Herbs that are used for flavour in cooking.
Showing 1–20 of 115 results
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African Rosemary
Read moreAfrican Rosemary (Eriocephalus africanus) is a woody perennial shrub in the Asteraceae family. It prefers a sunny, dry, well-drained site and is reasonably frost-hardy in most New Zealand regions. Growing to around 80 cm–1 m tall and wide, it has fine silvery foliage and small white flowers followed by fluffy seedheads. Used as a culinary herb in moderation for flavouring meats and teas, a traditional medicinal plant for respiratory and antiseptic uses, and a fragrant, drought-tolerant ornamental that attracts pollinators and adds texture to cottage and herb gardens.
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African Rosemary
$9.00Add to cartAfrican Rosemary (Eriocephalus africanus) is a woody perennial shrub in the Asteraceae family. It prefers a sunny, dry, well-drained site and is reasonably frost-hardy in most New Zealand regions. Growing to around 80 cm–1 m tall and wide, it has fine silvery foliage and small white flowers followed by fluffy seedheads. Used as a culinary herb in moderation for flavouring meats and teas, a traditional medicinal plant for respiratory and antiseptic uses, and a fragrant, drought-tolerant ornamental that attracts pollinators and adds texture to cottage and herb gardens.
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Agastache – Fragrant Carpet
$8.50Add to cartAgastache aurantiaca ‘Fragrant Carpet Mix’ is a short-lived perennial in the mint (Lamiaceae) family that grows 30–60 cm tall and wide. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, tolerating dry conditions once established. This mix produces masses of scented flower spikes in shades of pink, lavender, and apricot above aromatic green foliage. Frost-tender in most of New Zealand, best treated as an annual or protected over winter.
Agastache is used as a culinary herb with edible flowers and leaves adding a sweet anise-mint flavour to teas and salads; as a companion plant it attracts bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects in abundance. Not strictly used as a medicinal herb but is part of the agastaches that have traditional uses for easing coughs and digestive upsets, -
Agastache – Rose Mint
$8.50Add to cartAgastache ‘Rose Mint’ (Agastache pallidiflora ssp. neomexicana) is a perennial in the mint (Lamiaceae) family that grows 45–60 cm tall and wide. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil, tolerating heat and dry conditions once established. It has fragrant green foliage with a minty-anise scent and produces showy spikes of rosy-pink flowers that bloom from summer into autumn, attracting bees and butterflies. Hardy to light frost but best given protection or grown as an annual in cooler parts of New Zealand.
Agastache is used as a culinary herb with edible flowers and aromatic leaves that add minty, anise-like flavour to teas and desserts; not strictly used as a medicinal herb but part of the agastache species that has traditional uses for easing respiratory complaints and digestive discomfort; and as a companion plant it is excellent for drawing in pollinators and beneficial insects. -
Artichoke – Purple of Romagna
$10.50Add to cartGlobe Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus ‘Purple of Romagna’) is a perennial in the Asteraceae family that grows in full sun and prefers rich, well-drained soil. It is prized for its purple-tinted buds with a rich flavour and is valued both as a culinary delicacy and an ornamental statement.
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Artichoke – Violet de Provence
$10.50Add to cartGlobe Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus ‘Violet of Provence’) is a perennial in the Asteraceae family that grows in full sun and prefers rich, well-drained soil. It is known for its deep violet buds and tender flesh, making it both a decorative and culinary variety.
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Balm – Lemon Balm
$7.50Add to cartLemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial in the Lamiaceae family that grows in full sun to part shade and prefers rich, well-drained soil. It is used as a Culinary Herb for teas and desserts, as a Medicinal Herb for calming and digestive support, and as a Pollinator Plant.
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Balm – Orange Balm
$8.50Add to cartOrange Balm (Melissa officinalis ‘Mandarina’) is a perennial in the Lamiaceae family that grows in full sun to part shade and prefers fertile, well-drained soil. It is used as a Culinary Herb for teas and flavouring, as a Medicinal Herb for calming and digestive remedies, and as a Pollinator Plant.
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Basil – African / Clove (Vana Tulsi)
$8.50Add to cartBasil, Clove (Ocimum gratissimum) also known as African Basil, or Vana Tulsi is a short lived perennial in the Lamiaceae family. It has an upright, shrubby habit with large green leaves and aromatic oils. Basil needs warmth, sun, and fertile free-draining soil.
