Herbs for Wildlife

You may see this robust, leafy annual growing wild in grass verges, on waste ground or in field margins. Introduced by the Romans, it loves an open, sunny position and will happily self-seed. Most of the plant is edible, with a mild cucumber, slightly salty taste. Toss a few ice cubes each containing a bright borage blue flower, into a long, cool G&T on a hot summer’s day. 

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Cardoon is a stately, statuesque perennial worth its place in any herb garden or wild meadow. It looks like the love child of a thistle and a teasel but is in fact the wild cousin of the globe artichoke. Considered a delicacy back in the day and is still enjoyed in rural Italy, the stems have a celery-like crunch and flavour of artichoke.  Cynara cardunculus needs a load of space and a sunny position in fertile, free draining soil. The striking foliage can reach 2m tall with beautiful thistly flowerheads which are a magnet for bees and pollinators. 

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Catmint is generally milder and less smelly than catnip but can still have a feelgood effect on felines. It has a minty aroma and produces spikes of beautiful deep violet flowers which will attract bees, potentially leading to some amusing but painful cat v bee interactions. Grow along the front of a border or in a raised bed, to spill out giving your kitty a nice comfy spot in the sun.  Catnip will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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A pot of catnip growing on a windowsill could send your kitty into euphoric raptures. Not all cats respond to the smell of nepetalactone, an essential oil, but those that do have a feelgood reaction – becoming stimulated, then wacked out! Like their feline friends, catnip will enjoy a warm sunny location, prefurring at least six hours of sun every day but liking afternoon shade and a drink now and again.  Catnip will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.  

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Roman or common chamomile is grown for its flowers, a different, creeping variety ('Treneague') is used for lawns. The flowers produced by Roman chamomile are primarily used to make a soothing and relaxing tea. Like its toga wearing namesakes, it loves lounging about in the sun, so plant somewhere warm and bright. An indoor windowsill is a good place. Keep moist especially in hot weather. Chamomile will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Chives are a kitchen garden staple and if allowed to will seed quite happily about the garden. They’re a member of the allium family, alongside onions, garlic and leeks and have a mild onion flavour too – which is perfect for sauces, dressings, marinades and garnish. Easy to grow, choose a pot or at the front of a border in sunny or partially shaded spot. When harvesting, cut individual leaves down to just above the base – let some flowers grow for the bees and your salads. Chives will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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Garlic chives are an allium like chives, but a different species altogether; allium tuberosum. They originated in China and spread throughout Asia before the rest of the world. Larger and more vigorous than chives, with flatter, broader leaves and a distinct garlicky taste. Garlic chives are easy to grow and actually considered invasive pests in some countries. They enjoy the same conditions as  regular chives, including being particularly suited to pots.

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Coriander is the go-to herb for use in curries and south Asian cuisine. The leaves have a fresh, citrussy, lemony flavour and the seeds a warming, nutty, zesty taste. It’s quite literally a ‘marmite’ herb as up to 20% of people find the flavour of coriander has an abhorrent rotten, soapy taste. This is actually due to a variation in a certain gene, the incidence of which differs with ethnicity.  

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Dill is a wonderfully aromatic plant and is worth a place in any herb garden. The leaves are prized for their sweet anise flavour which has none of the liquorice strength of fennel, and the seeds for their pickling power. Generally grown as an annual because it’s not hardy, it will be ok over winter in a greenhouse and suits growing in deep pots – to accommodate the long root. Grow in a sunny position and keep moist.  Dill is pretty vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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