Dayton Fresh Herbs Center

Herbs

Fresh herbs are easy to grow and a delight to eat and work with.  We strive to carry a wide range of common, popular herbs as well as the more unusual varieties.  Our largest selection is available from April through summer; common herbs are available on a limited basis year round. 

Visit our Resources page for hints and tips on growing and using herbs; visit our blog, Ideas & Events and search the archives for more recipes!

Anise Hyssop

A Multi-Purpose Perennial Delight 

Enjoy the lavender/purple blooms of Anise Hyssop from mid to late summer, a bee-attracting nectar source adored by hummingbirds and butterflies. Its aromatic leaves serve dual purposes: crafting herbal teas or jellies, and infusing cookies or muffins with unique seeds. Even when dried, these leaves lend their fragrance to potpourris.

Sweet Basil

Aromatic Blooms and Culinary Delights

The following varieties may be available at different times:

Sweet, Genovese, Italian Large Leaf, Thai Magic, Amethyst, Mrs. Burn's Lemon, African Blue, Green Bouquet, Poppy Joe's, Genovese Compact, Genovese Red Freddy, Siam Queen

Try it in Garlic and Herb Oven-Fried Halibut

Bay Laurel

Fresh bay leaves have a much more subtle flavor and are delicious with poultry, pork, and lamb.

Try Potatoes Braised with Fresh Bay Leaves.

Bergamot

Enduring Beauty and Perennial

Clusters of lavender, pink or white flowers, looking like ragged pompoms, bloom atop 2-5 ft., open-branched stems.  This has aromatic leaves used to make mint tea. Oil from the leaves was formerly used to treat respiratory ailments. The leaves smell minty.

Borage

Everlasting Charisma and Perennial Enchantment

Tasting mildly of cucumber, the leaves can be added to salads and tea blends. The flowers are edible as well, and when sugared make a pretty cake decoration. It is said to be an excellent tonic for a stressful life!

Calendula

Timeless Radiance and Perennial Splendor

Also known as Pot Marigold, the flowers are colorful and tasty in soups and salads.  Floewrs can be dried as well. Attracts birds and butterflies.

Caraway

Bi-Perennial Enchantment

Tender young leaves can flavor soups and salads; the fruit (seeds) are used in rich dishes, with cabbage preparations, and in breads and baked goods.

Catnip

Perennial Fascination

In a pot or in a bed, this is guaranteed to make you popular with the felines in your life! Cats will nibble on it fresh, or you can easily dry it for a fun treat for kitty later, or make Kitty Cookies with Catnip. (Will it draw cats to your garden? Most likely. But use it to your advantage to draw them to a corner you don't mind them "visiting"!)

Chamomile

Perennial Serenity in German and Roman Varieties

Lovely white flowers, use dried flowers in teas and potpourri. Mild apple aroma from leaves and flowers, low-growing, tolerates light foot traffic.

Chervil

Perennial Sophistication

An essential French herb, it is best used fresh at the end of cooking or as a garnish. Perfect with chicken, eggs, salad, vegetables, potatoes. Try it in Potato Salad with Chervil and Shallots.

Chives

Perennial Grace and Culinary Excellence

You are most likely familiar with the delicate, onion-y flavor of chives as a garnish for vegetables, salads, soups, and potatoes. The flowers are edible, too, and look great on a salad.

These varieties will be available at varying times: Regular, Garlic

Try them in Garlic Herb Butter for bread, fish, chicken, vegetables.

Cilantro

Perennial Freshness

Varieties: Slow Bolting, and Santo

Cilantro is an essential flavor in Mexican and Thai cooking. It has an unmistakeable flavor; to some people, however, the only flavor they detect is soap! To make it more palatable to sensitive ones, be sure to remove all stems before chopping. Try it in Cilantro Pesto, delicious on roast or grilled fish, tacos, and more.

Cutting Celery

Annual Abundance

The delicious flavor of celery from the foliage of this plant flavors soups, broths and salads without the crunchy stringy stems that many don't like.

Dill

Annual Freshness

Varieties: Fernleaf and Dukat

Dill is a fast-growing perennial that adds a feathery large presence to the herb garden. For a continuous supply of the leaves, remove flowers before they open; for the seeds, allow the flowers to bloom and ripen. Try it in Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles. No canning!

Epazote

Annual Boldness

Strongly flavored leaves remind many of citrus or mint.  Used widely in Mexican cooking, it is an excellent addition to bean dishes (and is said to reduce the "after effects").

Eucalyptus

Perennial Majesty and Aromatic Grandeur

Grown for its fragrance and unique style.  Pretty in combination planters, or dried for use in arrangements and potpourri.

Fennel

Annual Versatility

Varieties: Bronze, Sweet

Never plant fennel with coriander or dill. Fennel has a light licorice/anise flavor good with pork, veal, fish, sauces, stuffings, and salad dressings. The seeds are used as a spice, particularly in breads. The stalk/bulb is delicious when shaved in salads or braised until tender. Try it in Steamed Mussels with Tomato Fennel Broth.

