Desert Gardening Notes Herbs for Many Uses Carolyn Babbs, Master Gardener

THESE HERBS SOW THEMSELVES Many herbs are so easy to grow that they’ll CULINARY HERBS practically plant themselves. You need to sow Anise Angelica Basil or transplant them into the garden the first year Bee balm Borage Burnet and then let a few of each kind go to seed. Caraway Chervil Chives The seeds will fall and germinate the following Coriander Dill Fennel spring. Some seedlings may pop up in the Garlic Horehound Lovage most unexpected places. Enjoy the informal Lemon balm Lemon verbena effect, or transplant the young seedlings to Marjoram Mints Nasturtium where you want them to grow. Here are some Oregano Parsley Rosemary of the most dependable self-sowers: Sage Savory Sorrel Agrimony Borage Caraway Sweet bay Sweet cicely Tarragon Chervil Dill Coriander/Cilantro Thyme Wormwood Epazote Fennel German chamomile Lemon basil Roman chamomile FRAGRANCE Sweet wormwood Bee balm Catnip Costmary Geraniums Lavender Lemon verbena SOME HERBS JUST CAN’T BE GROWN Lemon balm Mints Rose FROM SEED Rosemary Thyme Violets French tarragon Peppermint Wormwood Italian oregano (also called hardy marjoram) SOME HERBS THAT ROOT EASILY THE BEST HERBS TO BRING INDOORS IN WATER Bringing herbs indoors is a great way to Mint Basil Pineapple sage brighten up those dull winter days. It’s also a Lemon verbena Rosemary necessity if you want to over winter frost-tender Scented geraniums Lavender herbs, such as scented geraniums and bay. Most herbs prefer a bright, airy spot with a GROUND COVERS FOR SUN temperature between 50 degrees and 70 Many herbs slip smoothly into the role of degrees F. Keep the soil evenly moist, and ground covers. Herbs offer numerous assets: provide a good level of humidity by grouping they display interesting textures and patterns, pots together and setting them on shallow trays provide fragrance and color, and are generally filled with wet gravel. Here are some herbs easy to grow. Most herbs are for looking at, that usually adapt well to indoor culture: not walking on; they are usually too delicate or too tall for traffic. Basil Bay Catnip Lemon thyme Wooly thyme Chervil Chives Coriander/Cilantro Mother-of-thyme Caraway-scented thyme Elfin herb Myrtle Oregano Creeping thyme Prostrate germander Patchouli Rosemary Sages Prostrate rosemary Summer savory Sweet marjoram Scented geraniums

HERBS FOR DRIER SOILS COMPANION PLANTING The following plants can withstand drier soil Herbs have traditionally been used as and less frequent watering. Drought tolerance “companion plants” to attract/repel various is enhanced by working the soil to allow roots pests from the preferred plant. They may or to penetrate deep for water. may not work, but they do add interest to the Borage Chia, golden* garden! Cilantro Calendula Costmary Cota & Navajo tea BENEFICIAL BORDERS Chamomile, Roman & German* Experiment with these herbs to attract and Epazote Feverfew* nurture beneficial insects: Garlic chives Hyssop Dill Caraway Fennel Horehound Lavender Spearmint Common tansy Lemon balm Lavender cotton* HERBS THAT REPEL Orris* Oregano, common* Mints - Very strong smelling, they may keep Pyrethrum daisy Pot marjoram* egg laying moths away from the cabbage Purple coneflower Russian sage patch. They may also discourage rodents. Rosemary Rue* Basil - Goes as well with tomatoes in the Star-of-Persia Southernwood garden as in the kitchen. It also benefits Sweet marjoram* Scented marjoram asparagus because it may help repel flies and Scented geranium Salad burnet mosquitoes. Sage, culinary & ornamental* Sage - May deter flies and beetles. A good Santolina, gray & green* garden companion for beans. Summer savory Thyme* Parsley - Onions thrive if grown nearby. May Tarragon Wormwood help carrots by warding off carrot flies. Wild marjoram* Winter savory* Santolina (green and gray) - May repel moths *Indicates drought tolerance and insects, which can benefit your lettuce crop. NATIVES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST Yarrow –Its strong scent may discourage Rosemary-mint (Poliomintha longiflora) insects. Also may help increase strength of Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) nearby plants. Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) Garlic - Though not really an herb, this plant Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) does double duty. Garlic may protect roses Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosiodes) from pests. But it’s more important use, when Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) planted between rose bushes, is to increase Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) the fragrance of the rose blossoms. Hoja santa (Piper auritum)

Mexican mint marigold (Tagetes lucida) HERBS THAT ATTRACT Chaparral (Larrea tridentata) Nasturtium - May attract whiteflies and aphids, Ocotillo (Fourquieria splendens) which keeps them away from radishes and Indian root (Aristolochia watsonii) cabbages. Yerba mansa (Anemopsis californica) Dill - May attract hornworms, but don’t plant Yerba de Alonso Garcia (Dalea formosa) right next to your tomatoes! Artemisia - Rabbits may eat this plant and may leave your vegetable garden alone. “Gardening Notes” is based on the experiences of Master Gardeners in Southern Nevada. While this publication has not undergone the formal University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) peer review process, it has been reviewed by UNCE faculty. It appears to be valid for the geographical area and conditions indicated.

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