Being able to grow herbs indoors means you can grow your own herbs all year long, not just what they're in season. That means not only will you save money at the supermarket, but your home will be filled with the aromatic fragrance of herbs like rosemary, basil, sage, or lemongrass, and you'll have the convenience of cutting off a sprig or two whenever a recipe calls for it. To grow herbs indoors, you need a sunny window, a pest-free plant (inspect seedlings carefully before buying), a selection of herbs that grow well indoors, and a little knowledge about each plant’s needs. Here are the best herbs to start your indoor garden. Here are 16 herbs you can grow indoors all year long. 01 of 16 Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Whether it is to make pesto or a tomato-based sauce, many gardeners who love cooking Italian food find sweet basil a must to grow. As a bonus, this annual can have ornamental features, too. Some types sport a deep purple foliage color and/or leaves that are ruffly. As soon as your basil reaches 6 inches tall, start pinching it often to keep it from blooming and fulfilling its life mission. Grow basil in a large, deep pot. A large pot is especially important if you will be growing multiple basil plants in the pot: Basil is susceptible to fungal diseases, which can be controlled by providing good air circulation through sufficient spacing (12 inches). For the same reason, avoid overhead watering. A deep pot will allow you to strike the required balance between good drainage and moisture retention. Mature height: 18-24 inches tall and wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: Basil needs good drainage, but not so sharp that water drains through immediately; it likes evenly moist soil. Use high-quality potting soil. Feed it with an all-purpose fertilizer. 02 of 16 Catnip (Nepeta cataria) When selecting plants to include in an herb garden in the home, do not forget the needs of the family cat. Catnip, a perennial which grows like a weed outdoors, is also easy to grow indoors (much easier than basil, for example). Once catnip puts on some height, pinch it early and often to prevent flowering, and give the pinchings to your grateful feline friend. Mature height: 2-3 feet tall and wide Sun exposure: west-facing or south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; minimal fertilization needed; low to average water needs 03 of 16 Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) The chive plant, another easy-to-grow perennial, has a light onion flavor. Indeed, It is related to the common onion. Its grass-like leaves are popular in soups and salads. It also has one of the more attractive flowers among the culinary herbs. Chives will multiply over time. When your chives form a good-sized mass, consider dividing them. If you dig underneath them, you'll find bulblets and a dense mass of roots. You can easily break off a clump (consisting of three or four plants) and transplant it to another pot. Mature height: 10-15 inches tall and wide Sun exposure: can survive in a west-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; feed with an all-purpose fertilizer; average water needs 04 of 16 Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Added to soups or salads, lemon balm gives them a citrusy flavor. Or use it in potpourri to scent your home naturally. Susceptible to fungal diseases, care for this perennial as you would for basil. Mature height: 1-2 feet tall, 1-3 feet wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; minimal fertilization needed; average water needs 05 of 16 Oregano (Origanum vulgare hirtum) A classic seasoning for Italian dishes, sandwiches, and pizza, this drought-resistant perennial is easy to grow indoors, but err on the side of giving it more, rather than less sunlight than you think it may need in winter. Not as fussy about humidity as rosemary, oregano can still profit from having a little extra humidity. An easy answer is to place its pot on a tray filled with moistened pebbles. Mature height: 2 feet tall, 18 inches wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; use an all-purpose fertilizer; low to average water needs 06 of 16 Parsley (Petroselinum crispum neopolitanum) Parsley, a biennial, falls into two categories. The curly type, P. crispum, has more ornamental value. But the flat-leaf type, P. crispum neopolitanum, has more culinary value, lending a stronger flavor to your Italian dishes. Mature height: 9-12 inches tall and wide Sun exposure: can survive in a west-facing window in winter Soil needs: Parsley needs good drainage, but not so sharp that water drains through immediately; it likes evenly moist soil. Use a high-quality potting soil. Minimal fertilization required. 