I am not tired of saying, "plant at least a few herbs in your garden". This is not just because of their medicinal benefits.
Florida has different climate zones—North, Central, and South—and the best herbs to grow can vary significantly. Some of the herbs might perform great in North and Central Florida but will fail in South Florida. In this article, you will find the complete list of herbs you can grow in Florida. (No matter which part of Florida you live in)
As this article is all about herbs we can grow in Florida, I will not go deep into their growing and caring guide in this specific article. I have grown almost all the major herbs and will keep posting their caring guides for Florida gardeners. Subscribe to this site to get notified (This is something that makes me smile).
I will first create three different charts that will show you the herbs you can grow in Florida based on region (North, Central, and South Florida).
Some of the herbs might appear in more than one region in my list, and this is normal. But all the plants have their own perfect growing conditions (this is why some plants do better in some specific regions).
Note: I will recommend the variety in my chart that will thrive in a specific region.
What I am covering in this article:
- Herbs we can grow in North, Central, and South Florida
- Florida Native Herbs
- Herb types (Medicinal, Ornamental, Culinary)
Herbs to Grow in North and Central Florida
| Herb | Planting Time | Planting Method | Perennial/Annual | Sunlight Requirement | Drought Tolerance | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Spring to Summer | Direct Seed or Transplant | Annual | Full Sun | Moderate | Genovese, Thai, Lemon |
| Rosemary | Spring or Fall | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Arp, Tuscan Blue |
| Oregano | Spring | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Greek, Italian |
| Thyme | Spring or Fall | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | Moderate | English, Lemon |
| Mint | Spring to Early Fall | Transplant or Cuttings | Perennial | Partial Sun to Full Sun | Low | Spearmint, Peppermint |
| Chives | Spring or Fall | Direct Seed or Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Moderate | Common, Garlic |
| Cilantro | Fall to Early Spring | Direct Seed | Annual | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Low | Santo, Slow Bolt |
| Dill | Fall to Early Spring | Direct Seed | Annual | Full Sun | Low | Bouquet, Fernleaf |
| Lavender | Spring or Fall | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Spanish, French |
| Sage | Spring | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Common, Purple |
| Parsley | Fall to Spring | Direct Seed or Transplant | Biennial | Full Sun to Partial Shade | Low | Italian Flat-Leaf, Curly |
| Tarragon | Spring | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | Moderate | French, Russian |
| Fennel | Fall to Early Spring | Direct Seed | Perennial | Full Sun | Moderate | Florence, Bronze |
If you do not have a separate space for your herbs, try to grow herbs along with your veggies. You can get an idea from here: companion planting guide for vegetable gardens. ( You can find compatible herbs for specific vegetables )
Rosemary is really a popular herb in Florida. This is why I have created a separate article on how to grow and care for Rosemary in Florida.
Mint
Mint is the most refreshing herb I have ever grown.
If you are looking for a tolerant variety, go for Spearmint. Peppermint likes cooler temp. and can be grown in partially shaded areas.
Fennel as an herb in Florida
I usually love to grow fennel, as it attracts swallowtail caterpillars.
Fennel performs great in cooler months and is an easy-to-maintain herb.
Note: Florence Fennels are grown for their edible bulbs, and common fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) does not form a bulb.
Cilantro herb
In warm climates, cilantro tends to form seeds quicker. This is the only drawback if you are growing it for the leaves only.
Note: Choose slow-bolting varieties like ‘Calypso’ or ‘Santo.’
Herbs to Grow in South Florida
| Plant Name | Planting Time | Planting Method | Perennial/Annual | Sunlight Requirement | Drought Tolerance | Variety Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Year-round | Seeds, Cuttings | Annual | Full Sun | Moderate | Genovese, Thai, Holy Basil |
| Rosemary | Fall to Spring | Cuttings | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Tuscan Blue, Arp |
| Mint | Year-round | Cuttings, Runners | Perennial | Partial Shade | Low | Peppermint, Spearmint |
| Oregano | Spring, Fall | Seeds, Cuttings | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Greek, Italian |
| Thyme | Fall to Spring | Seeds, Cuttings | Perennial | Full Sun | High | English, Lemon |
| Bay Leaf | Spring | Cuttings, Saplings | Perennial (Tree) | Full Sun | High | Sweet Bay |
| Curry Leaf | Spring | Seeds, Cuttings | Perennial (Tree) | Full Sun | Moderate | Dwarf, Regular |
| Indian Gooseberry | Spring | Seeds, Grafting | Perennial (Tree) | Full Sun | High | Krishna, Chakaiya |
| Moringa | Spring to Summer | Seeds, Cuttings | Perennial (Tree) | Full Sun | Very High | PKM-1, ODC-3 |
| Pot Marigold (Calendula) | Fall to Spring | Seeds | Annual | Full Sun | Moderate | Pacific Beauty, Resina |
| Shame Plant (Touch-Me-Not) | Spring to Summer | Seeds | Perennial | Partial Sun | Moderate | Native Wild Type |
| Lemongrass | Year-round | Cuttings, Clumps | Perennial | Full Sun | High | East Indian, West Indian |
| Ashwagandha | Spring | Seeds | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Indian, Nagori |
In this list, some of the herbs are trees and can really grow big in size.
