11 Best Herbs to Grow in Florida

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Discovering the best herbs to grow in Florida wasn’t as straightforward as I envisioned. Certain plants require intensive attention, while others are vulnerable to pests and aren’t easy and fast enough to cultivate.

Have you ever wondered about the herbs you can plant in your Florida garden? I am a huge fan of spices and am sure I’ve thought the same thing, so I decided to do some research.

We can cultivate a myriad of spices in Florida, and it’s almost impossible to mention. Our climate is a paradise for plants. In lieu of listing each plant that could be grown here, I’ll simply review the top ten most sought-after and easy-to-cultivate herbs in Florida.

This comprehensive guide will show you the most effective herbs to plant, why you should grow the plants, and how to cultivate the plants.

In the state of Florida, you will be able to cultivate the following herbs successfully:

Basil
Cilantro
Oregano
Mint
Sage
Thyme
Lavender
Rosemary
Chamomile
Garlic
Dill

Table of Contents

11 Best Herbs to Grow in Florida

Basil

Why Grow Basil in Florida?

There are spicy and sweet varieties that are found in Florida. Certain types are green, while others are purple and multicolored. I’ve discovered that basil is among the most simple herbs to grow in Florida.

Thrives in Heat:

As the summers heat up, the basil grows and gets tastier. Find an herb that requires little maintenance.

Low-Maintenance:

Basil is one of the most straightforward plants to grow. There is no need to fertilize it; you require watering it once to twice per week, and it can be grown anywhere in the soil.

Perfect for ANY Garden:

Basil is ideal for urban gardens, window boxes, garden containers, and small spaces. It’s also great in traditional gardens, raised garden beds, and indoors.

Harvested All Summer:

Basil is a perennial crop that can be harvested throughout the summer. The more basil you pick, the more it will continue to grow.

These Could Hurt Your Basil

Disease:

Basil is among the most disease-prone plants. Be prepared for blight, fungus, and rot to attack your plant during the last summer months.

Frost:

If the temperature drops below 35°F, expect your basil to cease to grow to develop stunts, then end up dying. This means you must plant your herb following the last frost and harvest before the first frost of autumn.

Popular Varieties: Sweet, Genovese, Thai, Purple

Cilantro

Why Grow Cilantro in Florida?

Many people believe that cilantro is like soap. It’s a good thing I’m not one of them. I love cilantro. It brings life to many mundane things, such as brown rice.

Thrives in Cold:

Cilantro can quickly bloom when exposed to warm temperatures. It’s not bad since when cilantro grows to seed, you harvest coriander. Cilantro is an excellent double whammy because you can reap the leaves for seasoning, and when the plant has gone to seed, you can also gather the seeds for seasoning.

Low Maintenance:

Once grown, cilantro is a low-maintenance plant that needs the most fundamental upkeep: Water. Established cilantro plants need far less water than developing seedlings; = keep the soil moist and watch your plants. Growing seedlings require around one inch of water each week.

Cilantro grows to around a foot tall and requires approximately 8 inches of space.

While cilantro can withstand full sun, it will appreciate shade in the afternoon.

These Could Hurt Your Cilantro

Pests:

Aphids, cutworms, armyworms, and root-knot nematodes are pests to watch for.

Diseases:

Bacterial leaf spots, soft rot, damping-off, carrot motley dwarf, and powdery mildew are among the ailments that frequently damage cilantro.

Popular varieties: Long-Standing, Delfino, Terra, Lemon, Leisure, Slot Bolt, Jantar, Moroccan, Caribbean, Santos, and Costa Rica.

Oregano

Why Grow Oregano in Florida?

Oregano plants can last throughout the year. You can maintain a healthy oregano plant for 3 to 4 years with proper care.

Cold Hardy:

Oregano is the toughest plant when it’s cold in Florida. Like every other herb on the list, Oregano can be grown yearly.

Ornamental:

Oregano is also an ornamental plant ideal for edge gardens, containers for gardens, and traditional gardens. It can add colors, features, and elegance to any garden.

Perennial:

One of the most significant advantages of growing oregano is that it is an annual plant. It means you plant it once and can enjoy it for years!

These Could Hurt Your Oregano

Invasive

Herbs aren’t usually considered to be considered to be invasive plants. However, they aren’t immune to it. It could grow and harm other plants if you don’t cut your oregano.

Extreme Heat

Contrary to other herbs, extreme heat won’t destroy your herbs. However, it can affect the flavor and prolong its use.

