9 Perennial Herbs (Number 5 May Surprise You)

*Please research plants independently to verify and ensure dietary safety

Annual vs. Perennial: What’s the Difference?

Annuals are plants that grow, bloom, seed, and die-off in a single year

Perennials are plants will grow and rebloom every year

What are Perennial Herbs?

Benefits of Growing Perennial Herbs:

• They have a long life, some can live for decades
• While the vegetative growth may die back in winter, new growth will appear in spring
• Unlike annual herbs, perennial herbs don’t have to be dug up and brought indoors for winter
• You can have access to herbs year-round that you have grown yourself
• Many of these perennial herbs can be divided to make more plants to keep or give away to friends and family

Most of the plants on this list are easy to grow and propagate. They can be added to vegetable gardens, ornamental flower beds, or can be grown in containers. 

List 9 Perennial Herbs:

1. Bird’s Foot Violet (Viola pedata)
2. Bishop Weed (Aegopodium podagraria)
3. Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) 
4. Chicory Plant (Cichorium intybus)
5. Dandelion Herb (Tara xacum)
6. Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata)
7. Wintergreen Plant (Gaultheria procumbens)
8. Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
9. Yarrow Plant (Achillea millefolium)

That was the list of our top perennial herbs. Keep reading for an in-depth description of each plant.

Bird’s Foot Violet (Viola pedata)

Bird’s foot violet grows on woodland edges, meadows, and on embankments. This perennial herb gets its name from its shape and of course, its color. While it grows low, it adds vibrance to the garden. For best results, we recommend mulching them in the fall.

Grow Zones:  4-8

Uses: Can be eaten raw or cooked and used in soups, teas, and jams

Edible Plant Parts: Young leaves and flower buds

Benefits: Can help with headaches and colds

Bishops Weed (Aegopodium podagraria)

Bishops weed, or ground elder, can be used as an ornamental or as a perennial herb. It looks great in borders and grows up to three feet tall. This plant attracts beneficial insects and is excellent in minimizing soil erosion. Because it has a creeping habit, it can make an ideal container plant.

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) 

Chicory Plant (Cichorium intybus)

Grow Zones: 3-9

Edible Parts: Leaves and roots. The flower is edible, but bitter.

Uses: Coffee substitute, cooked dishes, and salads

Benefits: the roots and leaves of this plant can be used in cooking and add a pleasant, spicy flavor to dishes. 

You can order your Chicory Plant here

Dandelion Herb (Tara xacum)

Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata)

Wintergreen Plant (Gaultheria procumbens)

Wild garlic (Allium ursinum)

Yarrow Plant (Achillea millefolium)

Maximizing the Versatility of Perennial Herbs

The enduring growth cycle of perennial herbs opens up numerous practical and creative uses because they regenerate every season. These plants provide lasting value to gardeners who want to grow beneficial botanicals for multiple applications because they stay in the landscape long-term. This section presents various methods to use perennial herbs while respecting their unique traits and ability to thrive year after year, unlike other plants.

A key application of perennial herbs involves culinary usage in the kitchen. A multitude of herb varieties delivers flavors that improve numerous recipe types. Perennial plants consistently regenerate, so gardeners receive a continuous source of usable leaves, stems, or additional plant materials throughout multiple growing seasons. These herbal ingredients boost the flavor profile of stews or soups, baked goods, and infused dishes when they become part of cooking recipes. To achieve extra flavor in dishes, finely chopped leaves can be incorporated into sauces or dressings, while gently crushed leaves should be added shortly before serving. Fresh, perennial herbs that are dried and stored in airtight containers can season foods year-round. The drying process intensifies flavors, meaning you only need small portions to reach the desired taste.

Perennial herbs enhance flavor and are suitable for creating teas and various other drinks. The leaves of certain species function well in teas that people consume to achieve relaxation or comfort. Hot water steeps the leaves to reveal their delicate aromas and flavors to enthusiasts. Morning drinks get an energizing boost from the active qualities found in certain perennial plants. The cyclical growth pattern of these perennials enables home gardeners to collect leaves multiple times throughout the season, providing them with a continuous source of tea production. People who like experimenting often combine herbal ingredients to make personalized infusions that suit their tastes. There is no universal method for herb blending, yet experimentation produces enjoyable mixtures featuring sweet, tangy, or earthy tones.

Perennial herbs serve multiple functions beyond cooking and beverages by being utilized for decorative and fragrance purposes. Several plant species produce leaves and blossoms with natural fragrances suitable for making potpourri and other homemade decorative items such as sachets and wreaths. These plants emit enjoyable fragrances throughout homes while providing an eco-friendly option to scent spaces like closets and drawers. Perennial herbs that display colored foliage or distinctive shapes provide visual benefits when incorporated into floral arrangements. Creating attractive centerpieces and bouquets is possible by combining fresh or dried herb stalks with cut flowers.

Perennial herbs fulfill numerous practical purposes for landscaping designs and organic gardening practices. These plants regenerate annually, which makes them perfect for establishing borders, beds, and container gardens. Some herb varieties have pest-repellent qualities that protect neighboring vegetables and flowers from damage. Some herbs bring beneficial insects into the garden, including pollinators that maintain a healthy and productive environment for plants. Through strategic placement of herbs within their landscapes, gardeners can achieve natural pest management while promoting biodiversity without using chemical treatments.

When transformed into homemade products like salves, ointments, and lotions, perennial herbs benefit. Properties from particular perennial herbs can be extracted using infusion methods with fresh or dried leaves to create oils. The infused oils extracted from perennial herbs are fundamental for preparing homemade skincare products. People seeking holistic living benefit from these methods because they manage ingredient quality while eliminating additives and preservatives. Incorporating perennial herbs into self-care routines can lead to limitless creative options for making everything from bare lip balms to luxurious body butter.

Aromatic waters and essential oils can be produced through distillation or extraction from many perennial herbs. The production process needs special equipment and expertise. Still, it makes items that serve various functions, including home scenting through diffusers, homemade cleaning products, and personal-care goods like bath bombs and sugar scrubs. Perennial herbs demonstrate their value through multiple functions that enrich everyday life beyond culinary and decorative purposes.

Perennial herbs with natural, rugged beauty attract gardeners who use them to cover ground or prevent soil erosion on slopes. Deep root systems of persistent plants hold the soil together in erosion-prone areas, thereby reducing water runoff and enhancing environmental health. The dual nature of these plants enables gardeners to make long-term investments in ornamental and functional flora that sustainably develop over time. Perennial herbs demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability to different environmental conditions, which makes them dependable options for difficult garden areas.

These vigorous plants are valuable resources for educational programs and community projects. Children who participate in school garden activities learn essential lessons about how herbs grow in cycles by observing how plant foliage disappears and then returns with changing seasons. Community gardens can allocate perennial herb sections for volunteers to harvest continuously throughout various months. These projects deliver practical experiences in self-sufficiency practices and teach participants about composting procedures and organic farming techniques.

Those who accept perennial herbs' lasting characteristics find numerous advantages waiting for them. These plants are useful in kitchens, craft projects, or sustainable landscapes. People can upgrade their culinary experiences and home aesthetics while lessening chemical dependence through the unique tastes and scents of perennial herbs and strengthen their bond with nature's regenerative cycles.