Bay leaf as herb
The above picture is of a Bay leaf tree. Bay leaf might be a bit difficult to grow, but once established, it won't die easily.
Moringa as herb in Florida
Moringa is also known as the drumstick or miracle tree. We can easily grow it from USDA zones 9 to 11.
In North Florida, make sure you cut it back or trim it to overwinter it.
You can eat the leaves, drumsticks, and even flowers. This is why I love growing moringa.
Curry leaf tree
Curry leaf tree is a small tree. A lot of people call it a shrub due to its size. This is also an easy-to-grow herb in Florida.
I love the flavor of the leaves. Curry leaf can be grown in shaded areas as well.
Cuban Oregano
Cuban Oregano, also known as Mexican mint, Spanish thyme, or broadleaf thyme, grows extremely well in Florida. It can tolerate heat. This is why I will suggest this one to grow in South Florida.
Pot Marigold / Calendula
You can grow "pot marigold" in Florida. This plant might die in the extreme heat in South Florida. I will rather consider this as a cool seasoned herb.
Most of us grow this as a flowering plant.
Lemongrass as herb in Florida
Lemongrass grows really fast in Florida. They love humid and warm climates.
Lemongrass can be used for cooking, teas, and natural pest control.
Note: A lot of people love to grow this at the property border as an ornamental herb.
Indian Gooseberry
Try not to grow it in North Florida. Indian gooseberry prefers a warm climate and is suitable for South and Central Florida.
Florida Native Herbs
| Herb | Region | Planting Time | Planting Method | Perennial/Annual | Sunlight Requirement | Drought Tolerance | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bee Balm (Monarda punctata) | North, Central | Spring to Fall | Direct Seed or Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun to Partial Shade | High | Medicinal, Pollinator-friendly |
| Wild Pennyroyal (Piloblephis rigida) | Central, South | Fall to Spring | Direct Seed | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Aromatic, Culinary, Medicinal |
| False Rosemary (Conradina canescens) | North, Central | Spring | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | High | Ornamental, Aromatic |
| Goldenrod (Solidago odora) | North, Central | Spring to Summer | Direct Seed or Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | Moderate | Tea, Medicinal |
| Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) | North, Central | Fall to Spring | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun to Partial Shade | High | Caffeinated Tea |
| Spanish Needle (Bidens alba) | Statewide | Year-round | Direct Seed | Annual | Full Sun | High | Edible, Medicinal, Pollinator-friendly |
| Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) | Central, South | Spring | Transplant | Perennial | Full Sun | Moderate | Tea, Pollinator-friendly |
| Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) | Statewide | Spring to Summer | Transplant or Division | Perennial | Full Sun to Partial Shade | High | Groundcover, Pollinator-friendly |
I love growing native plants and encourage other gardeners to do the same. Native plants can attract more pollinators and wildlife.
You can check my dedicated article on easy to grow Florida native plantsNative.
Herb types
Some of the herbs are used for Cooking & Flavoring food - Known as Culinary Herbs.
Basil, Rosemary, Oregano, Cilantro, Lemongrass, Bay Leaf - These are a few examples of culinary herbs.
Medicinal herbs are used for healing and wellness. (contain bioactive compounds that may support health, either as teas, tinctures, or herbal remedies)
Examples: Moringa, Turmeric, Holy Basil, Echinacea, etc.
Pineapple Sage, Sweet Alyssum, Pineapple Sage, Pot Marigold, and Shame Plant can be used to enhance garden beauty, attract pollinators, or repel pests. Some of these herbs may be edible, but they are mostly grown for decoration purposes. These herbs are known as ornamental herbs.
I am in love with the leaves of the Shame plant. I am growing this as an ornamental herb.
Do you know that if you touch the leaves, they will shrink?
Take a look at this video:
0:00
/0:07
Touch me not plant
All of these can be grown easily in Florida.
If you find it helpful and unique, subscribe to this site and become a premium member to help me write more for Florida gardeners. ( Even a free subscription makes me smile)
