How to Plan a Medicinal Herb Garden (Beginner-Friendly + What to Grow First)

If you want to plan a medicinal herb garden, the simplest way to start is to choose 3 to 5 herbs your family will actually use, plant them around your last frost date, and begin using them right away as teas, infused oils, or simple remedies.

You do not need a large space, years of experience, or dozens of herbs to begin. In fact, many medicinal herbs can be harvested within weeks, even in their first season, making this one of the fastest ways to start building a home apothecary.

Start Here: Watch, Listen, and See It in Action

Before you start planting, I highly recommend learning in a way that fits you best.

This post has been updated to include:

• My newest podcast episode (and video) with my tips on where I would start if I were planting a medicinal herb garden from scratch again, Pioneering Today podcast #508 (watch or listen above)
• A second podcast with more tips on planning a medicinal herb garden in a limited space. This is a live coaching call from the Pioneering Today Academy, episode #382 (podcast player below)
• A third podcast with more information on planning your medicinal herb garden, episode #417, (podcast player and video below)
• Multiple garden walkthrough videos from Norris Farmstead showing how our herb garden has grown over time (videos are sprinkled throughout the blog post)

These are incredibly helpful because you can see how a medicinal herb garden comes together and evolves.

You’ll also want to grab the Medicinal Herb Garden eBook mentioned in the podcast and my free herbal energetics wheel.

How to Choose the Right Herbs (Start Small)

One of the biggest mistakes I see is trying to grow everything all at once.

Instead, ask yourself, what do we actually need most? And, what do we already reach for?

Common starting points:

• Sleep and calm support
• Digestion
• Skin and first aid
• Stress support

Best Medicinal Herbs to Start With

You’ll hear me say, over and over again, in the newest podcast (episode #508), that a specific herb is my favorite, but truth be told, I have many favorites!

Now that herbal remedies are part of our everyday life, there are so many I love growing in my yard.

Below are some of the easiest, most useful herbs to grow for a home apothecary.

Watch the videos of our 106 and 107 year old medicinal herb garden below:

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is easy to grow, forgiving of neglect, and one of the best beginner herbs. It’s one of those easy, dependable herbs every home gardener should grow.

This hardy perennial is part of the mint family, grows quickly and does well in both full sun and partial shade, reaching about 2 to 3 feet tall.

It prefers moist, well-drained soil and will happily spread by both seed and its roots. Because of that, it’s wonderful for filling in a space, but it can also take over if you’re not mindful. I like to keep mine in a dedicated garden bed or even in containers so it stays right where I want it.

Lemon Balm Medicinal Uses

• Supports calm and sleep
• Traditionally used for immune support

👉 Grab my herbal stress-relief capsule remedy here.

Chamomile

Chamomile (the white and yellow flower on the left in the photo above) is one of those gentle, easygoing herbs that’s perfect for just about any garden. It loves full sun and well-draining soil, and I usually start it from seed without any trouble.

German chamomile is an annual that grows upright, often reaching up to about 2 feet tall, while Roman chamomile is a perennial that stays low to the ground and spreads into a soft, carpet-like mat.

When it’s first getting established, it does best with consistent moisture, but once it’s settled in, it’s quite drought-tolerant and very low-maintenance.

Chamomile Medicinal Uses

• Supports digestion and relaxation
• Perfect for evening tea

👉 Chamomile is also an herb in my herbal stress-relief capsule remedy.

Calendula

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) is one of the most important herbs for skin. It’s often called pot marigold, and is one of those cheerful, hardworking flowers I think every garden should have.

It’s a hardy, fast-growing annual (that reseeds and comes back like a perennial) that does well in full sun but will still thrive with a bit of afternoon shade, especially as the weather warms. It prefers well-drained, average soil and really shines in the cooler seasons of spring and fall.

