
June 1, 2026 | By Maryan Readal
Lemon basil, Ocimum × africanum Lour., also known as hoary basil for its whiskery stems, “temperate” tulsi because it grows in temperate zones, ...

May 4, 2026 | By Chrissy Moore
There are numerous lemon-flavored or lemon-scented plants in the herb world, but in my opinion, none rival the clean lemon fragrance and taste ...

April 6, 2026 | By Maryann Readal
Few herbs capture attention quite like the chile pepper. Vibrant, fiery, and surprisingly diverse, Capsicum annuum includes thousands of peppers ...

March 2, 2026 | By Maryann Readal
Herbs common in southwestern gardens and cuisines are the focus of the next few months, in anticipation of The Herb Society of America’s ...

February 2, 2026 | By Maryan Readal
This sunny, late-blooming, garden and culinary herb is The Herb Society’s spotlight herb this month—Mexican tarragon, Tagetes lucida. It is ...

January 5, 2026 | By Maryann Readal
Introduction
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is an ancient and remarkably versatile spice whose vivid color, distinctive flavor, and long history of ...

December 1, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Mace: The Elegant Twin of Nutmeg
Mace is a wonderfully unique spice. It derives from the Myristica fragrans tree and is native to Indonesia’s ...

November 3, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is an herb of many faces. In spring, its white, lacy blossoms brighten woodlands and hedgerows, attracting bees ...

October 7, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Horseradish—A Root With Bite
Few plants can evoke such a range of emotions as horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), which can make you laugh, cry, ...

September 1, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Introduction to Butterfly Pea
Butterfly pea, Clitoria ternatea, also known as pigeonwings, is an interesting, vibrant, blue-flowered herb with a ...

August 4, 2025 | By Maryann Readal

July 7, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Sumac, Rhus coriaria, is The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for July. It is truly an interesting herb and perhaps a little-known one for many ...

June 2, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, are one of the versatile herbs that belong in every garden. It is a tasty culinary plant with a light ...

May 5, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Oregano, Origanum spp., is The Herb Society’s featured herb for May. It is an herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and is native to the ...

April 7, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Salad burnet, Sanguisorba minor, is The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for April. I love this little herb, but it can be difficult to find in ...

March 3, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
Mustard, The Herb Society’s Herb of the Month for March, is a versatile herb in the Brassicaceae family. This family includes cabbage, kale, ...

February 3, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
What does a wooded area and a gin and tonic have in common? They both may contain HSA’s Herb of the Month, juniper (Juniperus communis). The ...

January 27, 2025 | By Maryann Readal
I thought it would be an easy task to gather a list of the best books read by the four online HSA Book Clubs in 2024. But what I learned was ...