In the year 2000, the Herb Garden was one of the first spaces in the Discovery Garden to break ground. Started by Master Gardener Janice Bunyard with help from her family. Presently the garden is maintained by Geoff Puryear who gave the garden a remodel in 2016-2018, redoing the rock borders around the garden beds and adding lots of new herbs. The herbs can be enjoyed most of the year, with Spring and Summer being the best time for experiencing the full aroma of these plants. Please keep the garden enjoyable to everyone: keep leaves and flowers on the plants.
The Herb Garden is located just past the pavilion, featuring both culinary and tea herbs. The garden is mostly a dry-scape with only a few of the beds receiving regular irrigation. A lot of herbs that we like to use in cooking are easy to grow here in the Umpqua Valley and will survive the drought if planted in the right place.
Common Drought Tolerant Herbs:
- Rosemary
- Culinary Sage
- Lavender
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Chives
Plant List
As of May 2024
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Achillea millefolium | Yarrow ‘Cerise Queen’ |
| Agastache rugosa aurea | Licorice Mint ‘Golden Jubilee’ |
| Allium schoenoprasum | Chives |
| Allium tuberosum | Garlic Chives |
| Aloysia citrodora | Lemon Verbena |
| Armoracia rusticana | Horseradish |
| Artemisia absinthium | Wormwood, Absinthe |
| Artemisia dracunculus | French Terragon |
| Borago officinalis | Borage |
| Calendula officinalis | Calendula, Pot Marigold |
| Callicarpa bodinier | Beautyberry ‘Profusion’ |
| Diplacus aurantiacus | Bush Monkey Flower ‘Cherry’ |
| Foeniculum vulgare | Fennel, Bronze |
| Galium odoratum | Sweet Woodruff |
| Gingko bilobo | Gingko |
| Helianthus maximiliani | Maximilian’s Perennial Sunflower |
| Inula helenium | Elecampane, Horse-heal |
| Laurus nobilis | Bay Laurel |
| Lavandula stoechas | Spanish Lavender |
| Lavandula x intermedia | Lavender ‘Provence’ |
| Leonurus cardiaca | Motherwort |
| Mahonia aquifolium | Shining Oregon Grape |
| Marrubium vulgare | Horehound |
| Monarda didyma | Bee Balm |
| Nemesia hybrida ‘Penyz95’ | Nemesia ‘Raspberry Lemonade’ |
| Oenothera biennis | Evening Primrose |
| Olea europaea | Olive ‘Arbequina’ donated by River Ranch Oregon Olive Oil |
| Origanum vulgare | Oregano |
| Origanum vulgare ‘aureum’ | Oregano, Golden |
| Pelargonium graveolens | Rose Geranium |
| Pelargonium x hortum | Zonal Geranium Hybrid |
| Petroselinum crispum var. crispum | Parsley, Curley |
| Rheum × hybridum | Rhubarb, Culinary |
| Salvia officinalis | Sage, Culinary ‘Berggarten’ |
| Salvia officinalis ‘rosea’ | Sage, Culinary ‘Rosea’ |
| Salvia rosmarinus | Rosemary |
| Salvia rosmarinus prostrata | Rosemary, Prostrate |
| Salvia sclarea | Clary Sage |
| Sanguisorba minor | Salad Burnet |
| Santolina chamaecyparissus | Santolina ‘Lavender Cotton’ |
| Scutellaria altissima | Skullcap, Tall |
| Stachys byzantina | Lamb’s Ear |
| Symphytum officinalis | Comfrey |
| Tanacetum parthenium | Feverfew |
| Teucrium chamaedrys | Germander, Wall |
| Teucrium fruticans | Bush Germander |
| Teucrium hircanicum | Germander, Iranian |
| Teucrium marum | Cat Thyme |
| Thymus vulgaris | Thyme ‘Orange Balsam’ |
| Valeriana officinalis | Valerian |
| Verbena officinalis | Blue Vervain |