I like to direct sow calendula seeds about ¼ inch deep in early spring, and before long, you’ll have plants reaching anywhere from 8 to 24 inches tall. Keep the soil evenly moist, but don’t worry about feeding; it doesn’t need fertilizer to do well.

If you regularly pinch off the spent blooms, you’ll encourage more flowers to keep coming right up until a hard frost. But be sure to leave some flowers to go to seed and come back first thing in the spring the following year.

Calendula Medicinal Uses

• Used in salves and wound care
• Supports healing and soothing

👉 Grab my tutorials for making a homemade calendula oil and a DIY herbal wound healing salve (better than Neosporin!).

Peppermint

Peppermint is one of those vigorous, dependable herbs that will take off just about anywhere you plant it. It’s a hardy perennial that spreads quickly through underground runners, which means once it’s established, it doesn’t hold back.

It does best in moist, well-drained soil and prefers a bit of partial shade, though it can handle full sun if you keep it well watered.

Because it spreads so easily, I always recommend growing peppermint in containers or a dedicated space where it can’t take over your entire garden. It’s a wonderful herb to have on hand, you just want to be sure it stays where you put it.

Peppermint Medicinal Uses

• Supports digestion
• Helpful for congestion and headaches

👉 Grab my peppermint herbal skin soothing salve recipe.

Tulsi (Holy Basil)

Tulsi, or Holy Basil, is a beautiful, fragrant adaptogen herb that really thrives when it’s given warmth and sunshine. It loves a sunny spot with about 6 to 8 hours of direct light each day, along with well-draining soil and consistent watering to keep it happy. If you can give it a bit of humidity, it will truly flourish.

You can grow tulsi from seed or cuttings, and it will quickly become a bushy, productive plant, usually reaching anywhere from 1 to 4 feet tall.

In cooler climates, we tend to grow it as an annual, but in warmer, tropical areas, it can grow as a perennial. It’s one of those herbs that rewards you well when you meet its basic needs.

Tulsi Medicinal Uses

• Helps the body respond to stress
• Supports mood and resilience

👉 Learn more about adaptogenic herbs here.

Lavender

Lavender is one of those herbs that really teaches you to garden a bit differently. It thrives in full sun, about 6 to 8 hours or more each day, and does best in well-drained soil that leans neutral to slightly alkaline, much like its native Mediterranean home.

In fact, lavender prefers what we’d call “lean” soil, so there’s no need to over-fertilize. Once it’s established, it doesn’t need much water either, and too much moisture can actually lead to root rot.

For best success, plant lavender in the spring and give each plant plenty of room, about 2 to 3 feet apart, so it has good airflow. A light pruning in the fall will help keep plants healthy and encourage new growth the following season.

I’ll be honest, lavender can be a bit tricky to start from seed. I’ve had my share of struggles getting good germination, so if you want to save yourself some frustration, I recommend purchasing healthy starts to get your lavender patch established. Once it’s growing well in the right conditions, it’s a beautiful and rewarding addition to the garden.

• Supports calm and sleep
• Excellent for topical use

👉 Learn how to make homemade bath salts and, more importantly for lavender, how to harvest medicinal herbs for their maximum potency.

Yarrow

Yarrow is one of those tough, dependable perennials that really shines when other plants struggle. It loves full sun, about 6 to 8 hours or more each day, and does best in well-draining soil, even if that soil isn’t particularly rich. In fact, it’s quite happy in poorer soil conditions and doesn’t need much fussing over.

Once established, yarrow is very drought-tolerant and will grow into a beautiful, bushy plant about 1 to 3 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety and growing conditions. It spreads gradually through underground roots and seeds, forming clumps of soft, feathery foliage topped with those classic flat clusters of blooms.

It’s one of those plants you can tuck into a sunny spot and trust it to keep coming back year after year with very little maintenance.

• Helps stop bleeding
• Supports wound care

👉 Learn how to use medicinal herbs at home for more ways to treat common ailments.

