Container Herb Garden Ideas: Easy & Beautiful Ways to Grow Your Own Herbs

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Create a thriving herb container garden with easy-to-grow herbs and beautiful flower pairings.

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Growing herbs in containers is a great way to enjoy fresh flavors and fragrant foliage, while adding a touch of greenery on your patio, balcony, or kitchen windowsill. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned gardener, an herb container garden is an easy, low-maintenance way to grow your own herbs. In this guide, we’ll cover the best herbs for containers, how to pair herbs and flowers, which herbs grow best together, and tips for starting herbs from seeds.

Herb container garden in terracotta pot with rosemary, thyme, and oregano — Source: The Market at Ella’s

Best herbs for container gardening

Many herbs thrive in pots, making them perfect for small-space gardening. Some of the best herbs for containers include:

Basil loves warm weather and plenty of sun. Great for cooking and repels pests (like mosquitoes).
Mint can grow aggressively so containers help keep it in check. Mint is perfect for teas and cocktails.
Thyme is a drought-tolerant herb that thrives in well-draining pots and adds great flavor to dishes.
Rosemary loves full sun and well-draining soil, and it doubles as an ornamental plant.
Parsley is a versatile herb that grows well in part shade and full sun.
Chives are easy to grow and perfect for adding a mild onion flavor to dishes.
Oregano loves dry conditions and full sun, making it ideal for pots.
Cilantro grows quickly in cool weather and is perfect for fresh salsas.
Lavender – can be used for baking and adds fragrance and beautiful color to an herb garden.

Herb garden container with lavender — Source: The Farm Gate

Mixing herbs and flowers

Combining herbs with flowers not only creates a visually appealing container garden but also helps deter pests naturally. Here are some great herb and flower pairings:

Basil + Marigolds – both have natural pest repellent properties so they are great additions to a container garden with flowers that are more susceptible to pests.
Lavender + Petunias – Both attract pollinators while adding fragrance and color.
Rosemary + Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums deter aphids, while rosemary provides height and structure.
Chives + Pansies – Chives deter pests like aphids, and pansies add a pop of color for winter and spring.
Mint + Calendula – Calendula attracts beneficial insects, and mint repels mosquitoes.

When planting herbs and flowers together, ensure they have similar sunlight and watering needs. For example, rosemary, lavender, and thyme prefer drier soil, while basil and parsley need more moisture.

Herb container garden with basil, parsley, and flowers in wicker basket — Source: Detroit Garden Works

Which herbs grow best together in containers?

Some herbs grow better when paired together, while others should be kept separate due to different growing needs. Here are some great herb combinations for container gardens:

Good companion herbs:

Basil + Parsley + Cilantro – All love moisture and can tolerate part shade.
Thyme + Rosemary + Oregano – Thrive in well-draining soil and full sun.
Chives + Dill + Cilantro – Grow well together in slightly moist soil and prefer cooler weather.

Companion planting ideas for container herb garden — Source: Greenland Garden Centre

Herbs to keep separate:

Mint – Mint spreads quickly and can choke out other herbs.
Fennel & Other Herbs – Fennel doesn’t play well with other plants and is best grown alone.
Dill & Lavender – Dill prefers moist soil, while lavender likes it dry.

Potted mint for herb container gardening — Source: Homestead Design Collective

Starting herbs from seed vs. buying plants

You can start herbs from seeds or buy young plants at a nursery. Here are a few things you should consider.

Best herbs to start from seed:

Basil – grows quickly from seed in warm conditions.
Cilantro – direct sow seeds for best results, as it doesn’t transplant well.
Dill – grows easily from seed and self-seeds for continuous harvests.
Chives – easy to grow from seed but takes a little longer to mature.
Parsley – takes time to germinate but grows well if you presoak the seeds.

Starting an herb garden container from seed with dill, parsley, mint, flowers — Source: Floral & Hardy of Skippack

Best herbs to buy as plants:

Rosemary – slow-growing from seed, so buying a plant is easier.
Lavender – can take months to germinate, so it’s best to start with a plant.
Mint – grows so easily that cuttings or small plants are the way to go.
Oregano & thyme – slow-growing from seed, so nursery plants save time.

For beginner gardeners, buying a few established plants and then experimenting with seed-starting is a great way to get the best of both worlds.

Vertical herb container gardening using repurposed garden pallet — Source: Allie Wilson Home

Tips for beginners: how to grow a thriving herb container garden

Choose the right pots – use containers with drainage holes to prevent soggy roots. Terracotta, ceramic, or lightweight plastic pots work well.
Use high-quality soil – herbs thrive in well-draining potting mix. Avoid heavy garden soil.
Water correctly – water when the top inch of soil is dry, but don’t overwater. Some herbs (like rosemary, lavender, and thyme) prefer drier conditions.
Give them sunlight – most herbs need at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. A sunny patio or windowsill works well.
Harvest regularly – picking herbs encourages new growth and keeps plants healthy.
Fertilize sparingly – too much fertilizer can reduce flavor. Use a balanced organic fertilizer every few weeks.
Rotate herbs indoors in winter – hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme, and chives can be brought inside for fresh herbs year-round.

Aesthetic container herb garden — Source: GNC Garden

An herb container garden is a fun, easy way to grow your own fresh ingredients while adding visual appeal to your home. With the right plants, pairings, and care, you can create a thriving herb garden no matter how much space you have.

Container gardening with herbs and flowers — Source: Detroit Garden Works

If you enjoyed this post, check out my other posts with gardening ideas, which are featured below. I’ve also included links to some of my favorite gardening supplies.

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