Herbs for Wildlife

The scent and flavours of mint and citrus combine wonderfully in this variety. It’s also as attractive as mints go, with bronze tinged leaves and burgundy stems and veins. With a distinct, zesty lime smell and taste, it’s a great variety for desserts, drinks and cocktails. Easy to grow with the potential to get out of hand if left unchecked, plant in fertile, moist, free-draining soil, somewhere in dappled sunlight or light shade.  Mint Lime will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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A mint bred specifically for use in a mojito – what’s not to like? Said to have originated in Cuba – the home of the mojito, it has a delightfully mild minty taste with hints of citrus. Like all mints, its vigorous and pretty un-killable. It will enjoy a range of soils, but will do the rumba in fertile, free-draining soil kept moist.  It’s another sociable mint and will happily spread given half a chance, so is best restricted to pots and containers in a sunny or semi-shaded position. Mint Mojito will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on

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Even if you’re death to plants, you should be ok with Peppermint. It’s a cool, laidback herb – happy to chill in most aspects and soil types. Unlike its mates from the Mediterranean herb brat pack, it enjoys rich moist soil and dappled shade. You’ll know if it likes you as it will try and spread everywhere, so is best grown in a pot to restrict the runners. Peppermint has a sharper, more intense flavour than garden mint, making it excellent for teas, cocktails and desserts.  Peppermint will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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This small leaved, compact variety of mint smells delightfully of strawberries and has a minty/berry taste too. Absolutely perfect for a summer fruit cup or cocktail, the leaves should be lightly crushed and muddled into your favourite drink. Really easy to grow and suited to a pot (to stop it spreading), grow in moist, fertile, free-draining soil in a sunny but lightly shaded position. The lilac purple flowers are loved by bees and butterflies. Strawberry mint will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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If there were a Champion’s League of Herbs – oregano would be in it every year, one of the old Italian giants…Napoli maybe? It’s a wonderful culinary herb and is really easy to grow if you treat it well. Oregano loves being in the sun, where the rays will concentrate the essential oils, scent and flavour of the leaves. It prefers light, free-draining soil like other herbs from the Med and hates soggy roots, especially in winter.  Oregano will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Red clover is a cheerful, bright little native herb often found in meadows, pastures, and along roadsides and in lawns. Its vibrant pink to purple flowers and distinctive trifoliate leaves are hard to miss. A herb synonymous with luck, if you find a super-rare four leaved clover then go and do the lottery!  Red clover is a well-known natural remedy for the treatment of several menopause symptoms and it’s great for foraging, lending itself to a number of culinary uses. Easy to grow, it just needs a bit of space to spread. 

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Rosemary Barbeque has been specifically bred for its culinary benefits. Its as vigorous as rosemary goes and has squat bushy habit producing thick stems which are a delight smoking on the BBQ. All rosemary prefers a sunny position in fertile well-drained soil and hates sitting in the wet – this one’s no exception. Grow in a large pot on a sunny patio or make it the centre of attention in your Mediterranean herb bed.  Rosemary will be happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Rosemary is a totally under-rated shrub. The aromatic, evergreen leaves can be enjoyed all year round, bees and pollinators are drawn to the small, light blue flowers, it’s got loads of culinary uses and is full of health benefits. Miss Jessop’s Upright has a taller, less spreading habit than other varieties. She’ll enjoy most conditions in a sunny sheltered spot – pot, container, in the ground, she’s not fussy but likes fertile, well-drained soil. Miss J will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until she needs potting on. 

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There’s nothing common about this gorgeous evergreen shrub, with its pungent downy leaves and stunning purple flowers. A herb garden must-have, sage grows best in full sun, which brings out the flavour of the leaves. It does very well in pots or containers on a sunny patio or balcony and will love being outside in a bed with other Mediterranean varieties. It’s hardy and drought tolerant once established and needs a bit of space to reach its full potential.  Sage will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Amongst the mainly green leaved herb community, purple sage stands out as a beautiful, dusky contrast. It has all the culinary benefits of common sage but is said to have a slightly more peppery taste. The delightful bronze purple leaves and stems will gradually fade to a grey-green hue, so make the most of them in a large patio pot or sunny spot in your herb garden. It’s hardy and drought tolerant once established and needs a bit of space to reach its full potential.  Purple sage will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Despite the unfortunate name, this is actually a pretty native wildflower and is a medicinal herb garden superstar. It’s local, so will be happy in most conditions and soil types, although it does do better in a fertile, moist spot. St John’s Wort has long been used as a mood enhancer and is known as a herbal antidepressant. It needs a bit of space and develops into a small, hardy perennial shrub. Suitable for large pots or unfancied parts of your garden, in partial shade.  St John’s wort will be happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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