Even More Medicinal Herbs to Grow

While those are the herbs I would recommend starting with, there are so many more that can be layered in year after year:

• Sage – This is great for sore throats as well as culinary herbs. (Source)
• Bergamot – This is a newer medicinal herb to me, but it grows incredibly beautiful flowers. Because I knew it also had medicinal benefits, I figured it would make a great addition to the Farmstay herb garden. Native Americans ground bergamot into a powder and rubbed it on their head to relieve headaches. The powder was also rubbed over the body to cure fever and as a remedy for sore eyes and colds. (Source)
• Borage – Borage will grow very large and produce beautiful little purple/blue flowers. Use the leaves to treat coughs and digestive issues (indigestion, IBS). It’s great for cold and flu season because it helps with nasal congestion by acting as an expectorant. (Source)
• Bronze Fennel – Like other fennels, the bronze fennel has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties. (Source)
• Burdock – Be mindful of where you plant burdock because it grows burrs. For burdock, you harvest the root once the plant is established. Burdock is great at removing toxins and as a blood purifier. It’s also a diuretic and is fantastic when turned into a salve for skin issues like eczema, acne and psoriasis. (Source)
• Chamomile – Most commonly known for its calming abilities, especially when enjoyed as a tea. Chamomile is also great for hay fever, inflammation, muscle spasms, menstrual disorders, insomnia, ulcers, wounds, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids. (Source)
• Chrysanthemum – Another beautiful flower that also has medicinal purposes. In southern China, chrysanthemum is brewed into a summertime tea. It is also used to treat chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, fever, cold, headache, and dizziness. (Source) (Source) (Source) (Source) In combination with other herbs, chrysanthemum is also used to treat prostate cancer. (Source)
• Echinacea – I love growing echinacea for both the beautiful and colorful blooms, but also to make my homemade echinacea tincture for immune boosting and anti-viral properties. (Source) You use the root of the echinacea flower, so your plants need to be established for about two to three years before harvesting.
• Elderberry – I’m a few years into growing my own elderberries, and they’re finally getting established. I’m excited to be able to harvest the elderflowers for their medicinal benefits. (Source) You can learn how to grow elderberries, how to make elderberry syrup, and how to propagate elderberry bushes for free from cuttings.
• Feverfew – This is a very pretty herb that grows into a pretty little flower, great for flower arrangements but also believed to reduce fevers. It helps aid the body with headaches, fevers, and respiratory issues. (Source) (Source)
• Lavender – Great for inhalation therapy to treat headaches or exhaustion. Lavender oil is also fantastic in salves to soothe skin issues like fungal infections (candidiasis), wounds, eczema and acne. Use it in a bath for joint and muscle pain (Source) and in natural insect repellent.
• Lemon Balm – Lemon balm is in the mint family, which means it will spread if not maintained. There are ways to avoid this, but it’s worth considering before deciding where to plant. Traditionally used for digestion and calming factors. (Source)
• Licorice – Harvest the root of an established plant for the medicinal benefits. Licorice root was traditionally used for circulatory, kidney, liver and lung diseases. I like to use it in my throat tea blend for sore throats. It is also a dietary supplement for digestive issues, menopausal symptoms, cough, and bacterial and viral infections. (Source)
• Marshmallow – Use the root of the marshmallow plant to help soothe irritated mucous membranes. It will help coat the lining of your throat and stomach, easing asthma, bronchitis, sore throats, cough, IBS, indigestion and skin inflammation. (Source)
• Mint – When it comes to the mint family, you really only need one plant because they’re so prolific. It might even be a good idea to plant these in a container so they don’t spread and take over your garden area. This really depends on how wild you want your herb garden to be. Mint aids digestion and can help with headaches, fever, and congestion.
• Mullein – This is great for upper respiratory issues and tends to grow well in soil that’s not ideal for many other plants. (Source)
• Oregano – You’re good with just one oregano plant as well. Once it’s established you’ll likely have enough for culinary and herbal purposes. Has anti-bacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. (Source)
• Skullcap – The Chinese skullcap has antiviral properties and I like to keep it on hand for cold and flu season. The American skullcap is said to have antioxidant effects (helping protect against neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety, and depression). (Source)
• Stinging Nettle – This may sound funny to some to actually cultivate this plant as it grows wild in many areas. But if it’s not native to you, it’s a good one to have on hand because it has so many great medicinal properties. It’s one many people will use to help aid allergies and it is packed with nutrients. Once you cook them or put them into tea, they no longer sting. You also want to harvest the leaves when they are young before the plant has flowered. (Source)
• Thyme – Just one plant will do! Once established, you’ll likely have enough for culinary and herbal purposes. Used for coughs and has anti-bacterial properties. (Source)
• Valerian – Valerian will grow very tall, and you want to get it established so you can harvest the roots and rhizomes. “Historically, valerian was used to treat insomnia, migraine, fatigue, and stomach cramps. Today, valerian is promoted for insomnia, anxiety, depression, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause symptoms, and headaches.” (Source)
• White Horehound – You may have seen cough drops or cough syrups that include horehound as an ingredient. That’s because it’s great for relieving coughs and upper respiratory issues. You utilize the plant that’s above ground and do keep in mind that it’s part of the mint family, so if you don’t want it to expand, plant it in a pot to keep it contained. Horehound is good for diabetes, and digestion problems, including loss of appetite, bloating, gas, constipation, and liver complaints. (Source)
• White Sage – A calming herb that is good as a diuretic and a remedy for the common cold. (Source)
• Yarrow – Yarrow is perhaps one of the most versatile plants, and it’s great to have growing in the medicinal herb garden. It can help stop bleeding by mashing it up and placing it on a wound, so it’s great for emergency uses. I also like to use it for healing salves and cold and flu season. It also produces very pretty white flowers for cut flower bouquets. (Source)

