Our Favorite Fall Herbs

Many of us consider spring as the primary planting season, but the right planning and planting can make for some autumn abundance. Some plants even favor cooler temperatures over the warm summer sun and establish quickly to get a head start on your spring garden.

Some of our most treasured herbs grow and thrive during this time of year and we incorporate many of them into our herbal tisanes and our daily routines to experience their many powerful properties. Here are a few of our fall favorites:

Lavender

Why we like it: We consider lavender to be a seasonal hero since it’s a low-maintenance perennial that can be planted any time from spring to autumn. It’s a natural pollinating plant that produces beautiful blossoms and scents, making it an elegant addition to any landscape. It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is commonly used for medicinal and therapeutic benefits, including insomnia, pain, anxiety, and stress.

How we use it: We love to bundle and dry branches together to add a sense of calm in our space or give as a beautiful bouquet. You can also strip the dried blossoms off to create a DIY potpourri satchel with other dried aromatic herbs and some essential oil. You can also utilize its natural antiseptic properties for stress relief by adding lavender to homemade soaps, oils, sprays, and more.

Sage

Why we like it: It’s very versatile when it comes to growing indoors and out — sage is equally as comfortable in a raised bed as it is in an indoor container with plenty of direct sunlight. It’s a hardy plant that’s economical, easy to grow, and requires very little maintenance. It contains healing properties and is packed with antioxidants that protect your body from free radicals. Sage is also known to improve mood and memory, aid in digestive health, and help combat anxiety and depression.

How we use it: Culinary sage is the perfect addition to many of the fall-time dishes we know and love. Fresh or dried, sage complements meat and poultry, marinades, compound butter, vegetables, and more.

Thyme

Why we like it: Thyme is a drought-tolerant herb that doesn’t require a ton of water and just wants sun. Similar to lavender, it naturally attracts the important animal pollinators (like bees and butterflies) that play a crucial role in flowering plant reproduction. Thyme is also known to improve circulation, heal wounds and scars, moisturize the skin, minimize the appearance of acne, kill bacteria, and relieve monthly menstrual symptoms.

How we use it: One of the most versatile herbs around, thyme can be used in almost every aspect of everyday life. In the kitchen, culinary sage adds savory flavors from everything to dinners, desserts, and cocktails. In medicine, it’s known to treat coughs, respiratory infections, and bronchitis and can be boiled down to make a homemade cough syrup.

Lemon Balm Leaf

Why we like it: While most people don’t think about lemon balm beyond herbal tea, it’s played a crucial role in natural healing for thousands of years. Its flavor, beauty, and powerful medicinal properties make it one of our favorites. It’s known to ease stress and anxiety and contains potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It also helps to treat digestive tract, nervous system, and liver disorders.

How we use it: Since it comes directly from the mint family, it offers bright, fragrant notes that lend perfectly to greens, fish, and root vegetables. Adding lemon balm to tea can help ease tension and rejuvenate the nervous system and its antiviral properties can help with recovering from a cold or flu.