Herbs

Twelve familiar culinary herbs from pots and gardens. Discover leaves, scents and cooking ideas. Unknown wild plants stay untouched.

Parsley

Parsley: look, smell and learn

Parsley has divided leaves, flat or curly depending on variety. As a correctly identified kitchen herb it can flavour soup.

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Chives

Chives: look, smell and learn

Chives have long narrow hollow leaves and often round purple flower heads. Verified kitchen chives have a mild onion flavour.

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Basil

Basil: look, smell and learn

Basil usually has broad soft leaves in opposite pairs. It needs warmth and tolerates frost poorly.

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Dill

Dill: look, smell and learn

Dill has very fine thread-like leaves. Its small yellow flower umbrellas form a larger umbrella together: a compound umbel.

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Spearmint

Spearmint: look, smell and learn

Spearmint has toothed leaves in opposite pairs. It makes spreading stems from which new plants can grow.

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Thyme

Thyme: look, smell and learn

Thyme has small narrow leaves on thin, partly woody stems. It likes sun and soil that drains well.

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Rosemary

Rosemary: look, smell and learn

Rosemary's narrow needle-like leaves belong to a kitchen herb. They are green above and paler beneath.

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Oregano

Oregano: look, smell and learn

Oregano has small oval leaves in pairs and pink-to-purple summer flowers. This kitchen herb likes a sunny place and soil that lets excess water drain.

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Sage

Sage: look, smell and learn

Culinary sage has elongated grey-green leaves with fine hairs and a wrinkled surface. This page shows that particular species, not every plant called sage.

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Lemon balm

Lemon balm: look, smell and learn

Lemon balm has broad toothed leaves with wrinkled surfaces, paired on the stem. Its scent recalls lemon, although it grows no lemons.

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Coriander

Coriander: look, smell and learn

Coriander has broader lower leaves and often finely divided upper leaves. Its leaves and dried fruits are used differently as seasonings.

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Chervil

Chervil: look, smell and learn

Chervil has delicate finely divided leaves and small white flower umbrellas. Other plants can look similar.

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