wedgewood English’; cascaders include woolly and nutmeg thymes.

The above herbs were recommended by The Herb Companion.