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Top 10 List

10 Best Herbs for Beginners

Starting an herb garden is one of the most rewarding ways to begin gardening. These 10 herbs are nearly foolproof - forgiving of mistakes, quick to reward good care, and endlessly useful in the kitchen.

Each herb was selected for its ease of care, resilience to beginner mistakes, and culinary value. We include container sizes, light requirements, and how each compares to alternatives.

6-12"

Container size range

4-8 hrs

Daily sunlight needed

14-90

Days to first harvest

10/10

Beginner friendly

Quick Navigation

1BasilVery Easy2MintNearly Impossible to Kill3ChivesVery Easy4ParsleyEasy5RosemaryEasy6ThymeEasy7Green Onions (Scallions)Very Easy8OreganoEasy9CilantroModerate10SageEasy
1

Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Very Easy

Container Size

6-8 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun (6+ hours)

Water Needs

Moderate - let top inch dry

First Harvest

21-30 days from transplant

The gateway herb for most beginner gardeners, basil is fast-growing, highly aromatic, and practically demands to be harvested - which only makes it grow bushier. Its immediate gratification and kitchen versatility make it the perfect first herb.

Why It Made The List

Nothing beats harvesting your own basil for homemade pesto or caprese salad. The rapid growth provides instant feedback, teaching beginners good habits. Forgiving enough to survive occasional neglect, responsive enough to reward good care.

Growing Tips

  • Pinch off flower buds immediately to prolong harvest
  • Harvest from the top to encourage bushy growth
  • Water at the base to prevent fungal issues on leaves
  • Bring indoors or cover if temperatures drop below 50F

Culinary Uses

Pesto, caprese salad, pizza, pasta, Thai dishes, infused oils

Compared to Alternatives

Thai basil is slightly more heat-tolerant but less common in recipes. Lemon basil adds citrus notes but is harder to find. Genovese is the most versatile and widely available.

Read complete growing guide
2

Mint

Mentha species

Nearly Impossible to Kill

Container Size

8-10 inch pot

Light Needs

Partial shade to full sun

Water Needs

High - keep consistently moist

First Harvest

14-21 days from transplant

Mint is so vigorous it must be grown in containers to prevent it from taking over your entire garden. This aggressive nature means beginners can hardly fail - mint thrives on neglect and recovers quickly from mistreatment.

Why It Made The List

The most forgiving herb on this list. Mint survives overwatering, underwatering, poor soil, and heavy harvesting. It grows in shadier conditions than most herbs and spreads to fill any container. Perfect for nervous first-timers.

Growing Tips

  • ALWAYS grow in containers - spreads invasively in ground
  • Cut back hard when stems become woody
  • Divide every 2-3 years to maintain vigor
  • Tolerates more shade than most herbs

Culinary Uses

Mojitos, mint juleps, tea, lamb dishes, salads, desserts, Middle Eastern cuisine

Compared to Alternatives

Spearmint is sweeter and better for drinks. Peppermint is more intense for teas and desserts. Chocolate mint and apple mint offer unique flavors for adventurous gardeners.

Read complete growing guide
3

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Very Easy

Container Size

6-8 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun to partial shade

Water Needs

Moderate

First Harvest

30 days from transplant

These mild onion-flavored perennials are set-and-forget easy. Plant once and harvest for years with minimal care. The attractive purple flowers are edible and add beauty to containers while attracting pollinators.

Why It Made The List

The ultimate low-maintenance herb. Chives tolerate neglect, spread gradually to fill containers, return year after year, and rarely have pest problems. Cut them down and they regrow - simple as that.

Growing Tips

  • Cut leaves to 2 inches above soil for regrowth
  • Divide clumps every 3-4 years to maintain vigor
  • Flowers are edible - use in salads for mild onion flavor
  • Dies back in winter but returns in spring

Culinary Uses

Baked potatoes, eggs, cream cheese, soups, salads, sour cream dips

Compared to Alternatives

Garlic chives have stronger flavor and white flowers. Green onions require more attention and replanting. Regular onions need much larger containers and longer growing time.

Read complete growing guide
4

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

Easy

Container Size

8-10 inch pot (deep)

Light Needs

Full sun to partial shade

Water Needs

Moderate - consistent moisture

First Harvest

70-90 days from seed

While parsley takes longer to germinate than some herbs, once established it's wonderfully reliable. This biennial produces abundantly the first year and continues into the second before flowering and setting seed.

Why It Made The List

Parsley tolerates partial shade better than most culinary herbs, making it ideal for less-than-perfect locations. It's cold-hardy, relatively drought-tolerant once established, and the most-used herb in Western cooking.

