Tropical and Subtropical Herbs
As a horticulturist, we have favorite endeavors
such as growing plants especially herbs. Herbs are very versatile and can be
placed within your landscaping as groundcovers, shrubs, and trees. Herbs make
an excellent choice to decorate a sunny patio, deck, or balcony, and the
flowers that are produced on herbs will provide twice the amount of fun to your
growing area. The seeds and flowers will provide additional ingredients to
recipes. Processing the seeds produced by herbs make additional ingredients to
add to recipes. For example, when Cilantro goes to seed the seeds are called
Coriander when crushed; and when Dill goes to seed the processed seeds are
called Dill Weed. Most flowers produced by herbs are edible and are used in
salads, garnishes, and cooking or can be used in dried floral arrangements. For
example, add Mexican
Marigold Mint flowers to salads and Lavender flowers can be dried and used in
floral arrangements. Plants that are classified as Herbs are very diverse and
have multiple uses around the home besides just for cooking. Speaking of cooking,
I would like to ask my readers to share one of their favorite recipes using one
or more of the herbs listed below. You may share it in the comments section or
you can email it to me at: cheryl@hibiscusandmore.com. This could be lots of fun!!!
Allspice – Pimenta dioica. Type: Tree. Height: 20-30 feet. Spacing: 15-20
feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Uses: Allspice is a combination of
cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg taste. The fruit and leaves are used in cooking vegetables,
soups, desserts, gingerbread, apple and pumpkin pie. Next time you make red
cabbage try about ¼th teaspoon of Allspice. Allspice can also be grown in a
container and brought inside before first frost.
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Allspice - Pimenta dioica
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Arugula - Eruca sativa. Type: Annual. Height: 12 – 18 inches. Spacing: 6 – 12 inches
apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Excellent companion
plant for salad mixes. Arugula prefers cool temperatures and can be grown from
seeds or plants in early spring or fall. Can harvest 21 days after planting. To
extend the growing season keep flower buds pinched back.
Basil - Ocimum basilicum. Type: Annual. Height: 18 – 30 inches. Spacing: 12 – 18 inches
apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms pink flowers in
summer. Additional Uses: Leaves can be used fresh or dried in tomato dishes,
pasta dishes, vegetables, and soups. A companion plant that repels aphids,
mites, and tomato hornworms. There are several different cultivars of Basil
some favorites are Lemon and Cinnamon Basil.
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| Basil - Ocimum basilicum |
Bay Rum Tree – Pimenta racemosa. Type: Tree. Height: 20-25 feet.
Spacing: 25 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Leaves
are a combination of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg with hints of vanilla and
cardamom. Uses: Leaves are used in cooking rice dishes, soups, stews, tea,
vegetables and meat dishes.
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| Bay Rum Tree - Pimenta racemosa |
Catmint - Nepeta x faassenii. Type: Perennial. Height: 12 – 18 inches. Spacing:
12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Profuse
lavender blooms on spiky stems. Good for containers and the perennial garden.
Soft, crinkled, gray-green leaves on a compact, mounding plant. Additional
Uses: Butterfly nectar plant and your cats will love it.
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| Catmint - Nepeta x faassenii |
Catnip - Nepeta cataria. Type: Perennial. Height: 2 – 4 feet. Spacing: 12 – 18 inches
apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Vigorous, high-yielding
plants. Cat-attracting perennial with gray-green leaves and white flowers.
Additional uses: Butterfly nectar plant and your cats will love it.
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| Catnip - Nepeta cataria |
Chives - Allium schoenoprasum. Type: Perennial. Height: 18 – 24 inches. Spacing:
4 – 8 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Chives have
a mild onion flavor that is very pleasing and is easy to grow. Uses: Can be
added to soups, salads, egg dishes, potatoes, fish dishes, or any dish that
requires a mild onion flavor fresh or frozen. Additional Uses: Mosquito
Repellent Plant or border/edger plant.
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| Chives - Allium schoenoprasum |
Cilantro, Coriander - Coriandrum sativum. Type: Annual. Height: 12 – 18
inches. Spacing: 6 – 8 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial
shade. Leaves are used in salsa, guacamole, sauces, and seafood. When Cilantro
produces seeds the seed of Cilantro are called Coriander.
Cinnamon – Cinnamomum verum. Type: Tree. Height: 50 feet. Spacing: 25-35 feet.
Light Requirements: Full sun. Uses: The inner bark is used for the spice
cinnamon and is used in baking, desserts, pies, cookies, breads, cocoa, eggnog,
and toast.
