Best Smelling Herbs To Grow Indoors

The best smelling herbs to grow indoors are often the ones that require the least maintenance. Herbs like lavender and mint, for example, can easily be propagated by snipping a stem from them, and scattering the seeds in a pot. As they grow they will create a lovely scented aroma in your home. If you do not want to propagate these herbs, you can also buy potted herbs that have already been established and placed in a decorative vase.

Thyme

Thyme
Image by photosforyou from Pixabay

Thyme is an aromatic evergreen herb in the family of Lamiaceae. The herb is native to the Mediterranean and Asia, but is now grown in other parts of Europe and Africa, as well as the United States and Australia. It is considered an annual crop because it is rarely farmed. While it can grow in full sun to partial shade, it prefers a sunny location under a tree to a dry one.

There are several recipes in which thyme is added to soups, stews, salads, desserts, sauces and more. Thyme is an excellent herb for adding flavor and color to dishes. It has a fresh, sweet and herbaceous flavor that adds flavor to dishes and makes dishes more interesting.

Mint

Mint
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Mint has many medicinal uses and is considered to be one of the most useful and efficient herbs. There are many species, and some of them have proven to be quite useful for health. Mint has antiseptic properties, and it is useful for cleansing the respiratory tract and for promoting healthy immune functions. 

The essential oils also have numerous characteristic odors, which make it very attractive to use in aromatherapy – that is, to create scents that help reduce anxiety, promote overall mood stability, and so on. When cooking with mint, the flavor can be extracted by infusing it into the dish. A good example of this would be to add a few sprigs of mint while marinating meat in red wine. 

Basil

Basil
Image by tookapic from Pixabay

Basil, better known as good basil, is an aromatic culinary herb of the mint family, Lamiaceae. It was first cultivated and grown in Egypt around thousands of years ago. It is now grown nearly everywhere in the world except the Pacific Islands. This aromatic and flavorful plant is an important part of Italian, Greek, and Italian cooking. 

While Basil’s versatility makes it a favorite addition to culinary recipes, it’s often taken for granted in the home. Basil’s popularity as a flavor additive and fragrance source has made it one of the most widely used and prescribed herbs in all parts of the world. 

Cilantro

Cilantro
Image by Nayuta from Pixabay

Cilantro is a delicate perennial herb from the verb plant family Apiaceae. It’s also called Chinese parsley or cilantro, although both words refer to the same plant. All parts of the plant, however, are edible; the raw leaves and the green stem are the only parts used in cooking, though the dried flowers and seeds are sometimes used in gourmet cooking. The cilantro herb is generally used fresh.

However, some of the more bitter herbal leaves can be used later in the month when the leaves are used raw in salads. Also, when cooking with cilantro, it is good to keep an eye on the quantity used so that the leaves don’t become too bitter. I like to keep a handful around for any leftover salads, simple sandwiches and a few things like miso soup and wraps.

Fennel

Fennel
Image by Babs Müller from Pixabay

Fennel  It is a hardy, perennial herb  flowering plant species in the carrot family. Fennel is an aquatic plant with velvety leaves and pink flowers. It’s a perennial herb with yellowish flowers and small feathery green leaves.

It’s native to the Mediterranean but is now naturalized in North America, especially along coastal areas near the ocean and on low river banks. Fennel seed contains the active ingredient chlorophyll, which is the reason for the plant’s ability to grow even in the absence of sunlight.

Dill

A perennial plant dill can be found in the Mediterranean, Central, and Southern America, as well as some parts of Asia. However, cooking with fresh dill makes a delicious accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes, from salads to pasta sauce. Sprinkling dill seeds on a salad adds a bit of color and extra taste.

Boiling dill in stock adds a depth of flavor not found with many other ingredients.Common in pickle recipes, dill is also commonly used as an ingredient in cooking sauces and dishes. Dill is said to provide relief from colds, and may also aid in treating stomach problems.

Chervil

Chervil
Image by ivabalk from Pixabay

Chervil is an attractive perennial herb with yellow flowers and a gray-green leaf. It has been a source of culinary and medicinal herbs for many years. Chervil is well known for its pungent flavor and its ability to alleviate the symptoms of cough, cold, flu and sore throat.