How to Use Your Herbs (Simple Methods)

Start simple. The goal is to actually use your herbs.

Tea (Infusion)

• Pour boiling water over herbs
• Steep 10–15 minutes
• Strain and drink

Drying Herbs

• Harvest in the morning
• Hang in a dry place or dehydrate at 95°F
• Store in jars out of sunlight

👉 When drying herbs, you want to know exactly when to harvest medicinal herbs for their maximum potency. If you didn’t click on that post above, it’s a good one to read after this post!

Where to Buy Medicinal Herbs?

My go-to resources are Siskiyou Seeds out of Oregon (you know how I love buying from companies close to me and my growing zone), Seed Savers Exchange out of Iowa, as well as Strictly Medicinal Seeds out of Southern Oregon where you can buy both seeds and plant starts (when they’re in stock).

Eden Brothers is a great place for buying flower seeds as well as live bulbs. Floret Flowers is great for beautiful cut flowers.

And finally, I ordered my medicinal roses from Heirloom Roses.

Build Your Home Apothecary (Simple Version)

You don’t need shelves full of jars.

A real home apothecary is:

• Knowing what you have
• Knowing why you use it
• Knowing how to prepare it

If you grow a few herbs, dry them, and make one simple remedy, you’ve already started.

Troubleshooting

Why aren’t my herbs growing well?
They likely need more sun or better drainage.

Why is mint taking over?
It spreads aggressively. Use containers.

Why do my dried herbs lose smell?
They were harvested too late or dried too hot.

Why is my lavender dying?
Too much moisture. Improve drainage.

FAQ

I’ve been growing and using medicinal herbs for over a decade and have built our family’s home apothecary from scratch using herbs we grow ourselves. These are the same methods I use daily for first aid, wellness, and seasonal support.

Start small. Pick a few herbs. Grow them. Use them.

That’s how confidence is built. That’s how a medicinal herb garden becomes something you rely on every day.