Herbs in the Landscape

By Teresa Opdycke

A landscape comprises a view or vista on a parcel of land. Landscaping is the art of taking an outdoor space, defining it, and creating a useful or pleasurable area. The definition of herbs includes all plants that at one time were useful to humans. Whether culinary, medicinal, or some other domestic use such as dyes or fragrances, all manner of plants fall under this definition. A landscape that includes herbs can only be described as fragrant, lovely to look at, and filled with the legend and lore that herbs carry with them.

Too many times the term "landscaped" is interprested to mean a stiff, precisely trimmed lawn with perfectly round or rectangular flowers beds and ice cream cone shaped hedges. The all encompassing definition of landscape means the choices are as varied as the varieties of herbs available these days. Including herbs in the landscape in your corner of the world can be as simple as adding herbs to an existing border, or as complex as designing and planting an entire herb garden enclosed in a rough-hewn fence.

Herbs often bring to mind old salt-box houses with a kitchen garden laid out in a grid behind the house. However, there's no reason why herbs cannot play a role in the landscape strategies of modern homes as well. With glorious fragrances and beautiful blossoms, they should not be overlooked. Exploring where and how to use herbs in any landscape will help you decide what's right for your particular outdoor niche.

Borders

A border need not be a thin strip with a few flowers and herbs tucked in. In fact, a flower border can be expansive, wide, and undulating. It can be formal or informal in tone or somewhere in the middle. A sidewalk that leads to the front door may be bordered by aromatic lavender that brushes against the leg leaving, its unforgettable fragrance in one's wake. A small border looks best when a few well-chosen plants make a subtle show rather than using many different varieties, creating a polka-dot effect.

A larger border that may sit against a fence or next to the house requires that you consider the height of plants. Place taller plants in the back, medium height plants in the middle ground, and the low growing, more compact plants in the very front of the border. An example of an informal border using a cascading height effect might include:

Background Plants

1. Angelica - a 5-8 foot tall perennial with white umbrella flowers.
2. Yarrow - 3-5 feet in height with everlasting golden yellow or wild white flowers.
3. Bronze Fennel - 3-5 foot tall perennial, striking in its deep russet feathery foliage.
4. Rosemary - 4-6 feet depending on where you live.  Pots of this tender perennial will add interest if the plant is not hardy in your location.
5. Foxgloves - this biennial grows to a height of 4-8 feet and comes in shades of pinks, purples and white some with spotted throats. Look for the beautiful strawberry foxglove for an elegant deep pink.
6. Lemon verbena - the old fashioned herb of finger bowls grows up to 5 feet in Mediterranean regions. In the states it's mostly a tender perennial. Plant in pots and add height by placing on rocks, or ledges.

Middle Ground Plants

1. Monarda or Bee Balm - 1-3 foot tall perennial. It shakes its shaggy head in deep reds or clear pink.
2. Borage - 1-1 1/2 feet, sports beautiful blue as the sky star-like blossoms. Borage is a self-sowing annual.
3. Basils - 1-2 feet in height. These annuals come in so many varieties, but with an added plus of being able to use them for cooking. The more you pinch, the more full the plant becomes until frost.
4. Chamomile - 2-3 feet tall. This perennial blossoms into daisy-like flowers with yellow centers and white petals. The apple fragrance promises to delight the nose.
5. Santolina - stands around 2 feet high with silvery foliage that casts a wonderful light on a dark moonlit night. Also a perennial.
6. Hyssop - grows to 2-3 feet,  blossoming into a mound of blue and is well-worth having in the landscape. Also a perennial.
7. Feverfew - reaches a height of 2 feet or so. This perennial covered in white flowers that when dried, add a lightness to everlasting bouquets.
8. Lemon balm - reaches a height of about 2 feet, and with its embossed green lemon scented leaves, lends a lemony flavor to foods and drinks. Also a perennial.

Edging Plants for the Foreground

1. Chives - with their globes of soft purple, these perennials make a wonderful edging for a border. They grow up to 18 inches, and using the spiky foliage in cooking gives one more reason to include chives in the landscape border.
2. Lamb's ears - the leaf children love to rub on their cheek to feel the downy softness grows to 18 inches. This perennial can be a bit invasive so watch it carefully.
3. Germander - an evergreen border plant that looks wonderful as a very low hedge. This perennial has a more formal look when trimmed precisely.  It can grow to 2 feet.
4. Thyme - the creeping variety grows low to the ground and can create a carpet effect. Choose the one that best suits the border from a myriad of varieties. Also a perennial.
5. Nasturtiums - flower in bright colors of summer, growing to about 12 inches; these annuals add a summery carefree appeal to the border.
6. Lavender - when used as an edge of a border , this perennial not only looks beautiful while blooming, but if kept nicely trimmed, makes a neat border. Lavender if untrimmed can reach a height of 30 inches.

The list of these ancient plants goes on and on, with many herbs to choose from. Including herbs in a landscaped border adds a touch of nostalgia, fragrance, verdant foliage, and pretty flowers. They may not be the most dramatic plant in the border, but using herb adds so much more than just beauty to the border.

© Doityourself.com 2006