This post may contain affiliate links. Probably doesn’t, but it might. It doesn’t cost you anything extra but if you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission.
Perennial herbs are one of the most rewarding types of plant that you can grow in your home garden. They attract beneficial insects, help deter pests, and are great for culinary purposes as well as creating remedies. What are some of the insider tips you need to keep your herbs looking great?
Table of Contents
Flowers on your herbs such as oregano, thyme, or rosemary
Your herb garden looks great, you have had fun cutting fresh herbs for your recipes, and one day…! Your oregano has flowers all over it.
Is this good, bad, indifferent? What’s going on?
Don’t panic! This is a natural progression of your herb’s life cycle, and you can use it to your benefit and to the plant’s benefit.
Usually, it is several days of hot weather which will trigger the plant to flower. Since we can’t change the weather, we can use the results of the growth.
First, keep in mind that you and your oregano have different goals. You want lovely, aromatic leaves to add to your sauces and other recipes. Your oregano plant wants to reproduce. That’s it. To reproduce, the plant produces flowers in order to have seeds. The seeds drop and more oregano plants can grow.
What can you do with herb flowers?
Fortunately, if your oregano plant produces flowers, it does not have to be the end of the growing cycle for the plant. Harvest the flowers for herbed butters or cheese, flavored oils or vinegars, to use in bouquets, or to use in recipes. Cut the whole flower stem including two sets of leaves. The flowers are not quite as flavorful as the leaves, but they still have that distinctive oregano flavor.
Herbed butter:
Strip the flowers and leaves from the stem. Add ½ cup – 1 cup of flowers/leaves to 1-pound softened butter. Gently mix. Form in a log or any shape you like. Add extra flowers to the outside. Let sit overnight for the flavors to infuse. Refrigerate and use within two weeks, or freeze for later use.
Is it the end of harvesting fresh herbs once the plant flowers?
If you cut the flowers, that spurs the plant to grow some more flowers. When you are done having flowers, cut the flowers and about 25% of the plant. This encourages the plant to grow more leaves again. As long as you leave three inches of plant and a few leaves, the perennial herb will grow just fine. We joke about giving the plants a haircut, but it is quite similar. Just as hair grows back, the thyme or mint or oregano will grow again.
Since these herbs are reliable perennials, you can rest easy that the plant will thrive after its hard cut. In a few weeks, you will not be able to tell that the plant was cut back. The new growth will be similar to the first growth in the spring, very vibrant and flavorful.
This is true for lavender, chives, rosemary, mint, sage, thyme, oregano, and lemon balm, and any other perennial herb. Lavender is the classic herb you think of for an herb that is grown specifically for its flowers. Annual herbs such as basil and cilantro are different.
FAQs
Q: Are flowers on herbs bad?
A: Perennial herbs naturally grow flowers and keep growing more leaves.
Q: Are flowers on basil bad?
A: You can use basil flowers for seasoning, but it will end the plant growing leaves.
Q: What can you use herb flowers for?
A: Herb flowers have the flavor of the herb parent, so they are great for garnishes, flavored oils, salves, cooking, and baking, as well as for decoration.
Conclusion
Continue to harvest from your perennial herbs as long as you want during the growing season. Enjoy both the flowers and the leaves! Experiment with different uses for the flowers. They are completely edible and can be an elegant garnish for many recipes, added to tea, soup, sandwiches, cakes, muffins, vinegars, oils, etc.
Happy growing and happy eating!
~Ruth
Additional resources:
Here are some favorite perennial herbs with striking flowers: www.urbangardengal.com/flowering-herb-plants/.
https://greenthumb.samcart.com/products/herbs
About Ruth: I am the 6th generation of my family to farm here at Highland Orchards in Delaware. I grew up here, learning from my grandparents and parents how to plant, weed, harvest, and store fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I love that I can share knowledge with people through books, blogs, and courses. You can learn more about our farm at https://highlandorchardsfarmmarket.com/