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Horticulture Principles and Practices

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TABLE 21–1<br />

Popular Herbs <strong>and</strong> Their Parts Used<br />

Plant Scientific Name Parts Used<br />

Bay Laurus nobilis Leaves<br />

Basil (sweet) Ocimum basilicum Leaves<br />

Chives Allium schoenaprasum Leaves<br />

Cumin Cuminum cyminum Seeds<br />

Cori<strong>and</strong>er Cori<strong>and</strong>rum sativum Leaves or seeds<br />

Dill Anethum graveolens Leaves<br />

Ginger Zingiber officinale Root<br />

Mint Mentha spp. Leaves (seasoning or tea)<br />

Marjoram (sweet) Origanum marjorana Leaves<br />

Oregano Origanum vulgare Leaves<br />

Parsley Petroselinum crispum Leaves (seasoning or garnish)<br />

Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis Leaves<br />

Sage Salvia officinalis Leaves<br />

Thyme Thymus vulgaris Leaves<br />

Sometimes herbs are ground into a thick slurry <strong>and</strong> applied to parts of the body for a<br />

variety of purposes. Using herbs for medicinal purposes should only be on the advice of<br />

qualified practitioners <strong>and</strong> is discouraged for pregnant women.<br />

21.1.2 ORNAMENTAL<br />

Herbs have great decorative value in the l<strong>and</strong>scape. They may be used in edging, for<br />

either their attractive foliage (e.g., sage, rosemary, lavender, <strong>and</strong> thyme) or color<br />

(e.g., parsley, chives, <strong>and</strong> pot marigold). Plants such as sage, hyssop, bushy thyme, <strong>and</strong><br />

lavender can be trimmed to amenable sizes <strong>and</strong> attractive shapes.<br />

21.1.3 FRAGRANCE<br />

Part of the use of herbs in the l<strong>and</strong>scape is to provide pleasing scents in the environment.<br />

Herbs are known for their scents, which emanate from flowers <strong>and</strong> foliage. Some of the<br />

most notable herbs with sweet scents include thyme, lavender, rosemary, <strong>and</strong> rosebuds.<br />

Certain herbs are cut <strong>and</strong> dried (leaves <strong>and</strong> flowers) <strong>and</strong> included in the mixture used to<br />

make potpourri, which is widely used in perfuming indoor environments.<br />

21.1.4 CULINARY<br />

A number of herbs are used in cooking to add their characteristic flavors to foods. Fresh<br />

leaves, where available, may be picked <strong>and</strong> added to foods for this purpose; dried forms<br />

may be purchased in stores for culinary use. Flowers of chives <strong>and</strong> borage, among others,<br />

may be used in salads, <strong>and</strong> seeds of dill, cori<strong>and</strong>er, <strong>and</strong> cumin are good flavoring aids.<br />

Certain herbs are dried <strong>and</strong> used in brewing teas (herb teas), which have refreshing <strong>and</strong><br />

medicinal values. Apart from these common uses, certain herbs such as hyssop, clover,<br />

thyme, <strong>and</strong> sage have flowers that attract insects such as bees <strong>and</strong> butterflies. Others, such<br />

as tansy, pyrethrum, <strong>and</strong> santolina, on the other h<strong>and</strong>, repel insects with their scent.<br />

21.2 CULTIVATION<br />

21.2.1 SITE SELECTION<br />

Herbs grow vigorously <strong>and</strong> attain the most flavor when exposed to full sun. The soil must<br />

be well drained with a neutral to alkaline soil reaction. Clay <strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y soils should be<br />

avoided since they present water-related problems in cultivation, clays being prone to waterlogging<br />

<strong>and</strong> s<strong>and</strong>y soils being prone to drying out. Many herbs are adapted to marginal soils.<br />

Cultivation 647

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