Popular Varieties: Italian, Common, Greek, Cuban

Mint

Why Grow Mint in Florida?

Mint is a breeze to cultivate in Florida. It is a favorite of the humid, warm days. Many people are unhappy that their mint is way out of control, spreading like an invasive plant. It has flowers which are blue, white and purple. It can grow in full sunlight but prefers shade.

Thrives in Cold:

Although some plants are cold-hardy, Mint thrives in Florida’s cold winters. If you want to enjoy the best-tasting peas, they should be planted in winter and spring.

Low Maintenance:

Mint is one of the most effortless plants to cultivate. Mint doesn’t need to fertilize it or even water it. It can be grown in all soils; you don’t have to cut it back!

Perfect in Containers:

The ideal spot to grow mint is in container gardens. This is because you can grow mint anywhere in your garden pot, home, or outdoor window.

These Could Hurt Your Mint

Invasive:

Mint is a highly invasive plant. This means it can spread throughout your garden and may even decimate the other plants within one year. This is why most gardeners will be angry and eventually take down their mint.

Popular Varieties: Peppermint, Spearmint, Chocolate

Sage

Why Grow Sage in Florida?

The Thrives in the scorching heat:

As the temperatures rise, sage grows bigger and more abundant. Find an herb that requires little maintenance.

Repels Mosquitoes:

Sage is among the best plants to plant in your garden to deter mosquitoes and other insects. You can plant the plant in your yard, cook it, or rub it onto yourself to repel insects.

Perfect in All Types of Gardens:

Certain herbs do best in the soil. This includes sage, but not sage. They can be grown in window boxes, containers, or raised garden beds and even in poor ground.

These Could Hurt Your Sage

Diseases:

Sage is also among the most susceptible herbs to disease and is particularly susceptible to illness in non-garden varieties. Your herb will likely be most vulnerable in spring and summer (even if you care for the plants properly).

Popular Varieties: Garden, Pineapple, Purple, Golden

Thyme

Why Grow Thyme in Florida?

Thyme is a plant that typically grows to approximately a foot and a half tall. It has a silvery-looking appearance to it. The leaves are deep green with gray tones. They produce lovely, delicate, light purple flowers that attract many pollinators.

Is a favorite in hot and cold:

Thyme is among the most adaptable herbs. Certain varieties can be grown in colder weather, planted in warmer temperatures, and grown in all weather conditions.

Provides All-Summer Harvest:

Tyme is among the herbs you can pick from the beginning of spring through the end of fall. That means you’ll be able to enjoy or preserve it throughout the year.

Easy to Grow:

It is extremely easy to cultivate. It’s as simple as planting the seed then water and watering it through the summer. That’s it!

These Could Hurt Your Thyme

Birds, Squirrels, Rabbits, & Chipmunks:

The pests generally do not cause harm to your thyme. However, they’ll eat the soft leaves of thyme when you don’t protect them with the net or rodent spray.

Insects:

Thyme is among the few plants that insects eliminate. Insects quickly eliminate your thyme’s leaf before they flower and cause the plant to die when it is not adequately taken care of.

Popular Varieties: Common, Lemon, Woolly

Lavender

Why Grow Lavender in Florida?

Loves the heat

The low-maintenance plants love the summer heat. The hotter the summer, the better they perform. Also, the longer summer drags on, the more lavender you will experience.

Immaculate Ornamental Plant:

Lavender can also be deemed an ornamental plant ideal for trims, lawns, container gardens, and traditional gardens. It can bring color, features, and beauty to any garden.

Fits in ALL Gardens:

Whether you are in the northern or southern part of Florida, It is a beautiful plant to have in every kind of garden. I particularly enjoy gardening in raised garden beds as well as container gardens.

Insect Hardy:

If you have trouble getting your plants infected by insects throughout Florida, you must plant lavender. It is among the few plants in Florida where you don’t need to worry about insects all year.

These Could Hurt Your Lavender

Cold

If the temperature gets cold, the lavender will not be able to flower; however, it will cease growing, lose its scent, and will not be harvested until it grows again next year.

Popular Varieties: English Lavender, French Lavender, Lavadin

Rosemary

Why Grow Rosemary in Florida?

Rosemary isn’t just a fantastic herb; it’s also an excellent perennial that can use to enhance your landscaping. Rosemary can stand up to an amount of drought. However, it doesn’t like the cold temperatures in the state’s northern region.

