Propagation: Softwood cuttings from root shoots or rhizomes or by divisions. Tends to reseed.

Edible parts: Leaves and flowers.

Harvest: Pinch off fresh leaves and flowers throughout the growing season or prune off whole branches to dry.

Flavour description: Strong minty flavour with hints of licorice and citrus.

Uses: Teas, jellies, salads, and baked goods.

Propagation: Easy to grow from seed, but can also be grown from softwood cuttings.

Edible parts: Leaves and flowers.

Harvest: Leaves and flowers may be picked throughout the growing season. Tends to lose flavour after flowering.

Flavour description: sweet, peppery, and slightly minty flavor with hints of clove and anise. Young leaves have better flavour than older, larger ones.

Uses: Tomato recipes, sauces, soups, pastas, poultry.

Propagation: Easy to grow from seed, but can also be grown from softwood cuttings or division. Seeds benefit from cold stratification of 2 to 3 months. Stems that touch the ground often grow roots that once established can be divided to form a new plant.

Edible parts: Leaves and flowers.

Harvest: Leaves and flowers may be picked throughout the growing season.

Flavour description: Robust lemony oregano flavour.

Uses: Roasted meats, teas, jams, and desserts. Dried leaves and flowers can be used as a substitute for oregano or marjoram.

Propagation: Division is preferable, but can be grown from seed. Cut back plants after flowering to encourage a second flowering and better growth.

Edible parts: Leaves.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season.

Flavour description: Mild minty flavour with hints of citrus.

Uses: Teas. (Pregnant women should consult their doctor before consuming.)

Propagation: Tip or root cuttings. Can be difficult to grow from seed and is often not true to type.

Edible parts: Flowers.

Harvest: Prune branches just before the buds open, to optimize oil retention.

General Uses: Teas and sweets.

Prominent varieties: (There are 47 known species)

English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Zones 4-9
Sweet, floral, pronounced fragrance with hints of mint and rosemary.

Folgate Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Zones 5-9
Has dark violet, mildly scented flowers.

French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) Zone 8-9
Unique for its long bracts which crown the top of the deep purple inflorescence.

Hidcote Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Zones 4-8
Known for its hardiness and deep purple strongly aromatic blossoms.

Melissa Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Zones 5-8
Produces fragrant flowers that begin pure white but mature into a delicate pink colour.

Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) Zones 7-9
Known for its distinctive flowers that pop up from each flower spike.

Propagation: Easy to grow from seed, but can also be grown from softwood cuttings.

Edible parts: Leaves and tender stems.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season. Harvest in the morning for the best flavour.

Flavour description: Light lemon.

Uses: Tea, cocktails, garnishes, fruit salads, soups.

Propagation: From softwood cuttings or plant divisions. Seeds can be difficult to grow.

Edible parts: Leaves.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season. Flavour is better prior to flowering.

Flavour description: similar to oregano but milder in flavour and slightly sweeter.

Uses: Tea, soups, stews, sauces, meat dishes, and sausage.

Propagation: Best grown from softwood or root cuttings. Mint is a hybrid, so seeds while easy to grow may not be true to variety.

Edible parts: Leaves and flowers.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season. Leaves may become bitter after flowering.

General Uses: Tea, cocktails, garnishes, sweets.

Just a few of many varieties:

Chocolate Mint (Mentha x piperita piperita) Zones 4-9
Peppermint flavour with a little something extra.

Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii) Zones 7-9
A small leaved plant that resembles ground cover. It is the origin of the crème de menthe drink.

Mojito Mint (Mentha x villosa) Zones 5-9
Its scent and flavour are mild and warm, not pungent nor overly sweet like many other mints

Moroccan Mint (Mentha spicata) Zones 4-9
A flavourful sweet mint used widely throughout North Africa to brew Moroccan-style mint tea.

Orange Mint (Mentha aquatica) Zones 4-9
Mint with a hint of citrus.

Vietnamese Mint (Mentha x gracilis) Zones 7-9
Has a unique, spicy spearmint flavour often found in Vietnamese cooking. Used in meat dishes, salads, and as a garnish.

Propagation: From seed or softwood cuttings. Hybrid seeds may not be true to type.

Edible parts: Leaves.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season.

Flavour description: Has earthy, green, minty notes similar to marjoram but more vibrant in flavour.

Uses: Pizza, pasta sauces, Italian and Mediterranean dishes.

Propagation: From softwood cuttings. Seeds may not be true to variety.

Edible parts: Leaves and flowers.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season.

Flavour description: robust, earthy flavour with overtones of pine, mint and eucalyptus.

Uses: Tea, potato dishes, roasted vegetables, soups, meats, Mediterranean dishes.

Propagation: From seeds or softwood cuttings.

Edible parts: Leaves and flowers.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season.

Flavour description: Savory with an overtone of camphor.

Uses: Teas, soups, stews, stuffing, sausages, poultry, beans, casseroles, eggplant, and tomato sauces.

Propagation: From seeds. Propagation requires light so do not cover seeds with soil.

Edible parts: Leaves.

Harvest: Pick leaves before they flower for best flavour.

Flavour description: Peppery taste with a hint of thyme.

Uses: beans, lentils, fish and seafood, soups, stews, casseroles, sauces, and sausages. The modern spice mixture Herbes de Provence has savory as one of the principal ingredients.

Propagation: From seeds or softwood cuttings. Seed propagation requires light so do not cover seeds with soil. Does self seed.

Edible parts: Leaves.

Harvest: Pick leaves before they flower for best flavour.

Flavour description: Peppery taste with a hint of thyme.

Uses: beans, lentils, fish and seafood, soups, stews, casseroles, sauces, and sausages. The modern spice mixture Herbes de Provence has savory as one of the principal ingredients.

Propagation: From softwood cuttings or from seed. Hybrid varieties may not be true to seed.

Edible parts: Leaves.

Harvest: Leaves may be picked throughout the growing season.

Flavour description: Earthy, with hints of mint, citrus and pine.

Uses: Tomatoes, eggplant and root vegetables. The modern spice mixture Herbes de Provence has savory as one of the principal ingredients.

Just a few of many varieties:

French Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Zones 4-9
Has narrow leaves distinctly greyer and sweeter than the English variety, although not as pungent.

Lemon Thyme (Thymus x citriodorus) Zones 4-9
Has a pleasing lemon aroma and flavour.

Silver Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Zones 4-8
Lemony flavour and aroma is identical to the standard English Thyme variety, unique for its variegated leaves which appear silver from afar.