With its intense clove aroma it is used sparingly in seasoning and teas, and is an excellent traditional medicine for calming, as adaptogen and as immune support. Flowers attract bees. -
Borage – Blue
$6.50Add to cartBorage (Borago officinalis) is an annual herb in the Boraginaceae family. It prefers full sun and free-draining soil, tolerates poorer soils, and self-seeds freely; in New Zealand it grows easily through spring–autumn but is frost-tender. Plants reach 60–90 cm tall and 30–60 cm wide, with coarse hairy leaves and starry blue or white flowers loved by bees. Mainly used as a pollinator plant for bees and beneficial insects, a culinary herb with edible leaves and flowers, a cottage garden favourite for its bright blooms, and occasionally as a medicinal herb for mood and vitality.
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Borage – White
$6.50Add to cartBorage (Borago officinalis) is an annual herb in the Boraginaceae family. It prefers full sun and free-draining soil, tolerates poorer soils, and self-seeds freely; in New Zealand it grows easily through spring–autumn but is frost-tender. Plants reach 60–90 cm tall and 30–60 cm wide, with coarse hairy leaves and starry blue or white flowers loved by bees. Mainly used as a pollinator plant for bees and beneficial insects, a culinary herb with edible leaves and flowers, a cottage garden favourite for its bright blooms, and occasionally as a medicinal herb for mood and vitality.
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Cardoon
$10.50Add to cartCardoon (Cynara cardunculus) is a perennial in the daisy family (Asteraceae). It prefers full sun and well-drained, fertile soil, and is moderately frost-hardy in most of New Zealand. Growing 1.5–2 m tall and 1 m wide, it features striking silver-grey leaves and tall stalks of purple thistle-like flowers. Mainly valued as a culinary plant for its blanched stems with a mild artichoke flavour, a cottage garden ornamental for bold, architectural form, a pollinator plant attracting bees, and a medicinal herb supporting healthy digestion and liver function.
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Chervil
$7.50Add to cartChervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) is an annual herb in the Apiaceae family. It prefers a cool, partly shaded position with moist, well-drained soil. It grows to around 30–60 cm tall with delicate fern-like leaves and small white umbels of flowers. Mainly grown as a culinary herb for its subtle anise-parsley flavour, it also has traditional medicinal uses and works well in cottage gardens for a soft, feathery texture.
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Chilli – various
$6.50Add to cartA variety of the chillies and peppers I am growing from my collection of over 150 varieties. Chillies come in a great variety of colours, shapes, heat levels and taste profiles. Please contact me to see which varieties are on offer this season.
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Chives – Common
$6.50Add to cartCommon Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) is a perennial herb in the Amaryllidaceae family. It prefers a sunny to partly shaded site with moist but well-drained soil and is hardy throughout New Zealand. It grows to about 30–45 cm tall in dense clumps, with hollow grass-like leaves and attractive purple pom-pom flowers. Used mainly as a culinary herb for its mild onion flavour, it is also valued as a pollinator plant and adds charm to cottage gardens.
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Curry bush
$8.50Add to cartA hardy EVERGREEN SHRUB growing to 60cm (2ft) with silver-green leaves and clusters of yellow button-like flowers. Grow in well-drained soil. It tolerates drought and prefers a full sun position.
Although highly aromatic, smelling strongly of curry mixes, it is rarely used as a condiment, and when used to flavour cooking, is removed before eating. -
Elecampane
$9.50Add to cartA flowering PERENNIAL plant growing to 1.5m. A rigid stem carries large and toothed leaves thickly woolly on the underside. Yellow flowerheads are up to 5 cm broad. The root is thick, branching and mucilaginous. It grows in almost any moist soil in the full sun or semi-shade.
The leaves somewhat bitter but aromatic and edible. Roots are candied. Used as a warming and tonic herb, it is a well used medicinal herb. -
Epazote
$7.50Add to cartEpazote (Dysphania ambrosioides) is a strongly aromatic culinary herb in the Amaranthaceae family, growing 60–100cm tall. It prefers sun and well-drained soil and is best used sparingly in Mexican and Central American cooking, particularly with beans. Traditionally valued for its digestive and medicinal qualities, though large doses can be toxic.
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Epazote – Oaxacan Red
$8.50Add to cartEpazote (Dysphania ambrosioides) Oaxacan Red is a strongly aromatic culinary herb in the Amaranthaceae family, growing 60–100cm tall. It prefers sun and well-drained soil and is best used sparingly in Mexican and Central American cooking, particularly with beans. Traditionally valued for its digestive and medicinal qualities, though large doses can be toxic. This red-leaved forms adds ornamental appeal.
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Horseradish
$10.50Add to cartA PERENNIAL of the mustard family growing to 70cm. Prefers a moist and well-drained soil and can grow in very alkaline soils. Full sun or semi-shade.
The young leaves are distinctly different to older leaves, being asymettric spiky before becoming flat and broad.
The plant is cultivated mostly for its large, white, tapered root which is a vegetable and spice. It has medicinal use.