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Fall
and winter are very good times to grow most herbs in Central Florida.
Most perennial herbs are grown far north of here and think nothing of
our winters. Some herbs, in fact, don’t get enough winter
here. True French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), for example,
needs at least 2 months of dormancy initiated by freezing, just one of
the reasons it doesn’t do well here.
There
are several tender perennials and annuals that need to be covered with
blankets or row covers or, if in a container, brought inside when those
few freezing nights are predicted. And most of us push the boundaries of
growing tropicals, a few of which, like iboza and frangipani, don’t
even like it cold, let alone freezing.
So,
when the weatherman has predicted one of our few freezing nights, and
you’re standing in your herb garden trying to remember what’s tender
and what’s hardy, we hope you find our following lists helpful. Please
remember that this list is very general. Some particular species or
varieties may be more or less hardy. We would also appreciate your
input. Are there herbs on the tender list that have made it through our
harshest winters in your garden? Are there herbs on the hardy list that
bite the dust at the first frost in your area? Are there herbs you wish
were listed? If so, please let
us know.
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The following herbs need
to be brought inside or covered up when frost or freezing temperatures
are predicted:
Perennials
Allspice
Aloe
Aztec Sweet Herb
Chamomile, German
Cardamom
Cat thyme (Teucrium marum)
Chili Peppers
Citronella grass
Cuban oregano (very sensitive to frost)
Culantro (Cannot withstand frost)
Curry Plant, miniature
Dittany of Crete
Epazote (can withstand some slight frost)
False Roselle
Frangipani (Plumeria)
Geraniums, Scented
Ginger
Gotu Kola
Henna
Iboza
Lavandin (L. x intermedia) including 'Dutch', 'Grosso', 'Provence',
'Seal'
Lavender, Fern Leaf (L. multifida)
Lavender, French Dentata (L. dentata)
Lavender, Spanish (L. stoechas)
Lavender, Spike (L. latifolia)
Lemon Grass
Lemon Verbena
Marjoram
Moujean Tea
Myrtle
Nasturtiums
Oregano, Cuban (very sensitive to frost)
Oregano, Mexican (Lippia graveolens)
Patchouli (very sensitive to frost)
Pennyroyal, American (Hedeoma pulegiodes)
Roselle
Safflower
Sage, Golden
Sage, Pineapple
Sage, Clary
Scented geraniums
Stevia
Thyme, cat (Teucrium marum)
Annuals
Basil
Borage (Seedlings do not withstand frost well)
Calendula (Can withstand light frost)
Chervil (Withstands
frost)
Cilantro/Coriander (Can withstand light frost)
Cumin (Can withstand light frost)
Dill (Can withstand light frost)
Fenugreek
Perilla
Savory, Summer
The following herbs
are deciduous, meaning they lose their leaves in the winter. Don't throw
them away thinking they are dead:
Ginko Biloba
Lemon verbena
(Still needs protection in frost and freezing conditions)
Vitex (Chaste Tree)
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The following herbs will
take a light freeze but possibly not a hard freeze:
Rosemary
Lemon Eucalyptus
Lemon Marigold
Bay Tree (Hardy to zone 8 - into the 20s)
Vetiver
The following herbs
are hardy and should take any of the cold we have in central Florida.
Most show hardiness zones (We are in zone 9b. Lower numbers are farther
north):
Agastaches (Most hardy to zone
4)
Alliums (Many hardy to zone 5)
Anise hyssop
Artemisias (Most hardy to zone 5)
Burnet, Salad (Hardy to zone 3)
Catnip (Hardy to zone 4)
Chamomile, Roman (Hardy to zone 5)
Chicory (Hardy to zone 3)
Chives (Hardy to zone 3)
Chives, Garlic
Comfrey (Hardy to zone 3)
Coriander, Vietnamese (Hardy to zone 8)
Costmary (Hardy to zone 4)
Curry Plant (Hardy to zone 8)
Dandelion (Hardy to zone 3)
Echinacea
Elecampagne (Hardy to zone 5)
Fennel (Hardy to zone 7)
Feverfew (Hardy to zone 5)
Germanders (except cat thyme)
Ginko Biloba
Ginseng
Horehound (Hardy to zone 4)
Horsetail (Hardy to zone 2)
Hyssop (Hardy to zone 6)
Lavender, English (L. angustifolia) (Hardy to zone 6)
Lavender, Goodwin Creek (Hardy to zone 8)
Lemon Balm (Hardy to zone 5)
Lovage (Hardy to zone 5)
Marsh Mallow (Hardy to zone 6)
Mints (Most hardy to zone 5)
Mint, Mountain (Pycnanthemum spp) (Hardy to zone 5)
Monardas (Most hardy to zone 4)
Mugwort (Hardy to zone 3)
Mullein (Hardy to zone 4)
Oreganos (Most hardy to zone 5)(This does not include Cuban Oregano and
Mexican Oregano which are not Origanum species and are NOT hardy)
Parsley
Pennyroyal, European (Mentha pulegium)
Rose (Hardy to zone 6)
Rue
Sages (Most hardy to zone 4-8, see exceptions in left hand column)
St Johns Wort (Hardy to zone 5)
Salad Burnet (Hardy to zone 3)
Santolinas (Hardy to zone 8)
Savory, Winter (Hardy to zone 6)
Soapwort (Hardy to zone 8)
Sorrel (Hardy to zone 5)
Southernwood (Hardy to zone 8)
Sweet Woodruff (Hardy to zone 3)
Tansy (Hardy to zone 4)
Tarragon, French (In fact it doesn't stay cold enough, long enough here
which is one of the reasons it's so difficult to grow)
Tarragon, Mexican, Spanish or Texas aka Mexican Mint Marigold (Tagetes
lucida) (Hardy to zone 8)
Thyme (Many hardy to zone 6)
Valerian (Hardy to zone 4)
Violet (Hardy to zone 5-8)
Vitex (Chaste Tree)
Wormwood (Hardy to zone 4)
Yarrow (Hardy to zone 2) |
