Herbs for Wildlife

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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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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There are lots of thyme varieties, but this is the original and the best. The nearest thing to wild thyme, dried bunches of which you’ll see hanging in markets from Provence to Tuscany. As you can imagine, it likes a warm, bright location. South facing is best, planting in full sun brings out the essential oils in the leaves, concentrating the flavour. All thyme enjoys light, well-drained soil and hates waterlogging, especially in winter.  Common Thyme will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Thyme with a citrussy twist. Lemon scented and herb garden must have, this thyme variation has everything. It’s a tough, Mediterranean sun lover that enjoys light, free draining soil and hates waterlogging. An excellent variety for pots where you can control the drainage and moisture. In cooking it pairs brilliantly with chicken and the higher levels of citronella in the lemony leaves, give it medicinal powers other thymes don’t have… Your Lemon Thyme will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.   

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Valerian is a pretty, native wildflower which attracts an abundance of friendlies to your garden, including cats (friendly or not) and has a rich medicinal history. It has many common names including ‘all-heal’ and ‘phu’ (pooh) which is appropriate as the dried root smells of sweaty socks! Cats love its ripe scent; it stimulates them in a similar way to catnip. It loves a rich, moist position and will grow in most aspects and soil types.    Valerian is very vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with, although it really needs planting out asap. 

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Once you discover winter savory in the kitchen, you’ll be chucking it in everything! It’s highly aromatic and similar to rosemary and hyssop in appearance. It has a peppery, thyme like flavour and suits cooking in stews, casseroles and sauces. Winter savory is a hardy, evergreen perennial and once established is pretty bullet proof. Suited to pots on a sunny patio or windowsill, it will delight with pretty, nectar rich flowers in summer.  Winter savory will be happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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