11 Best Herbs That Grow in Full Sun

When you are looking for herbs that grow in full sun, you may be overwhelmed by the many choices that you have. This is because herbs grow pretty much wherever there is sunlight, but there are some herbs that grow better than others in certain areas. If you want a very easy way to determine which herbs will grow well in full sun, all you need to do is check out the list below.

Basil

Basil can be grown in a range of conditions, from well-drained soil to coastal sand. It is an excellent choice for potting in flower gardens as it is so forgiving and full of color. The majority of basil will bloom throughout the year, but some varieties bear more fruit in certain times of the year, especially late summer through to the winter. In the Summer months the basil will produce large blooms that are very fragrant.

Its bitter taste makes it a good choice as an ingredient in sauces, or for adding zest to dishes. Before planting your basil plant, you must make sure that it gets enough sunlight and moisture. Basil prefers a lot of sunlight it’s important to let your basil plant get about six hours of light per day, and to get it watered every other day, though do not over-water it. 

Chives

Growing Chives is a difficult task because it needs full sunlight. Chives, as with most perennials do not grow well in shaded areas, and will do better in the sun if you plant them in a pot on the windowsill in the late summer or early fall. If you live in an area that does not get a lot of sunlight you can still grow this herb, but it will just be harder to do. 

The best time to plant Chives is late spring or early fall, although some varieties have been known to grow in the late winter to early spring. Most home gardeners find that if they follow basic plant care principles and give the plants adequate, consistent, and regular watering, that the plants will do just fine without much attention from the gardener

Cilantro

Cilantro is a perennial flowering herb in the mint family, Apiaceae. It’s also sometimes called Coriander or cilantro. All parts of the cilantro plant are generally edible, although the green leaves and the young flowers are the most frequently used parts in recipes.

Cilantro requires full sun, or approximately four to six hours of direct sunlight each day. Cilantro does best in soil that has been slightly tilled, and if you are growing it outside, make sure that it receives the right amount of water. It can also be grown on a raised bed, using pots or containers, but it will take much less frequent watering.

Comfrey

Growing Comfrey is a great way to add some more color and flavor to your garden. It can be used as both a decorative element and a medicinal one, and its culinary qualities make it a popular addition to herb gardens. Comfrey will grow quite tall, so you may need to dig a hole in the center and place a stake inside the hole to support it. It will grow quite a bit taller each year, so you should just be able to manage if you have a larger garden space.

Comfey tends to grow best in acidic soil, and on hillsides. In southern states, it will not grow at all unless it gets a lot of sunlight. If you live in an area where there is enough sunshine, you will see that it starts to blossom at the end of March or beginning of April. The blooms are pretty, large, purple and white and last for a few weeks.

Dill

Growing dill requires an ample amount of sunlight to produce their beautiful yellow flowers, pots, or planters that are placed in sunny areas should be used whenever possible. Another thing to remember is to check your potted dill plants every few weeks and remove any wilted or dead flowers. Yellow flowers can turn brown fairly quickly if they are not properly cared for, so you don’t want to wait too long to prune them.

Finally, using well drained soil is best for growing dill. Dill does not do well in waterlogged soil, and the roots will rot from the excess weight as well as the constant water. In addition, well drained soil will wash away most of the essential nutrients, so it will be necessary to fertilize your plants more frequently. 

Fennel

Fennel has a long history as a popular ornamental crop among gardeners. The attractive yellow blooms of this perennial herb can be used for landscaping, potting, and creating a centerpiece for flowerbeds, rock gardens, and other such arrangements. When used in garden pots, fennel tends to require a lot more watering than other flowering annual herbs; however, its low growing habit and relative easy handling make it an ideal low-maintenance crop.

The beautiful yellow flowers of the fennel plant are actually the edible part of this perennial herb. The plant is commonly known for its seeds, which are used for creating bread, pasta, sausage, and other culinary delights.

Lavender

Growing lavender from seed is relatively easy, but there are several things you should know. You have to make sure that the soil is perfect for growing lavender plants, particularly because it grows very well in acidic soils. You will also have to provide a suitable growing environment for the plant, which includes lots of sunlight, good drainage, high humidity, and a temperature around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are growing lavender from seed, you should know that the time for germination is about four to six weeks. After this period, the plant will produce new shoots which are called blooms. The blooms will be covered with a single stem, and it is during this stage when you can clip them to keep them from growing. The other way of growing lavender is by growing the plant directly from cuttings taken from the perennial plant which is known as the ascendant lavender.

Oregano

Growing Dill in Pots is not that difficult, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. When you are growing oregano, the most important consideration is that it will get plenty of sunlight and that it receives it for the full sun spectrum. It’s true that you can grow your oregano plants in the ground as opposed to them being planted in pots, but many people like the neatness of having the plants in one pot.

One last consideration when you are growing oregano is that you can prune the plants at any time. You should never cut off the main stem, but you should trim the rest back to maintain a healthy look. It will take a bit of time, but pruning will provide the oregano with a beautiful full head of leaves. 

Parsley

Growing Parsley in the garden is not only a great way to spruce up your lawn or fence, it can also be a great way to save money. One thing you need to keep in mind when growing parsley is that it grows very slowly. It can take as long as three years for a plant to grow from a tiny seedling to full size. However, even if you start it too late, you can still have healthy plants by taking some precautions.

The first thing you should do if you are growing parsley in your garden is to choose a location. A sunny spot in the garden is best, but a little planting just under a tree can provide good sun all year round and will provide the herbs with shade in the summer. Parsley likes clay soil and if you are growing it in your garden, make sure you add plenty of rich soil to the mixture so that it will retain moisture well. Parsley likes to have its roots buried deep into the earth so make sure you dig them just deep enough, so they will be comfortable.

Rosemary

Rosemary  is a beautiful little plant that grows in abundance in many wooded areas. It grows up to four feet tall and is a fast growing perennial. Rosemary thrives best in full sunlight and thrives best in rich soil that has been thoroughly tilled, although you may want to use a fertilizer if the soil is dry. The three most important for growing Rosemary are good drainage, good sunshine, and correct air circulation. 

Also try to keep your Rosemary well watered to prevent it from drying out. Most varieties of Rosemary can be grown in pots, but in some cases you will need to use a raised bed.  The most successful Rosemary garden is made up of six to eight plants, but most people end up keeping two to four plants on hand because they like to harvest all the leaves at once.

Sage

Growing sage isn’t very difficult for almost anybody. It is considered a perennial plant, so the best time to plant it is in spring, but there are also some growing habits that you need to learn before planting. You should never let your sage plants get too dry, or they will die. And while growing sage isn’t very hard, you do have to know a few tips about pruning. A common mistake with most gardeners is they prune their plants to their buds rather than the stem.

Pruning your woody perennial is a good way to make the plant more bushy, but only prune the stem. If you harvest too much, the plant will lose its leaves and then die. Harvesting too little however, will result in small brown ‘spots’ on your stems, which doesn’t look very appealing. The final tip for growing sage is watering your little buddy properly. Sage seeds don’t like being water starved, so watering is not a big deal as long as you don’t flood your plants.