33 Herbs That Come Back Every Year (and 11 That Don’t)
Knowing the lifespan of the herbs we care for is just as important as knowing the lifespan of an animal we care for
You need to know what to expect so you don’t panic when they die naturally
Many herbs come back every year, and they are called perennial plants. These plants normally live between 3 and 5 years. Short-lived perennials live about 2 years. Annual plants have their entire lifespan in 1 year.
Knowing what kind of herbs you have is important to make sure you have the seeds ready for the next generation
If you are raising annual herbs, like Basil, you know that you need seeds by the end of the first year to continue next year.
If you are raising Perennials, you know that you should have 3 to 5 years before they die so you have more time to get the next generation going.
Biennial plants, or short-lived perennials, live to be 2 years old
Whatever herbs you decide to care for and raise, keep their lifespan in mind so you don’t have to buy plants every year
You can raise your plants for many of their generations
What herbs come back every year?
Perennial plants are plants that just keep growing every year
They don’t die off every year like annual plants do
But they also don’t last forever
A perennial herb’s lifespan depends on the specific herb, but most live between 3 and 5 years, but some only live 2 years
There are many perennial herbs, but here are some of the well-known ones
- Oregano
- Mint
- Thyme
- Lemon Balm
- Ginger
- Fennel
- Yarrow
- Echinacea
- Eucalyptus
- Nutmeg
- Sandalwood
- Goldenseal
- Feverfew
- Pennyroyal
- Tarragon
- Clover
- Phalaris
- Thyme
- Bay leaves
- Chives
- Winter Savory
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Rose
- Apple Blossoms
- Chamomile
- Mugwort
- Patchouli
- Betony
- Cinquefoil
- St. John’s wort
- Calendula
- Cinnamon
Herbs are amazing for many things and I love the lack of worry that comes with perennials
Perennials are cold-hardy but they may seem like they die in the summer
What makes them special is that they will come back in the spring
Perennials cost more to grow at first but they will last you years if you take care of them right
Most perennials don’t require a lot of water
They only like to be watered once or twice a week
It is actually terrible for them if you overwater them!
An added benefit of perennials is that they often attract local pollinators
Most people I know are not fans of bees but they are vital for most of the food we enjoy
Planting flowers and herbs that help the environment is a win-win situation
What herbs don’t come back every year?
Herbs that go through their entire lifespan, seed to death, in one year are called annual plants
There are some perennial plants that we treat like annuals because they don’t taste great in their second year (or for other reasons)
Cinnamon basil is an example of this
Even though they live more than one year, they lose many of the benefits we use them for after their first year
So we consider them annual herbs
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Chervil
- Marjoram
- Summer Savory
- Dill
- Bay Laural
- Parsley
- Sage
- Hemp
- Cinnamon Basil (by human choice)
Annual herbs may be more expensive if you don’t harvest seeds for the next year, but they are incredible plants for your home
Herbs like sage have amazing cleansing properties, many of the herbs taste amazing, and each are valuable in their own way
Parsley is one of my favorite herbs to cook with!
So just because they are annuals doesn’t mean you should count them out of your garden
What can we use these herbs for?
There is a huge range that you can use herbs for!
Herbs can be used for cooking to add amazing taste to your dishes
Herbs can be used in spells and rituals
Many herbs may be used when making things like candles and incense
There are so many amazing uses for herbs, and they have unique benefits
I am sure you have heard of burning sage to cleanse your home
But sage can also be added to campfires to keep the bugs away
Lavender smells amazing and can be used to:
- Help you sleep
- Make lotion
- Make soap
- Make tea
- Add to marijuana to smoke
- Add to candles
- Create essential oils
- Make incense
- Attract and care for bees and butterflies
- And more
My recommendation is to choose a plant and just dive in
Learn everything you can about them!
Buy herbs books if you want to grow them
Enjoy the process of learning about each herb, caring for them, using them in your life, and then caring for their next generation