4 Unusual Herbs to Grow at Home

If you take a look at most people’s herb gardens, you are likely to find the same handful of plants over and over again, and while these wonderful herbs are not to be sniffed at (they reappear for good reason), there is a whole world of other delicious, healthful and nutritious herbs that oft get overlooked.

Sage, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, and parsley are steadfast and very important mainstays for many a herb garden. They are well trusted and understood, and folks are confident in using them in the kitchen and sometimes even medicinally.

Still, if you are interested in expanding your herb bed, herb spiral, or container garden with even more aromatic, decorative, and delicious plants, then take a look at this list of more uncommon herbs that can help grow your culinary talents and maybe even your medicine cabinet.

1. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Source: The Garden Witch/YouTube

Despite its name, this plant is neither a type of anise nor a type of hyssop! It is, in fact, a member of the mint family, or Lamiaceae family.  It is likely to have been given the common name anise due to its anise/licorice scent and flavor. The flavor is more akin to the taste of tarragon and some basil varieties rather than true licorice.

Anise Hyssop makes a stunning addition to your garden, and its purple lavender-like blooms are a favorite of pollinators.  Unlike its cousin, mint, this is a clumping variety of herbs that can be managed much easier in the garden. However, it is good at self-seeding!

This plant can reach heights of up to 5 feet tall and can spread to 3 feet wide, so make sure that you allow space. You will need to wait until the last frost of spring before planting your seedlings outside in a sunny spot.

The leaves of the anise hyssop plant can be used to add flavor to salads and can also be used fresh or dried to make herbal tea. The seeds are often used to add a little spice to cakes and cookies.

2. Lovage (Levisticum officinale)

Source: Merry Harrison/YouTube

Lovage is a wonderful addition to your herb garden. The leaves are reminiscent of celery, but that plant is, in fact, a member of the carrot family. The plant has thick celery-like stalks and yellow, umbel flowers similar to parsley, dill, Queen Anne’s lace, and carrots (all members of the carrot family).

In the right conditions, lovage can get as high as 72 inches, so plant your seedlings or seeds appropriately. You will need to choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.

The leaves have a celery-like flavor and can be used in recipes that would otherwise call for parsley or celery. You may use the stalks as vegetables, but it is best to choose younger ones for a more tender texture. In the autumn, the roots can be harvested and eaten like carrots. The leaves can be used in salads to add to the flavor profile.

3. Marshmallow (Althaea Officinalis)

Source: Rain County/YouTube

Marshmallow, rather than being a form of foamy, fluffy candy, is a perennial, herbaceous plant of the Malvaceae family—hibiscus belongs to this family, too, which is evident in the similarity of their flowers. Marshmallows of the candy kind were originally made from the root sap of this plant.

As its name suggests, marshmallow prefers damp conditions. It enjoys full sun and can reach up to 5 feet high if left alone.  The plants produce stunning pink/white flowers that show from July through to September. They can be cultivated from clippings and are fairly good at self-seeding.

The roots and leaves of the marshmallow plant have a high mucilaginous content. This is a sticky, slimy substance that is thought to help with symptoms of coughs and colds. The same substance might also be helpful in the treatment of wounds, rashes, and inflammation. The leaves may also be eaten in salads or steamed as one would with kale or collards.

4. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)

Source: PREPSTEADERS/YouTube

Stevia as a substitute for sugar is widely known and used. Many people, however, might know it as something that you buy in a jar or tiny paper packets from the supermarket. But, you can leave all that packaging behind and grow your sweet stevia plant in your back garden!

Stevia is a relatively small plant that is only perennial in USDA growing zones 9 and warmer. However, in cooler zones, there is a chance that if you cut your plant back in the autumn and mulch the roots well, it might come back the next year. Either that or you can grow your plant in a pot and bring it indoors over the winter. Plant stevia in a sunny spot with well-draining soil.

If you have stevia as an annual, you can harvest all of the leaves at the end of the season and dry them. You can either use the whole leaf (one leaf is about the equivalent to one teaspoon of sugar) in a cup of tea or coffee or grind the dried leaves to a powder and use it as a substitute for sugar in baking. Note that stevia is VERY sweet, so go lightly to begin with and add more if needed.

Related Content:

• How to Grow Herbs Indoors and What to Do With Them
• DIY! How to Easily Grow Herbs in Your Kitchen
• 5 Medicinal Herbs to Grow in Pots
• 10 Best Kits To Grow Your Own Herbs
• Ultimate Guide to Herbs and Teas

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