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| Cinnamon – Cinnamomum verum |
Citronella Grass - Cymbopogon nardus. ((Cymbopogon flexuosus)
(East Indian)).
Type: Perennial, annual outside zone 9. Height: 5-6 feet. Spacing: 12 inches
apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar
plant for butterflies, Mosquito repellent plant, leaves are used in cooking, in
potpourris, sachets, and the oil from the plant is used in citronella candles.
Costa Rican Mint – Satureja viminea. Type: Shrub. Height: 3-6 feet.
Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Peppermint
flavored leaves used fresh or dried in soups, stuffing, sauces, meats, egg
dishes, salads, and teas.
Cuban Oregano – Plectranthus amboinicus. Type: biennial. Height: 1-2
feet. Spacing: 2-3 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
The leaves have a strong flavor and use sparingly. Use in soups, stews,
stuffing, fish, meats, Cuban black bean dishes, in containers and hanging baskets.
Cutting Celery, Leaf Celery, Celery Leaf – Apium graveolens var.
secalinum.
Type: biennial. Height: 10 – 12 inches. Spacing: 10 – 12 inches apart. Light
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Excellent plant to grow in containers.
Cutting Celery is an excellent substitute for traditional celery, but without
all the growing hassle. Very easy to grow and taste just like traditional
celery, and cutting celery can be used in every recipe that calls for
traditional celery.
Dill – Anethum graveolens.Type: Annual. Height: 18 – 36 inches. Space: 12
inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Yellow blossoms in
summer, seed heads can be harvested. The seeds can be crushed and used in
cooking. The leaves can be used fresh in potato, tuna, and chicken salads;
fresh chicken and fish dishes. Additional Uses: Attracts butterflies and a
larval food plant for butterflies. (Plant enough for you and the butterflies!).
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| Dill – Anethum graveolens |
Epazote – Dysphania ambrosioides (Chenopodium ambrosioides). Type: Annual. Height: 3 – 4
feet. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Leaves are used in bean, soups, eggs or cheese dishes.
French Lavender – Lavandula dentata. Type: Perennial. Height: 24-36
inches. Spacing: 20-23 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Uses:
Potpourri, dried flowers, cut flowers, fragrant.
French Tarragon – Artemisia dracunculus ‘Sativa’. Type: Perennial. Height: 24
inches. Spacing: 8 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Leaves are used in eggs, poultry, salads, cheese, and fish.
Garlic Chives - Allium tuberosum.Type: Perennial. Height: 18 –
24 inches. Spacing: 6 – 8 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial
shade. Garlic Chives have flat, thin leaves with a mild blend of garlic and
onion. Uses: Can be added to soups, salads, egg dishes, potatoes, fish dishes,
or any dish that requires a mild onion flavor fresh or frozen. Additional Uses:
Mosquito Repellent Plant or border/edger plant.
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| Garlic Chives - Allium tuberosum |
Greek Oregano - Origanum vulgare subsp. Hirtum. Type: Perennial. Height: 24
inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial
shade. Leaves are used in Italian dishes, pizza, shellfish, egg dishes, beef,
pork, and poultry dishes.
Henna – Lawsonia inermis.
Type: Shrub. Height: 7-8 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Uses: Leaves are used fresh or dried for dyes, cosmetics and fabrics.
Type: Shrub. Height: 7-8 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Uses: Leaves are used fresh or dried for dyes, cosmetics and fabrics.
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| Henna – Lawsonia inermis |
Italian Oregano – Origanum vulgare. Type:
Perennial. Height: 24 inches. Spacing: 8 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full
sun to partial shade. Leaves are used in Italian dishes, pizza, shellfish, egg dishes,
beef, pork, and poultry dishes.
Lavender - Lavandula angustifolia. Type: Perennial. Height:
18-24”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Additional Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, flowers can be dried, in
potpourris, and sachets.
Lemon Grass - Cymbopogon citratus (West Indian).
Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, Mosquito repellent plant, leaves are used in cooking, in potpourris, and sachets.
Type: Perennial. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 12” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Nectar plant for butterflies, Mosquito repellent plant, leaves are used in cooking, in potpourris, and sachets.
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| Lemon Grass - Cymbopogon citratus |
Lemon Thyme – Thymus x citriodorus. Type: Perennial. Height: 12
inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Light purple
flowers in summer. Wonderful Lemon scent when leaves are crushed or walked
upon. Additional Uses: All leaves have a distinct lemon flavor that can be used
in cooking. Attracts Butterflies and Hummingbirds to the garden.
