7 Medicinal Herbs to Grow in a Healing Herb Garden
When you're starting a herb garden, you don't have to stick to what you'll use in the kitchen. These plants have several benefits beyond eating, ideal for a healing herb garden.
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Now is the time of year that most gardeners start planning for the season ahead, tweaking and adding to their existing plans in hopes of something bigger and better than last year. But the scent and usefulness of your garden matter just as much as its appearance, which is why more gardeners are choosing to dedicate a portion of their space to growing herbs with a long history of medicinal use.
No matter how big or small your garden is, a medicinal herb garden is within reach. Herbs don’t demand expert-level skills, and most of them grow well in pots, tubs, or even window boxes if space is tight.
The herbs below have been used in traditional and herbal medicine for centuries, and while they shouldn’t replace professional medical advice, many gardeners find them useful as teas, tinctures, and simple home remedies for everyday discomfort.
Chamomile
Chamomile looks pretty in the garden, has a mild and pleasant flavor in teas, and has a long history of use in herbal medicine. It’s traditionally valued for its anti-inflammatory properties, and many people use it to soothe sore throats, skin irritation, and general discomfort. Chamomile tea is also widely used as a calming drink before bed, thanks to its high calcium and magnesium content, which may help ease tension and promote relaxation.
It’s one of the easiest medicinal herbs to grow. Chamomile does well in full sun to partial shade and isn’t fussy about soil. Both adults and children tend to enjoy it as a tea, which makes it a good starting point if you’re new to growing herbs for this purpose.
Lavender
Many people grow lavender for the color and scent alone, but it has a well-established place in herbal medicine too. Lavender has traditionally been used to support relaxation and ease stress, and dried lavender sachets and pillows are a common home remedy for improving sleep. When used in oil form, it’s also popular as a topical application for minor skin irritations (though it should always be diluted with a carrier oil before applying to the skin).
Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and once established, it’s one of the most drought-tolerant herbs you can grow. It comes back year after year, smells wonderful, and earns its keep in both the garden and the medicine cabinet.
Echinacea
Echinacea (also known as purple coneflower) is one of the most widely used herbs for immune support. It has a long tradition of use by Native American tribes, and today it’s commonly taken as a tea or tincture at the first sign of a cold, with the goal of supporting the body’s immune response. Research on its effectiveness is mixed, but it remains one of the most popular herbal remedies in the country.
From a growing standpoint, echinacea is a perennial that’s easy to establish and comes back reliably year after year. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, grows about two feet tall, and produces attractive purple flowers that bloom through summer. All parts of the plant (flowers, leaves, and roots) are used in herbal preparations, with the roots traditionally considered the most potent. If you’re growing it for medicinal use, wait until the plant is at least three years old before harvesting the roots.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a member of the mint family with heart-shaped leaves and a mild lemon scent. It has been used for centuries as a calming herb, and lemon balm tea is a popular choice for easing stress and promoting sleep. Some herbalists also use it for digestive comfort, often blending it with chamomile or peppermint.
Like mint, lemon balm spreads readily, so it’s worth growing it in a container or a dedicated bed where it can’t take over. It does well in full sun to partial shade and rich, well-drained soil. Bees love it, so it doubles as a pollinator plant. Harvest the leaves before the plant flowers for the best flavor, and use them fresh or dried for tea.
Calendula
Calendula (sometimes called pot marigold) is best known for its use in skincare. The bright orange and yellow flowers have long been used in salves, balms, and infused oils for soothing minor skin irritations, and calendula cream is a staple in many herbal medicine cabinets. The petals are also edible and can be tossed into salads or brewed into a mild tea that’s traditionally used to support digestion.
Calendula is one of the simplest herbs to grow from seed. It prefers full sun, tolerates average soil, and blooms prolifically through the cooler months of the growing season. Deadhead spent flowers regularly and the plant will keep producing well into fall. It also self-sows freely, so once you have it in the garden, it tends to come back on its own.
Motherwort
Motherwort is sometimes called “mother’s little helper,” and it has a long history of use in women’s herbal medicine. It’s traditionally used to ease menstrual discomfort and has been valued by herbalists for supporting emotional balance during hormonal transitions. As with all medicinal herbs, it’s worth consulting a healthcare provider before using motherwort, particularly during pregnancy or alongside other medications.
In the garden, motherwort is a hardy perennial that grows well in full sun to partial shade. It’s not particularly ornamental, but it’s tough and low-maintenance, and it tends to attract pollinators when in bloom.
Licorice
Licorice is one of the trickier herbs on this list to grow, so it’s probably not the best choice for beginners. But if you’re up for the challenge, it has a long tradition of use in herbal medicine. It’s commonly used in teas and is traditionally valued for supporting digestive comfort and overall wellness. The flavor is naturally sweet, which makes it one of the more enjoyable herbs to use in homemade preparations.
Licorice needs deep, rich soil and a long growing season to establish properly. The roots are the part used medicinally, and they take about three years to mature enough for harvest. It’s a commitment, but once established, the plant is productive and long-lived. One thing worth noting: licorice can interact with certain medications and isn’t suitable for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider before using it regularly.
