This is a beginners guide to cooking with fresh herbs. Use the following chart as a guideline to begin experimenting with new flavors in your recipes. This is an excellent way to ‘spice up’ your favorite dishes so that they seem like new!
| Basil Magical Michael | Annual | Ornamental; use to flavor Italian dishes |
| Basil Purple Ruffles | Annual | Great addition to salads |
| Basil Red Rubin | Annual | Ornamental; adds zip to salads |
| Basil Spicy Globe | Annual | Use leaves fresh or dried; use to flavor Italian dishes |
| Basil Sweet Dani | Annual | Intense lemon flavor; adds zestful flavor to tomato dishes |
| Chamomile Roman | Perennial | Makes soothing, calming tea |
| Chives Onion | Perennial | Mild onion flavor; use to flavor stews, soups, salads |
| Coriander/Cilantro | Annual | Use in Mexican cooking, salsa & spaghetti |
| Dill Fernleaf | Annual | Use seeds & leaves for flavoring & pickling |
| Lavender Grosso | Perennial | Use as fresh fragant cut flower or dried potpourri |
| Lavender Munstead | Perennial | Use as fresh fragant cut flower or dried potpourri |
| Lemon Balm | Perennial | Makes a calming tea or add as a flavorful ingredient |
| Marjoram Sweet | Annual | Use fresh or dried to flavor meat, eggs, Italian & Greek cooking |
| Mint Spearmint | Perennial | Use to flavor candy & tea |
| Oregano Cuban | Annual | Heavy substance leaves filled with flavor and fragrance |
| Oregano Hot N Spicey | Tender Perennial | One of the tastiest oreganos ever! |
| Parsley Italian Plain Leaf | Annual | Use as garnish or seasoning |
| Parsley Triple Curled | Annual | Use as garnish or seasoning |
| Rosemary | Annual | Use needle-like leaves sparingly to flavor meat & sauces |
| Sage Bergatten | Perennial | Use to flavor eggs, meat, bread, soup, gravy |
| Sage Tricolored | Annual | Very aromatic – most suitable for decorative use |
| Stevia | Annual | 20-30 times sweeter than sugar cane; use as alternative to artificial sweetners |
| Summer Savory | Annual | Distinctive flavor adds zest to beans and main dishes |
| Tarragon French | Annual | Season vinegar, chicken, fish, soup, salads |
| Thyme Creeping | Perennial | Use to flavor meat, dressing, poultry; ground cover |
| Thyme Lemon | Perennial | Use for meat, poultry & fish cooking; flavor for pizza & pasta |