It is possible to have the rosemary plant in your yard in central and southern Florida for a long time. If you live in northern Florida, the plant will die during winter unless you place it inside a pot so that you can plant it when winter is on the way.

is a favorite in hot and cold:

The rosemary plant is also hardy. Certain varieties can be grown in cold weather, while others can in warmer climates.

Lots & Lots of Harvest:

The rosemary plant is among the few plants that can be harvested between late spring and autumn. It means that you’ll enjoy it all year round.

Amazing Cross-Pollinator:

Rosemary is a perennial herb that is great for cross-pollinating with other herbs. Plant rosemary in the same area as cabbage, beans, and peppers to ensure an even bigger harvest.

These Could Hurt Your Rosemary

Beetles:

Beetles can be a ferocious pest. Although they are known to eat leaves, they may also decimate rosemary plants. To prevent this, I would suggest the use of netting.

Droughts:

Drought is among the most significant threats to the growth of rosemary. The rosemary plants require constant water to flourish and yield a considerable harvest.

Popular Varieties: Creeping, Tuscan, Arp

Chamomile

Why Grow Green Chamomile in Florida?

Thrives in Droughts:

Chamomile is another beautiful plant that needs little or no additional water than it receives from rain. That makes it the ideal plant to grow in Florida.

Perennial:

One of the most significant advantages of cultivating chamomile is it is perennial. It means you can plant it once and enjoy it for years! I would recommend growing and producing the chamomile wherever you want to!

These Could Hurt Your Chamomile

Garden Pests:

Rabbits Deer and even birds are fond of eating chamomile. They’ll eat your food or flower buds if you don’t protect your plants with nets and pest spray.

Cold Weather:

As with most perennial plants like chamomile, it will die off when frost hits it. This means you can plant this herb in the late spring and early autumn.

Popular Varieties: German & Roman

Garlic

Why Grow Garlic in Florida?

Thrives in Droughts:

Garlic is among the few plants that can thrive in extreme temperatures. It requires very little water, doesn’t require any need for care, and requires no fertilizer.

Cold Weather:

Because Garlic is a perennial herb, it can withstand the harshest temperatures than other plants! It grows in the spring and will continue to thrive through late autumn.

These Could Hurt Your Garlic

Garden Pests:

The rabbits, Deer, and birds can eat and damage your garlic. Most people believe that animals and insects will not consume pests, but this is not the case. Garlic is safe by using nets and pesticides.

Additional Tip

The most important tip I can offer to follow when it comes to cultivating Garlic In Florida is to put the herb in a place where you’d like it to flourish every single year without the need to relocate it. Most gardeners plant their herbs too close to each other and in the same area; they later decide they would like to grow different plants.

Popular Varieties: Solo, Snow Mountain, Aglio

Dill

Why Grow Dill in Florida?

Dill is a well-known flavor. You can think of dill pickles! Dill also thrives in Florida. It’s an excellent herb to enhance the taste of the kitchen. It is also a magnet for butterflies of the black variety.

Loves the heat:

As you can see, there’s an inclination. Dill is another plant that thrives in the Florida summer heat. The hotter, the more flavorful. Be careful; this means it may bloom faster and ruin its taste.

Numerous Varieties:

It is one of the lesser-known reasons for cultivating Dill in Florida. There are four primary kinds of dill, all with a distinct flavor. You can choose the right one for your requirements and your climate.

These Could Hurt Your Dill

Beetles:

Beetles are a nuisance; they destroy several plants, including herbs. While they usually eat leaves from trees, they may infest dill leaves and stalks and decimate this herb in just a day. To stop this, I suggest using nets.

Popular Varieties: Bouquet, Dukat, Fernleaf

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Common Growing Factors of Florida’s Best Herbs

The following elements are typical of the Top Herbs to grow in Florida:

Thrives in Heat & Drought
It is possible to grow anywhere in your yard
Thrives in Cold
Hardy against Pests and Insects
It can be planted to be used in ALL Types of Garden
Great Cross-Pollinator
Are Perennial Plants

Things to be Aware of When Growing Herbs in Florida

Knowing the zone of hardiness in Florida is crucial in determining the most suitable herbs that can be cultivated.

It could be the difference between an herb garden growing and producing an abundance of yield or not producing anything.

Florida is mainly considered Hardiness Zone 5, while some lower-level regions are considered Hardiness Zone 6.