Lemon Verbena – Aloysia triphylla. Type: Perennial, treat as an
annual outside zone 8. Height: To 4 feet. Spacing: 18-24” apart. Light
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The oil is used in
perfumes; the leaves are used in flavoring teas and jellies.
Mexican Marigold Mint - Tagetes lucida.Type: Perennial. Height:
24-30”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Additional Uses: Butterfly nectar and larval food plant, Mosquito repellent
plant, fresh flowers are used in salads; leaves are used as a substitute for French
tarragon.
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| Mexican Marigold Mint - Tagetes lucida |
Parsley - Petroselinum crispum. Type: Annual. Height: 12 – 18 inches. Spacing: 8
inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Leaves are used in
meat dishes, soups, and salads.
Pennyroyal – Mentha pulegium. Type: Perennial. Height: 6 – 12
inches. Spacing: 12 – 24 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial
shade. Purple flowers in late summer through fall. Additional Uses: A
groundcover, nectar plant for butterflies, the leaves are used in the flavoring
for fish dishes, and grows well in a hanging basket.
Peppermint - Mentha piperita. Type: Perennial. Height: 24-36”. Spacing: 12-18”
apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Leaves
are used fresh in hot and iced teas, butterfly nectar and larval food plant.
Pineapple Sage – Salvia elegans. Type: Perennial. Height: 3 - 4 feet. Spacing: 3 –
4 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms red flowers
in spring, summer, and fall. The leaves when crushed smell and taste like fresh
pineapple. Additional Uses: The fresh leaves can be used in drinks and salads.
The leaves can be used in hot or cold drinks, and the flowers and leaves are
used chopped in salads. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.
Prostrate Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostratus’.
Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, Mosquito repellent plant, and drought tolerant plant.
Type: Perennial shrub or groundcover. Height: 12-18”. Spacing: 2 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, butterfly nectar plant, Mosquito repellent plant, and drought tolerant plant.
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| Prostrate Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostratus’ |
Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus.Type: Perennial shrub. Height:
4 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Additional Uses: The leaves are used in lamb and fish dishes, drought tolerant
plant, Mosquito repellent plant, and butterfly nectar plant.
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| Rosemary - Salvia rosmarinus |
Sage - Salvia officinalis. Type: Perennial. Height: 3 feet. Spacing: 12
inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Leaves are used in
stuffing and meat dishes.
Salad Burnet - Sanguisorba minor. Type: Perennial. Height: 12
inches. Spacing: 8 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.
Leaves have a mild cucumber taste and are used in salads, vinegars, and cold
drinks.
Spanish Lavender – Lavandula stoechas. Type: Perennial. Height:
18-24”. Spacing: 12-18” apart. Light Requirements: Full sun. Additional Uses:
Nectar plant for butterflies, flowers can be dried, in potpourris, and sachets.
Spearmint – Mentha spicata. Type: Perennial. Height: 24-36”. Spacing: 36-48
inches. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Additional Uses: Leaves
are used fresh in hot and iced teas, Butterfly Nectar and Larval Food Plant.
Stevia - Stevia rebaudiana. Type: Hardy Perennial in USDA zones 9 and 10.
Height: 18 – 24 inches. Spacing: 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun
to partial shade. Uses: Stevia is a natural sweetener that is used as a sugar
substitute that is calorie free. Leaves can be used fresh or dried in
beverages, sauces, and salads. Do not plant outdoors until temperatures are
above 45 degrees. Avoid afternoon summer sun in extreme southern areas during
July and August. During these months it’s recommended to put the container in
afternoon shade. Check for leafhoppers and whiteflies which may be a problem.
Summer Thyme – Thymus vulgaris. Type: Perennial. Height: 6 – 12 inches. Spacing:
6 – 12 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms
lilac to purple flowers in summer. Additional Uses: All leaves are used in
cooking. Attracts butterflies to the garden. All thyme plants can be used as an
alternative ground cover.
Sweet Bay Laurel – Laurus nobilis.Type:
Perennial. Height: 12 – 15 feet. Growth rate slow and plants growing in
containers will be somewhat shorter. Spacing: 24 inches apart. Light
Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Blooms pale yellow flowers in spring.
Leaves are used in Italian and fish dishes. Companion plants are Prostrate
rosemary, Lavender, and Oregano.
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| Sweet Bay Laurel – Laurus nobilis |
Sweet Marjoram - Origanum majorana. Type: Perennial. Height: 12 to
18 inches. Spacing: 9 inches apart. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial
shade. Leaves are used in eggs, meats, rice, pastas, soups, vegetables.
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