It’s commonly used in sauces for seasoning and is part of the French, herbal mixture fines herbes de Provence. It contains powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties, while also being a strong laxative.

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm
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Lemon balm is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to southern Europe, central Asia, Iran, and the Mediterranean Basin. Lemon balm with a multitude of uses.

It has been revered by Native Americans for its medicinal properties and has been used for treating skin disorders such as acne, boils, abscesses, mouth sores, herpes, impetigo, warts, rashes, varicose veins, yeast infections, varicose ulcers, and more. 

Summer Savory

Summer Savory
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

Summer Savory is among our most popular of the all-natural savoury genus. It’s an annual, as well as a perennial, but in terms of flavour and use is very similar to the perennial winter Savory, but it has a slightly bitter more pungent taste. It’s a hardy, attractive plant that prefers full sunlight.

As it grows quickly up to three feet tall, it blooms in full bloom in July or August. The tubular flowers have black petals and a yellow centre. To be harvested, the tubular flowers drop from the plant by simple means, much like a daffodil.

Parsley

Parsley
Image by Uki_71 from Pixabay

Parsley is a common and affordable ingredient in many foods, both culinary and medicinal. The yellow curly leaf has been used in food for hundreds of years. Parsley is rich in sulphur and magnesium, which make it a good addition to a wide variety of recipes, from salads and sauces to savoury dishes like garlic and fish.

In fact, parsley is considered so good for you that in addition to using it as a garnish in cooking, some people add it to their salad vegetables, fresh from the garden. Parsley is a bright green plant with oval leaves, small purple flowers and shiny green stems, which grows up to three feet tall. 

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus, also known as Rosemary, is an aromatic shrub with evergreen, fragrant leaves and flowers, native primarily to the Mediterranean area. It is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae.

It has an aromatic and stimulating effect on the human mind and soul, and has been used both for medicinal and culinary purposes throughout history. It is said to reduce fevers, aid digestion, treat spasms, and to stimulate the blood circulation.

Sage

Sage
Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

A scented Mediterranean herb, sage has roots from North Africa to Eastern Europe and is cultivated as a vegetable in much of that continent. It’s a member of the mint genus Lamiaceae and is native to the Mediterranean area, though it’s now naturalized in a number of locations across the globe. 

Historically, sage has been used to treat a variety of illnesses, from minor to severe. Traditionally, the herb has been used as a powerful diuretic, an anti-inflammatory, a sedative, and as an antidote for poisoning, although its mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. 

Lavender

Lavender
Image by SanduStefan from Pixabay

Lavender is a famous plant with a long history as a scented herb. It has been used as a medicine in China and India for thousands of years. It has been found growing wild in parts of France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. It grows tall, up to six feet tall, with lovely dark green leaves, which fade to a cream color when they are cut.

The soothing scent of English lavender flowers attracts people from all walks of life and helps relieve stress, tension, and fatigue. It is believed that it has a positive effect on blood pressure and respiratory rate and can be beneficial for people who suffer from asthma and other respiratory disorders.

Artemisia

Artemisia
Image by Merja Partanen from Pixabay

Artemisia vulgaris has been described as a shrub with succulent leaves, not unlike orchids, and having fern-like flowers containing large, volatile flowers. It can be found in a number of habitats, including floodplains, roadsides, fields, deciduous forests, near springs, meadows, and abandoned fields. 

Artemisia vulgaris is cultivated for its edible roots, leaves, and flowers. It is used for culinary purposes in cookery, stews, soups, sauces, gravies, teas, and ointments. 

Anise Hyssop​​​​​​​

​​Anise Hyssop​​​​​​​
Image by Annie_Bananie42 from Pixabay

Anise Hyssop, is delicate species of annual plant belonging to the mint genus. With its sweet-smelling leaves and dark purple flowers, it is quite attractive. It grows best in humid soil that has low acidity and very little drainage. The Anise Hyssop can be grown in full sun

Author

  • Vince S

    Hello, I'm Vince, and I bring over 25 years of dedicated experience in the world of herb gardening. From cultivating fragrant basil to nurturing hardy rosemary, my journey as a passionate herb enthusiast has allowed me to explore the wonders of these versatile plants. Through diyherbgardener.com, I'm thrilled to share my knowledge, tips, and insights to help you embark on your own herb gardening adventures. Let's grow together!

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