All You Need To Know Of Aromatic Plants

Aromatic plants easily grow into our hearts first, then we invite them into our gardens and balconies. They are easy to grow, aesthetic and fragrant. And when you need it, you can pick a few mint leaves or sprigs of thyme to make your mojitos and ratatouilles unique (don’t be mistaken, it would be a shame). But the choice is vast: so which aromatic plants for your garden? Let’s take a look at the essential varieties…

Aromatic plants: which species to choose?

We distinguish :

Perennial aromatic plants with deciduous foliage: this is the case of chives, tarragon, and mint. They lose their foliage in winter but regain it in spring.
Perennial aromatic plants with evergreen foliage: this is the case of rosemary, sage Officinalis, and thyme. These retain their foliage through the winter.
Annual aromatic plants: such as dill, basil or coriander which only live for one year and must be replanted or sown each year.
Biennial aromatic plants: they live for 2 years, like parsley.

Keep these differences in mind when planting.

How to successfully grow aromatic plants: choose plants adapted to your soil and your orientation

The secret of happy aromatic plants? It’s not a question of a green thumb, but a question of choosing the plants for which the conditions in your garden or balcony will suit them best. Thereby:

Is your garden or your balcony sunny, it’s warm and the soil is well drained or even sandy? Oregano, rosemary, savoury, sage or even thyme are yours.
Is your garden or your balcony sunny but not too much and the soil is rich and fresh? Dill, basil, chives, coriander, tarragon or even lemon balm are yours.
Does your garden or balcony enjoy the partial shade and rich, cool soil? Chervil, mint or parsley (curly or flat) are yours.

How do combine aromatic plants?

One of the most common mistakes in growing aromatics? Associations that don’t work…

To create an aromatic garden or a simple planter, it is advisable to combine plants that have the same sun and water needs. Thus, you can place tarragon, chives and coriander together in a corner in partial shade with cool soil, while thyme, rosemary and oregano, plants of Mediterranean origin, will do well in sunny, drained soil.

However, be careful with mint: isolate it in a large pot because it is very invasive!

1. Lavender