A compact starter herb spiral proving a first list does not need to be big, just seven approachable culinary herbs anyone can grow in a small footprint.
7 plants
Aproplant
Curated example palettes from the Aproplant team, built to show how a plant list comes together for a place.
A compact starter herb spiral proving a first list does not need to be big, just seven approachable culinary herbs anyone can grow in a small footprint.

Thymus vulgaris
A compact woody perennial herb prized for its aromatic leaves used in cooking and medicine. It produces small purple, pink, or white flowers and thrives in dry conditions with minimal care.
Blooms: May, June, July, August

Origanum vulgare
A hardy Mediterranean herb with small, fragrant, gray-green leaves and tiny pink, purple, or white flowers. Oregano is a classic culinary herb that thrives in sunny, dry locations and is extremely low-maintenance.
Blooms: June, July, August, September

Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor'
A decorative culinary sage with variegated foliage featuring green, cream, and purple leaves. Produces purple-pink flowers in summer and thrives in dry conditions with minimal maintenance.
Blooms: May, June, July, August

Allium schoenoprasum
Chives are a hardy perennial herb with slender, tubular green leaves and delicate purple-pink flowers; both leaves and blossoms are edible and commonly used to flavor dishes. They spread readily by seed and division, making them a prolific addition to herb gardens and permaculture systems.
Blooms: May, June, July

Mentha x piperita
Peppermint is a vigorous, aromatic perennial herb valued for its cooling flavor and medicinal properties. It spreads readily via rhizomes and produces delicate purple-pink flowers that attract pollinators.
Blooms: June, July, August, September

Melissa officinalis
A fragrant herbaceous perennial with lemon-scented leaves prized for culinary and medicinal uses. Produces delicate white or pale pink flowers and attracts pollinators to the garden.
Blooms: June, July, August

Satureja montana
Winter savory is a compact, evergreen Mediterranean herb with tiny needle-like leaves and small white or lavender flowers. It is valued for culinary and medicinal uses, and thrives in poor, dry conditions.
Blooms: July, August, September
| Plant | Latin Name | Water | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Thyme | Thymus vulgaris | low | full sun |
| Oregano | Origanum vulgare | low | full sun |
| Garden Sage | Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor' | low | full sun |
| Winter Savory | Satureja montana | low | full sun |
| Chives | Allium schoenoprasum | moderate | full sun |
| Peppermint | Mentha x piperita | moderate | part shade |
| lemon balm | Melissa officinalis | moderate | part shade |
| Month | Plants in Bloom |
|---|---|
| May | Common Thyme, Garden Sage, Chives |
| June | Common Thyme, Oregano, Garden Sage, Chives, Peppermint, lemon balm |
| July | Common Thyme, Oregano, Garden Sage, Chives, Peppermint, lemon balm, Winter Savory |
| August | Common Thyme, Oregano, Garden Sage, Peppermint, lemon balm, Winter Savory |
| September | Oregano, Peppermint, Winter Savory |
| Season | Plants |
|---|---|
| Spring | Common Thyme, Garden Sage, Chives |
| Summer | Common Thyme, Oregano, Garden Sage, Chives, Peppermint, lemon balm, Winter Savory |
| Fall | Common Thyme, Garden Sage, Peppermint, Winter Savory |
| Winter | Common Thyme |