07 of 16 Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) This drought-tolerant perennial becomes relatively large and woody over time, so give it a big pot. Its harvested leaves are commonly used in dips and drinks. Like basil, rosemary is just a bit fussier to grow indoors than most of the other selections here. This is mainly because it likes high humidity, a condition that many northern homes lack in winter. To address this challenge, build a tent around your rosemary to trap moisture. Simply install (at a height greater than that of the plant) stakes in the pot, and drape clear plastic over the stakes. Lift up the plastic to gain access when watering, then replace the plastic. As the water evaporates, the tent will trap it and increase humidity. Mature height: 2-6 feet tall, 2-4 feet wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: sharp drainage; minimal need for fertilizer; low to average water needs 08 of 16 Sage (Salvia officinalis) Known for its use in poultry stuffing, in particular, this perennial is related to the Salvia flowers with which you are familiar from shopping at garden centers, such as Salvia sylvestris 'May Night.' There is also an ornamental sage (Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor') that sports three colors on its foliage. Sage has only moderate moisture needs, so be sure not to overwater it. Mature height: 2-2.5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: sharp drainage; minimal need to fertilize 09 of 16 Spearmint (Mentha spicata) Herbs in the mint family are especially easy to grow, even indoors. Known for its use in flavoring drinks, teas, and jelly, this perennial likes its soil to be kept evenly moist. An extra benefit of growing this herb indoors, rather than outdoors in the garden, is that it is invasive. Being contained in a pot on your windowsill, it has nowhere to go. Mature height: 18-36 inches tall, with a narrower spread Sun exposure: west-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; minimal fertilization needed 10 of 16 Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Thyme is great for flavoring a variety of types of meat. In addition to the kinds of thyme used mainly for culinary purposes, there are also versions of this perennial used in landscaping as a ground cover. Under the right conditions, red mother of thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineum'), so-named for its flower color, can be quite showy. Thyme is the opposite of rosemary in one respect: It likes low humidity. So save the windowsill in the kitchen (a room that tends to be more humid than most) for your rosemary and find a sunny windowsill in a drier room for your thyme. Thyme is drought-tolerant and can actually be harmed if it gets too much water. You can also dry thyme to use in dishes. Mature height: 6-12 inches tall and wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: sharp drainage; minimal fertilization needs 11 of 16 Bay Laurel Bay laurel also known as bay leaf is used to season soups, stews, sauces, and stocks to release its flavor and then removed before serving. Dried bay leaves have a floral and herbal flavor while fresh leaves have stronger, eucalyptus-like notes. In landscapes, bay laurel can be grown as shrubs or large trees in warm climates, and in cooler climates, it can be grown in containers and brought indoors during the winter months. Place it near a sunny window or door and keep it away from cold and hot drafty air. Mature height: 4-8 feet tall Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage, general-purpose potting mix; minimal fertilization needs 12 of 16 Lemongrass The stalks of lemongrass are used in soups, curries, sauces, marinades, teas, and cocktails for its zingy, lemony-ginger flavor. Native to Sri Lanka and India, lemongrass is a fragrant, ornamental grass that can grow up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Hardy to zones 10-11, it can also be grown as an annual in cooler climates. Place it in a bright, sunny location indoors and keep it watered regularly. Mature height: 2-4 feet tall, 2–3 feet wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage, keep evenly moist; use high quality potting soil 13 of 16 Marjoram Marjoram is related to oregano, but has a more sweet and floral flavor, and is used in soups, stews, and meat dishes. To grow indoors, it should be planted in well-draining soil in a pot at least 6 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches deep with a drainage hole. Marjoram doesn’t need a lot of humidity, but it will need a lot of light and consistent temperatures. Mature height: 1–2 feet tall and wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; keep evenly moist; minimal fertilization needed 14 of 16 Cilantro Cilantro is a tasty herb that brightens up dishes with a fresh, citrusy flavor. Used in recipes across the globe, from chimichurri to zhoug, it's a highlight in salsas, sauces, pestos, and dips. Cilantro is a fast-growing herb that will last a few months indoors, due to its tendency to bolt; once it flowers, it turns bitter. Cilantro's life can be extended by pinching it back regularly. Plant cilantro in a plastic pot, about 18-inch wide and 12-inch deep, which helps retain moisture and humidity, and place it in a spot that’s very bright or provides morning sun. Mature height: 1–2 feet tall, 1–1.5 feet wide Sun exposure: morning sun in an east-facing window or a window with very bright light Soil needs: good drainage, evenly moist, acidic 15 of 16 Dill Not only is dill a signature ingredient in pickled foods, it’s