If you want to start an herb garden, these perennial plants are quick to grow and low-maintenance—with just one planting, you can grow herbs that can be harvested for years to come. These herbs will give you fresh flavors for meals and offer unique scents and visual appeal. Here, gardening experts offer their top picks for fast-growing herbs perfect for beginner gardeners.
Lemon Balm
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Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a versatile herb that grows quickly and easily. It’s popular for cooking and herbal medicine, offering a light lemon flavor with hints of mint.
“Lemon balm is very easy to grow but can be invasive so keep on top of this one,” advises Laura Janney, CEO of The Inspired Garden. “It’s also deer-resistant and needs full sun.” Regularly cut back so it doesn’t produce flowers—the flowers will negatively affect the flavor and taste of the leaves.
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
- Light: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Well-draining, neutral to acidic soil
Chives
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Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), members of the onion family, are a beginner-friendly herb to grow. “Chives are a very low-maintenance plant,” says Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus Landscaping. “They grow from a bulb and once established, have almost no maintenance.”
Chives thrive in sunny locations with rich, well-draining soil. To harvest chives, cut several stems near the base of the plant, Dilmore advises. The plant will easily recover and continue to grow for future harvests.
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Loamy, sandy
Mint
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Mint (Mentha spp.) is an easy-to-grow perennial herb that offers a zingy, fresh taste for drinks and dishes. “Mint is so easy to grow that it is often considered a weed,” Dilmore says. “Because of this, mint is best planted in pots so that it can easily be controlled. It can easily be replanted by taking cuttings or separating some of the rhizomes.”
Mint thrives in moist, well-draining soil with full to partial sunlight.
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
- Light: Partial to full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, loamy, moist
Oregano
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Oregano (Origanum spp.) is a tasty Mediterranean herb that grows rapidly. “Oregano has many varieties that provide different fragrances and flavors,” Dilmore says. “They are often considered a ground cover and spread quickly and easily.”
Oregano is a great container plant or grows well in sunny gardens with average to poor soil conditions. Fertile, rich soil can dilute oregano’s flavor.
- Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, acidic or neutral soil
Thyme
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Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a hardy herb that will come back year after year. These low-growing perennials flourish in full sunlight and are considered ground cover.
“Thyme can be grown in crevices in rock walls for an interesting aesthetic,” Dilmore says. “It can be grown in most soil conditions and has some drought tolerance when established.”
- Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Loamy, sandy
Lavender
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Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is a drought-tolerant, deer-resistant plant with a sought-after floral scent.
“Lavender does not like to stay in wet soil,” Janney says. The fragrant herb grows well in dry, hot areas and needs full sunshine. “Lavender also does not like to get super cold, so many varieties do not overwinter well,” Janney advises.
- Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, dry alkaline soil
Wild Ginger
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Wild ginger (Asarum canadense), which is different from culinary ginger used in cooking, is a herbaceous perennial with a spicy, subtle flavor that’s less intense than true ginger. Wild ginger is a popular ground cover for shady locations.
“Wild ginger stands out as an excellent choice for planting in shaded areas,” says Tammy Sons, founder and CEO of TN Nursery. “This plant requires steady moisture levels to thrive but must not sit in excess water.”
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
- Light: Shade
- Soil: Moist, rich, slightly acidic
Skullcap
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Skullcap (Scutellaria) is a fast-growing herb in the mint family. The plant has tube-shaped blooms that come in violet, blue, pink or rose.
“The understated beauty, along with the historical uses of skullcap, makes it a satisfying plant to grow,” Sons says. “It loves full sun to part shade. These herbs require minimal upkeep while effectively adapting to regional conditions and providing a surprising element to your garden.”
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, well-draining
Sage
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Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a low-maintenance, savory herb that is easy to grow. “Sage is a great perennial herb that can even become a small shrub,” Dilmore explains. “There are several varieties available to choose from and they require very little maintenance.”
This herb can take a few years to mature if you plant from seeds, so if you want it to grow fast, you’ll want to start with a plant that is already established.
Plant sage in the spring or fall in a sunny location with well-draining soil.
- Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, loamy, sandy
Anise Hyssop
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Another low-maintenance perennial herb that’s easy to grow is anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). This hardy member of the mint family has lavender-colored blooms that last into the fall.
“Anise hyssop needs full to partial sun and well-drained soil as it does not like to stay wet,” Janney says. “Prune in early spring. The flowers are edible.” Anise hyssop attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent addition to any garden.
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Well-draining, moist, sandy
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