Tired of replanting your herb garden every spring?
Container gardening, especially with herbs and edible plants, is becoming increasingly popular as gardeners seek low-maintenance, high-reward options. In fact, edible container gardening is listed as one of the top gardening trends according to a report by the Garden Media Group1.
Good news: you can enjoy fresh herbs and veggies year after year with these 12 perennial powerhouses that thrive in pots.
1. Mint: The Refreshing Spreader
Mint is a hardy perennial that thrives in containers, coming back year after year. It’s perfect for adding a fresh flavor to drinks, salads, and desserts. Just be sure to give it its own pot, as mint can spread quickly and overtake other plants.
2. Rosemary: The Fragrant Evergreen
Rosemary is a woody, evergreen herb that can live for years in a container. It prefers full sun and well-draining soil. This fragrant herb is a staple in Mediterranean cooking and pairs well with roasted meats and vegetables.
3. Chives: Mild Onion Alternative
Chives are a perennial member of the onion family with a milder flavor. They grow well in containers and can be harvested continuously by snipping the leaves back to the base. Chives add a nice oniony flavor to salads, soups, and potato dishes.
4. Oregano: The Italian Staple
Oregano is a hardy perennial herb that comes back bigger and better each year. It prefers full sun and well-draining soil in its container. Oregano is a key ingredient in many Italian dishes and is great for flavoring sauces, pizzas, and more.
5. Thyme: Low-Maintenance Charmer
Thyme is a low-growing perennial herb that thrives with minimal care. It does well in containers and can even tolerate some shade. This versatile herb enhances the flavor of soups, stews, roasted vegetables and meats.
6. Sage: The Fragrant Favorite
Sage is a perennial herb with velvety, aromatic leaves. It grows well in containers and can get quite large over time. Sage is commonly used to flavor poultry dishes, stuffing, and sauces. It’s also lovely dried for herbal teas.
7. Egyptian Walking Onions: Self-Propagating Allium
Egyptian walking onions are a unique perennial that produces both underground bulbs and small bulbils on top of their stalks. These topsets can be harvested for eating or replanting, making them a self-propagating addition to your container garden.
8. Saffron: Precious Spice
Saffron is harvested from the stigmas of the saffron crocus flower, which blooms in the fall. These perennial corms can be grown in containers and harvested year after year. Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, prized for its unique flavor and color.
9. Arugula: The Cut-and-Come-Again Green
While often grown as an annual, arugula can be a short-lived perennial in containers. This peppery green is great for salads and sandwiches. Harvest the outer leaves and allow the center to keep producing.
10. Bunching Onions: Continuous Scallion Supply
Bunching onions, also called scallions or green onions, are perennials that can be harvested continuously. Just snip off the green tops as needed and they’ll keep regrowing in their container.
11. Tarragon: The French Herb
French tarragon is a perennial herb with a distinct anise flavor. It grows well in containers and can be harvested throughout the growing season. Tarragon is wonderful in egg dishes, sauces, and vinaigrettes.
12. Lemon Balm: Calming Herb
Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family with a bright, citrusy scent. It makes a delicious herbal tea that is said to have calming properties. Lemon balm can spread quickly, so it’s best to give it its own container.
Source:
1. 2024 Garden Trends Report – Garden Media Group
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.