Growing Tips

  • Soak seeds overnight to speed slow germination
  • Harvest outer stalks first, leaving center to grow
  • Cold tolerant - often survives light frosts
  • Deep taproot requires deeper containers than most herbs

Culinary Uses

Tabbouleh, chimichurri, stocks, bouquet garni, pasta, salads, garnish

Compared to Alternatives

Flat-leaf (Italian) parsley has superior flavor for cooking. Curly parsley is prettier for garnish. Both are equally easy to grow.

Read complete growing guide
5

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

Easy

Container Size

8-12 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun (6+ hours)

Water Needs

Low - drought tolerant

First Harvest

Harvest anytime after establishment

This Mediterranean shrub thrives on neglect - too much water and attention actually harms it. Once established, rosemary survives drought, poor soil, and infrequent attention while providing aromatic leaves year-round.

Why It Made The List

Rosemary rewards lazy gardeners. Overwatering kills more rosemary than underwatering, making it perfect for forgetful waterers. As a perennial shrub, it provides years of harvests from a single plant.

Growing Tips

  • Let soil dry completely between waterings
  • Excellent drainage is critical - add extra perlite
  • Prune regularly to prevent woodiness
  • Bring indoors in zones below 7

Culinary Uses

Roasted meats, potatoes, focaccia, olive oil infusions, cocktails

Compared to Alternatives

Prostrate rosemary trails nicely but has smaller leaves. Tuscan Blue is more upright with larger leaves. All varieties have similar flavor and ease of care.

Read complete growing guide
6

Thyme

Thymus vulgaris

Easy

Container Size

6-8 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun

Water Needs

Low - drought tolerant

First Harvest

Harvest anytime after establishment

This woody perennial herb is another Mediterranean native that thrives on neglect. Its small leaves pack intense flavor, and the plants are remarkably long-lived with minimal care. Thyme is nearly impossible to overwater if drainage is good.

Why It Made The List

Like rosemary, thyme rewards lazy gardeners. Drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and cold-hardy in most climates. Once established, it requires almost no attention while providing year-round harvests.

Growing Tips

  • Excellent drainage is essential - use sandy or gravelly mix
  • Trim after flowering to maintain shape
  • Divide plants every 3-4 years
  • Many varieties - experiment with lemon, orange, or creeping types

Culinary Uses

Roasted meats, soups, stocks, bouquet garni, beans, vegetables

Compared to Alternatives

Lemon thyme adds citrus notes. Creeping thyme works well as ground cover. English thyme (common thyme) is most versatile for cooking.

Read complete growing guide
7

Green Onions (Scallions)

Allium fistulosum

Very Easy

Container Size

6-8 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun to partial shade

Water Needs

Moderate

First Harvest

21-30 days from transplant

Perhaps the fastest vegetable you can grow - regrow from store-bought scraps in water or soil. Cut the green tops and they regrow, providing continuous harvests from the same plant for months.

Why It Made The List

The ultimate recycling project - place root ends from store-bought scallions in water and watch them regrow. This immediate success builds confidence while providing free vegetables. Harvest and regrow repeatedly.

Growing Tips

  • Regrow from store-bought scraps - place roots in water
  • Cut tops for harvest - they regrow multiple times
  • Plant in succession for continuous supply
  • Very cold tolerant - can grow nearly year-round

Culinary Uses

Asian stir-fries, garnish, salads, baked potatoes, dips, soups

Compared to Alternatives

Chives are lower maintenance but milder. Regular onions take much longer and need more space. Leeks require deeper containers and longer growing time.

Read complete growing guide
8

Oregano

Origanum vulgare

Easy

Container Size

6-8 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun

Water Needs

Low - drought tolerant

First Harvest

45 days from transplant

Another Mediterranean herb that loves dry conditions, oregano is a spreading perennial that fills containers and cascades over edges. Its intense flavor means a little goes a long way, so even a small plant provides plenty for cooking.

Why It Made The List

Drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and extremely cold-hardy (zones 4-9). Oregano thrives on neglect and actually develops better flavor when slightly stressed. The perfect herb for gardeners who forget to water.

Growing Tips

  • Harvest frequently to prevent flowering and maintain best flavor
  • Cut back hard after flowering to encourage fresh growth
  • Very drought tolerant - err on the side of underwatering
  • Dries exceptionally well - harvest extra for winter use

Culinary Uses

Pizza, Italian dishes, Greek cuisine, marinades, tomato sauces

Compared to Alternatives

Greek oregano has the strongest flavor for pizza and Italian dishes. Mexican oregano (different species) is better for Latin cuisine. Marjoram is a milder cousin.

