Herbs for Wildlife

Fennel is a brilliant herb and would grace any garden on looks alone. But it has style and substance; tall delicate stems and wispy leaves are topped with vivid yellow umbels of flowers in late summer and its subtle flavour is prized in all manner of culinary dishes. It’s very easy to grow and vigorous too, enjoying fertile, moist, free draining soil. On a patio or balcony, grow in a deep pot to give the tap root plenty of space.  Fennel is very vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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For some reason, Hyssop is a lesser known and grown herb. It was big in antiquity – used as an important culinary and medicinal plant and valued for its spiritual cleansing and protection against evil. A member of the mint family, it has a wonderful, minty floral taste with slightly bitter lavender overtones. Hyssop is a slow growing but super-hardy, semi-evergreen shrub which bees can’t get enough of. It’s comfortable in a range of soils and is an impressive plant when grown in a large pot on a warm, bright patio.  Hyssop will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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It’s not a question of whether to grow lavender in your herb garden, it’s which ones? Hidcote is an English lavender (rather than French) and is the most widely grown variety in the UK, with good reason. It’s super tough – hardy, drought resistant and positively enjoys rubbish soil, it can also take a severe crew-cut if necessary. Hidcote is an early flowering lavender and is a magnet for bees and butterflies. This variety is known for producing high quality essential oil.  Lavender Hidcote will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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If you’ve ever been lucky enough to drive through Provence in mid-summer and stopped to admire the view, your senses would have been pummelled by the unforgettable sight, smell, sound and even taste of the lavender fields. This is likely the variety you saw. Grown for it’s higher than normal oil content and stronger fragrance, Lavender Provence will adore full sun and free draining soil – in pots or as a hedge along a south facing wall. Relax and enjoy the heady perfume and soporific droning of bees.  Lavender Provence will be happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Lemon Balm has been used for thousands of years to ease digestive problems and as a feel-good mood lifter. It’s an undemanding, easy to grow herb thriving virtually anywhere in the garden, in sun or partial shade. Bees love the pretty flowers, but it’s the leaves which pack a lemony, minty punch and have a delightful citrussy aroma. In cooking, it’s an interesting lemon alternative – especially in fruit cocktails, desserts, cakes and marinades.  Lemon balm will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Of all the herbs which will brazenly self-seed all over your garden, and there are a lot, pot marigold is the most forgivable. It loves to find its own place to thrive, which might not be where you thought or wanted! Such a cheery, happy herb, it metaphorically blesses those who touch it, traditionally treating rashes, minor burns, cuts and skin conditions. Supposedly called ‘Pot’ marigold not because it looks fantastic in pots, although it does, but because its leaves were tossed into the cooking pot.   Pot Marigold will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs ‘potting’ on. 

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Marjoram is Oreganos sweeter, milder twin sister. They’re often confused but once you get to know them, you’ll appreciate their subtle differences. Marj is a real sun worshipper- she can’t get enough rays and will be happy in a south or bright west facing position, in fertile free draining soil. Equally at home lounging in a pot on a warm windowsill, her leaves have a delicate flavour and are heaven scattered onto a pizza fresh from a woodfired oven (along with her mate, Basil).  Marjoram will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Milk thistle, known scientifically as Silybum marianum, is a spiky yet beautiful herb with the best latin name of any plant, in our opinion! It’s one of those wildflowers which maybe considered a weed – it’s very vigorous and will spread quickly. However, if you’ve room in your garden it’s a wonderful, architectural plant, loved by bees and butterflies and of course is renowned as a natural remedy for liver conditions. It’s a great plant for a cat safe or dog friendly garden and is actually used in some pet supplements to boost liver functions. The spikey leaves generally discourage nibbling anyway. 

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Apple mint (aka Woolly Mint) is a tall variety with bum fluffy leaves and a wonderful appley scent and taste. It makes a brilliant alternative to garden mint and enjoys the same conditions – rich, moist soil and dappled shade. It’s more vigorous than most mints, which is saying something, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it and give it a good seeing to if it gets out of hand. Best grown in pots and containers to curb its enthusiasm.   Apple mint will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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Garden Mint aka Spearmint (it’s rapper name) is a friendly, sweetly scented perennial which is virtually unkillable. In fact, it can be a bit too friendly and in the right conditions can get out of hand, so is best grown in a pot. It’s fast growing, so you can regularly pick refreshing leaves for desserts, sauces, cocktails and baking. The soothing and decongestant qualities of mint are well known, it’s also extensively used in skin care products.  Your mint will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.  

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