Perennial Herbs in the Garden - Double Duty Plants

One of my favorite things in gardening is to find a plant that will pull double duty. It’s like getting a bargain on a brand new shirt; two for the price of one! One of the most satisfying ways I’ve found of accomplishing that in the borders in front of my Texas home was by using perennial herbs. 

A perennial is a plant that returns each year. It doesn’t die during the winter so you never have to replant. I love that. I’m all about continuing to reap the benefits of something I did last year. When I started investigating planting an herb garden I was surprised how many of the commonly used herbs are perennial. Now, one thing to keep in mind is each plants hardiness, or what areas of the country it will survive a winter through. Check a Zone Map to find out what your hardiness zone is and then select perennials that fit that zone. While your perennial may go dormant, or seem to die, as long as you stay within the plants hardiness level it will return come warmer weather. I want to share with you some of my favorite herbs from that little border and why I selected them. 

Oregano, Italian (Origanum x marjoricum) – Being the Italian, spaghetti lover that I am I liked having this herb in the border near the door for easy access any time I wanted to add a little seasoning to my sauces or stews. Oregano grows well in zones 5-10 and has a nice upright growth habit that looks nice in any border. Small white or lavender blooms during the summer are only an extra bonus. 

Lavender, Munstead (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’) – One of my favorite herbs of all time this aromatic offering will survive winters through zone 5 and should be treated like an annual in colder regions. With the Munstead variety the flowers are a little darker blue, and show up a little earlier, blooming in mid-spring rather than mid-summer as with other lavender varieties. Plant near a walkway or entrance to make best use of the wonderful fragrance. Lavender is a nice plant for less than ideal conditions once it’s established. See the Lavender Plant Profile for more details.