bright and grassy with a celery and fennel like flavor that adds punch to salads, soups, sauces, and creamy dips and dressings. Choose a dwarf variety like ‘Fernleaf’, which is ideal for containers, and keep it near a sunny window with evenly moist soil. Like cilantro, dill is a fast growing plant. When it flowers and goes to seed, it will stop producing leaves. Harvest the seeds, also used to season dishes and pickling spice mixes, once they start to turn brown. Mature height: 3-5 feet tall, 2-3 feet wide Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; rich, loose, 16 of 16 Chervil Chervil is a delicate herb related to parsley that’s used in egg, fish, and poultry dishes, soups and salads. Common in French cooking it’s often referred to as French parsley and has a light anise flavor. Keep chervil by a sunny window and keep the soil evenly moist. Pinch back and deadhead this plant often to promote growth and prevent bolting. Mature height: 2 feet tall Sun exposure: south-facing window in winter Soil needs: good drainage; keep evenly moist; minimal fertilization needed Tip If you decide to try growing herbs indoors, know that it is best to plant them in separate pots, such that your basil, for example, can grow in its own area apart from your thyme; the latter wants a lot less moisture than the former. By growing them in separate pots, you can gear your care to the specific needs of each herb. What Do You Need to Grow Herbs Indoors? To grow herbs indoors, you first need a spot that suits their light requirements. A rule of thumb is that herbs native to a warm region need a south-facing window in the winter, while herbs that like it a little cooler can survive in a west-facing window in winter. If you don't have adequate light, you can also use an indoor grow light. You'll also need an indoor potting mix that will have the right nutrients to make up for not being planted outside, or you can plant a hydroponic herb system that is soilless and water-based instead. How to Grow Herbs Indoors Growing herbs indoors from cuttings or seeds takes just a few simple steps. Start your herbs indoors in early spring. Whether you're transplanting cuttings or growing from seed, spring is the best time to plant herbs since that's when they'll be in their busiest growing season. Prepare the container with indoor potting mix and by placing it in a sunny window. Plant your seeds or transplant cuttings that have grown roots in water. Consider covering the container with a lid or plastic to create a humid environment during the first few weeks. Make sure the soil stays moist. Once they've grown two sets of leaves or the cuttings have firmly rooted in the soil, you can graduate them from their greenhouse setting and move them to their permanent spot.

‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is an old garden rose with abundant blooms, superior fragrance, and loose, full rosettes. As Bourbon roses, these historic hybrids bring high fragrance and vigor in a climbing form. Explore this favorite heirloom, deserving of a spot in today’s garden, with gardening expert Katherine Rowe. ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is an heirloom rose with full, deep pink blooms and a vigorous climbing habit. Part of the Bourbon class, this selection is a favorite for reliable flowering and fast growth. Bourbons feature repeat flowering, strong performance, fragrance, and adaptability, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ delights with an exceptional classic rose fragrance full of raspberry notes. The antique roses perform beautifully in the contemporary garden. As climbers, they create vertical appeal by training on an upright structure or arching their long canes as graceful shrubs. What are ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ Roses? ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ is a continuous bloomer with an exceptional old rose fragrance and a tall, vigorous habit. Deep rose-colored flowers emerge in late spring and bloom until frost. An 1868 heirloom rose, ‘Zephirine,’ is of the Bourbon classification. These old garden hybrids led to the cultivation of modern roses and remain popular today. They are hardy and adaptable, with origins in wild species. Their abundant blooms, vigor, fragrance, and history enchant the garden. Bourbon roses boast large, fragrant flowers, recurrent blooms, hardiness, and disease resistance. The cherished antique roses are parented by hybrid teas, and display adaptability and exceptional flowering. As a carefree climber, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ suits a variety of garden situations. It quickly fills trellises, house walls, arbors, pillars, arches, and fences. Without upright support, this vigorous Bourbon rose grows as a free-standing specimen shrub with arching canes. Characteristics A time-tested beauty, ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ roses shine in bloom color, size, and fragrance. Cerise-pink blooms perfume the garden with raspberry notes. Flowers occur most prolifically in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. The four-inch, semi-double blossoms hold 20 to 30 