Read complete growing guide
9

Cilantro

Coriandrum sativum

Moderate

Container Size

6-8 inch pot

Light Needs

Partial shade (especially in summer)

Water Needs

Moderate - keep consistently moist

First Harvest

21-30 days from seed

While cilantro bolts quickly in heat, this fast growth means rapid harvests. The key is succession planting - sow new seeds every 2-3 weeks for continuous supply. When it does bolt, harvest the seeds as coriander.

Why It Made The List

The dual-purpose nature (leaves and seeds) means nothing goes to waste. While requiring more attention than others on this list, cilantro rewards with incredibly fast growth and is essential for Mexican, Asian, and Indian cooking.

Growing Tips

  • Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest
  • Grow in partial shade to slow bolting in summer
  • Direct sow - cilantro doesn't transplant well
  • Let some plants flower for coriander seeds

Culinary Uses

Salsa, guacamole, Thai curries, Indian chutneys, Vietnamese pho

Compared to Alternatives

Culantro (different plant) has similar flavor without bolting issues. Slow-bolt varieties like Calypso extend harvest. Thai basil can substitute in some Asian dishes.

Read complete growing guide
10

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Easy

Container Size

8-10 inch pot

Light Needs

Full sun

Water Needs

Low - drought tolerant

First Harvest

75 days from transplant

This beautiful gray-green shrub is as ornamental as it is culinary. Sage thrives in containers, tolerates drought, and provides year-round harvests in mild climates. Its velvety leaves and occasional purple flowers add visual interest to any herb garden.

Why It Made The List

Sage is wonderfully drought-tolerant and pest-resistant. As a woody perennial, one plant provides harvests for years with minimal care. The attractive gray-green foliage works in ornamental plantings too.

Growing Tips

  • Excellent drainage essential - add extra perlite or sand
  • Prune regularly to prevent woody, lanky growth
  • Harvest before flowering for best flavor
  • Many varieties available - try purple, tricolor, or pineapple sage

Culinary Uses

Turkey stuffing, brown butter, sausage, beans, butternut squash

Compared to Alternatives

Purple sage is more ornamental but has the same flavor. Pineapple sage has a fruity note but is less cold-hardy. Garden sage (common sage) is most versatile for cooking.

Read complete growing guide

Quick Comparison

#HerbLightWaterDifficulty
1BasilFullModerateVery Easy
2MintPartialHighNearly Impossible to Kill
3ChivesFullModerateVery Easy
4ParsleyFullModerateEasy
5RosemaryFullLowEasy
6ThymeFullLowEasy
7Green Onions (Scallions)FullModerateVery Easy
8OreganoFullLowEasy
9CilantroPartialModerateModerate
10SageFullLowEasy

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest herbs to grow indoors?

The easiest indoor herbs are mint, chives, and parsley - all tolerate lower light than most herbs. Basil, oregano, and thyme can also grow indoors but need a very sunny south-facing window or grow lights providing 6+ hours of light daily. Most herbs grow better outdoors but can succeed on bright windowsills.

How much sun do herbs need?

Most culinary herbs need full sun (6+ hours direct sunlight). Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and oregano are particularly sun-hungry. Mint, parsley, and chives tolerate partial shade (4-6 hours). Cilantro actually prefers partial shade in summer to slow bolting. Insufficient light leads to leggy, weak growth with reduced flavor.

Can I grow herbs from supermarket plants?

Yes, but supermarket herbs are often overcrowded and stressed. Repot immediately into containers 2-3 times larger, dividing overcrowded plants. Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions over 1-2 weeks. Expect some transplant shock - they should recover within 2-3 weeks with proper care. Growing from seed or buying from nurseries often produces stronger plants.

How often should I water herbs?

Watering needs vary dramatically. Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano) prefer to dry out between waterings - water when soil is dry 1-2 inches down. Basil, parsley, and cilantro prefer consistent moisture - water when top inch is dry. Mint likes constant moisture. The biggest mistake is overwatering - more herbs die from too much water than too little.

Why are my herbs dying?

The most common causes are overwatering (leads to root rot), insufficient light (causes leggy growth), and poor drainage (trapped water kills roots). Other culprits include letting plants flower (reduces leaf production), pest infestations, and temperature stress. Start by checking soil moisture and light levels - these fix 80% of herb problems.

Should I grow herbs from seed or buy plants?

For beginners, starting with plants provides faster results and higher success rates. However, herbs like cilantro, parsley, and basil grow quickly from seed and are excellent starting points. Perennials like rosemary, thyme, and sage are better purchased as plants since they take longer to establish from seed. A mix of both approaches works well.

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