Horehound

Perennial Resilience and Herbal Wonder

Black licorice flavored leaves are used in candies, baked goods, and medicinal throat lozenges.

Horseradish

Perennial Zest and Culinary Pizzazz

The bright flavor of fresh horseradish is a wonderful difference from the bottled versions.  Easy to grow!

Lavender

Perennial Tranquility and Aromatic Bliss

Varieties: Goodwin Creek, Blueberry Ruffles, Lady, Grosso, Hidcote, Munstead, Provence

A beautiful herb grown mostly for its flowers, use it in potpourri, soaps, oils, and dried arrangements. It's delicate scent and flavor is also delicious is desserts, cookies, sorbets and jelly.

Lemon Balm

Perennial Delight and Aromatic Joy

Light lemon-mint leaves are best used fresh in tea, salads, fruit, punch, etc. Attracts honey bees.

Lemon Grass

Annual Elegance

Lemongrass has a subtle citrus flavor and can be dried, powdered, or used fresh. A staple in Asian and Thai cooking, the leaves are great in curries and soups, as well as flavoring poultry, vegetables, and fish. It has some mosquito repelling qualities as a patio plant as well.

Marjoram

Annual Essence

Varieties: Sweet and Zaatar

A relative of oregano, it shares a similar flavor although not as sharp and with hints of thyme and florals.

Mint

Varieties (available at different times):  Pennyroyal, Chocolate, Spearmint, Peppermint, Candy, Mojito, Banana, Corsican, Ginger, and Lime.

Besides the popular peppermint and spearmint, there are all kinds of fun flavors to explore. Mint will spread out and make itself at home, so contain the roots in some way to keep it under control.

Oregano

Varieties: Greek, Italian, Hot & Spicy, Turkestan, Thumbles Variety, Dittany of Crete

With it's robust flavor, oregano is a natural in Greek and Italian cooking. It is an excellent choice for tossing in the grill for added aroma and flavor. It makes a great addition to your mixed flower plantings, draping over the sides. Try it in delicious Greek Lamb Burgers.

Parsley

Varieties: Curled, Italian

Parsley is so much more than the ubiquitous garnish. While it does add a sprinkle of color to any dish without disrupting the flavor, it does have a taste all it's own. Chop some up in a salad mix for a really fresh, green flavor. Parsley grows really well in containers.

Patchouli

This herbs distinctive, strong fragrance is used in soaps and perfumes.

Perilla (Shiso)

Used widely in Japanese cooking, red shiso has an anise flavor, while green is spicier, like cinnamon.  They are used for seasoning, coloring, pickling, and garnishing.  Seeds are sprinkled on salads and rice, leaves often used in sushi and sashimi.  Very nutritious!

Rosemary

Varieties: Arp, Barbecue, Common, Cascade, Tuscan Blue

The needle-like leaves perfume the air with a pine scent at the slightest touch. The leaves are delicious with roasted meats, grilled steaks and chicken, and potatoes. Try using the woody stem with leaves left at the end to skewer shrimp or vegetables for grilling. Try it in Rosemary Foccacia Bread.

Sage

Varieties: Autumn Cherry Chief, Common, Golden, Pineapple, Hummingbird, Purple, Mexican Bush, Variegated, White Dalmation, Clary, Golden Delicious, Honeymelon

It's not just for Thanksgiving! Sage has a strong, savory, distinctive taste that intensifies when dried. Often used in stuffings, with pork, and chicken, it is surprisingly good with sauteed salmon as well. Try making easy Fresh Sage Sausage.

Summer Savory

Winter and Summer varieties. 

Mild flavor reminding you of sage and rosemary blends well with soups, sauces, poultry, butters, and vegetables.  Winter Savory has a more peppery bite to it.

Scented Geranium

Annual, often wintered over indoors

Varieties: Concolor Lace, Lemon Rober, Old Fashion Rose, CitriodorumThese lacey, highly textured leaves have a wonderful fragrance, and the blooms are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies.

Stevia (Sweetleaf)

Stevia

Dried powdered leaves are 300 times sweeter than sugar with no calories! Pinch frequently for best production.

Sweet Annie

Annual, self-seeds 

The fruity, sweet scent of the foliage makes it perfect filler for fresh flower arrangements and potpourri.

Tarragon

Varieties: French, Texas

A clsssic French flavor, the delicate anise taste is behind Bernaise sauce for steak and fish, and white wine sauce for chicken. Try it in Green Goddess Dressing.

Thyme

Varieties: English, French, Clear Gold, Golden Lemon, Lemon Creeping, Elfin, Coconut, White Creeping, Lemon, Lime, and Spicy Orange. 

Great with poultry, beef, mushrooms and vegetables Over 300 varieties & flavors in the world. Crushed leaves may ease bee stings. Try easy Gruyere-Thyme Icebox Crackers.