petals for a look of lush, loose, old-fashioned rosettes. This variety has dark green foliage with coppery-red new growth. Its long canes are nearly thornless, making them easy to work with and prime for seating areas. It is also very adaptable, thriving in full sun and tolerating partial shade and less-than-ideal soils. While susceptible to black spot and mildew diseases, the plant continues to grow and bloom despite them. As a climbing rose, this heirloom reaches heights of 20 feet but, more commonly, a midrange of 10 to 12 feet. Climbing roses don’t twine or vine naturally; they need support, training, and tying to a sturdy structure. Native Area On an island in the Indian Ocean, wild roses naturally cross-pollinated to create a new type of rose and the origin of modern roses. Bourbon roses represent a group of old garden rose hybrids from a natural cross between wild roses on the Ile de Bourbon (now Reunion) near Mauritius and off Madagascar. A lineage of ‘Autumn Damask’ hybridized with a China rose, which accounts for their heavenly fragrance and continual blooming. The new Bourbon roses arrived in France around 1820, and they went on to produce more hybrids, like ‘Zephirine Drouhin.’ ‘Zephirine’ is of French origin from the breeder Bizot. Planting Climbing roses grow in a variety of garden situations. Place them near a support structure like a pillar, wall, arbor, or trellis. As roots establish, long canes develop, and ‘Zephirine Drouhin’ quickly climbs. Tie the long canes to your support structure to direct growth. Ensure good air circulation and that the roots have enough room to spread. To avoid overcrowding, leave at least one foot between roses and companion plantings and three to four feet between larger plants.

Superbena® are trailing, mounding, and cascading hybrid plants. Their versatility and variety make them excellent candidates for large containers, borders, and tree wells. Give them the care they need, and they’ll fill your garden with endless blooms from spring through fall. Relatively new to the garden market, Superbenas® bloom more than most other annual bedding plants. They fill the yard with white, purple, red, orange, pink, and multicolor blossoms in tight clusters. New types come out every few years that are vigorous, colorful, and hardy. These varieties are hybrids bred for their mounding, spreading habit, and prolific blooms. They’ll fit perfectly between your sunflowers, zinnias, and petunias. Tuck them in alongside other plants, or give them their own space and see how large they can grow. No matter which variety you choose, you’ll enjoy these plants’ easygoing habits and radiant, eye-catching flower clusters. Give them the care they need, and they’ll thrive throughout the warm months. What Is It? Unlike most plant cultivars and varieties, these hybrids result from many different crosses between various species. Their diverse parental lineage makes them unique, and it gives them the attractive qualities we enjoy in the garden. Origin Superbena® lacks a native area because it’s the product of many controlled crosses between various species. Breeders transferred pollen from one species to another. They then grew the resulting seeds into seedlings that were unique, new specimens. With many crosses over many years, the resulting specimens look quite different from their parents. Though commonly referred to as verbenas, these hybrids, alongside other verbenas, were recently reclassified from the genus Verbena to Glandularia. Most hybrid verbenas result from crosses between these four species: Glandularia peruviana Glandularia phlogiflora Glandularia platensis Glandularia tweedieana Superbena® cultivars are licensed by the Proven Winners® ornamental plant company—they control the sale and distribution of the many different varieties. As new types come out, old ones become difficult to find. If you see the type you like, grab it! You may not be able to find it again. Characteristics With both mounding and trailing habits, these verbenas are variable in the way they grow. They’ll mound and spread along the ground like a ground cover, or they’ll spill over the edges of containers and raised beds. Their varied growth habits allow them to fit into many different spaces in the garden, whether they’re open, elevated, or narrow. Superbena® grow toothed leaves that resemble catnip foliage. They’re bright green, providing a rich backdrop for the alluring blooms. They sprout from green stems that stay shorter than a foot tall. When trailing from baskets, the stems may reach two feet long with blooms and leaves along them. Though most gardeners use these hybrids as annual bedding plants, they’re perennials in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11. They’re frost-tender, dying back as cold temperatures arrive in autumn and winter. Planting You can’t grow Superbena® from seeds, as they’re typically sold to licensed wholesale growers and distributors. Nurseries grow seeds into seedlings, or “plugs,” which they transplant into white containers and sell to big-box garden centers. Look for the Proven Winners® white pots at your local plant store to find your favorite.