Herbs among flowers can look great and give flower beds a unique aroma. They will not only decorate but also smell great. To do this, however, you need to compose the right herbs and the right flowers. See what herbs can be planted among flowers, how to compose them together and what possibilities it offers. Here's all about growing herbs and flowers together.
Herbs among flowers
Already in antiquity, some plants were treated with great respect, often devoting them to gods and considering them to be magical plants. Many of them took part in rituals and rituals, many were used in medicine and cooking …
Of course, we are talking about a group of plants that are now included in herbs, characterized by the presence in leaves, flowers, fruits, roots or even the bark specific chemicals.These compounds have a huge impact on the human body and can often replace expensive, synthetic equivalents of natural drugs. But only some herbal plants are used in pharmacology, the rest are used as flavoring additives for dishes that hit our tables.
Recently, ceremonial lunches or dinners decorated with aromatic fragrances derived from herbs are becoming more and more fashionable. This was due not only to the fashion for he althy and tasty cuisine, but to the greater availability of various species and varieties of these plants, so now everyone can choose something for themselves. in a plot or in a garden, we can also cultivate many species together with other plants in decorative flower beds or in a vegetable garden.
Soil requirements for herbs
Most herbal plant species have very low requirements in relation to the type of soil, its abundance in nutrients and water.However, a heavy compact substrate does not serve any plant, so if we have such a substrate in the garden, it is worth loosening its structure with coarse sand and adding a lot of compost or well-distributed manure. On heavy, catchment soils, we can successfully cultivate several species of mint and its garden varieties without any additional efforts on our part.
Selection of herbs for other plants in the bed
Herbs, like other ornamental species, can be used as structural, filling and turf plants. They can create colorful spots or a background that will accentuate the beauty of other, original species. They can also be successfully planted singly on the lawn or on the outskirts of taller trees and shrubs as solitaire.
In my garden, from the very beginning, I tried to combine various types of herbs with perennials, dwarf shrubs, bulbs and annuals. Through trial and error, I managed to obtain interesting color combinations, contrasting combinations of the shape and texture of leaves, as well as interesting tandems composed of plants and elements of still life.
To start your adventure with herbal plants, as an original decoration of ornamental flowerbeds, it is worth visiting the nearest garden center or plant nursery in search of the greatest possible selection of species and varieties. When shopping, it is worth following the principle that less is better and reduce the number of selected plants to a minimum. This will help to avoid planting an excess of purchased plants anywhere, which may make the garden too colorful and its character lost somewhere along the way.
Once we have decided on specific species, it is worth considering whether they would not look better if planted in a discount of several pieces. In this way, in a short time, we will achieve the assumed effect, and the plants will create a large colorful spot that looks much better than single specimens scattered throughout the plot.
What herbs to plant discounts in different places?
When creating new or developing existing ones, one should follow the same rules - plant tall plants in the back, medium height plants in the middle, and devote the front to the lowest species.This will allow us to avoid unnecessary confusion at the very beginning and make the discounts look more harmonious and natural.
As structural plants that create a background for the rest and often first catch the eye of a guest in the garden, it is worth choosing proven species of biennial herbs and perennials. And so, for example, angelica archangelica, which in the second year of cultivation, creating high stems and umbels of tiny flowers, small-flowered mullein (Verbascum thapsus) with slender stems with a whole lot of yellow delicate flowers, treated as a perennial - beautiful southern orchid (Senna marylandica) and aromatic lovage (Leavisticum officinale). A beautiful, delicate background is also a dense row of fennel (Anethum graveolens) and purple-leafed fennel (Feonicuculum vulgare 'Atropurpurea').
The central part of the flowerbed should be plants with decorative flowers and aromatic leaves, thanks to which the garden will gain a lot of charm, and we will treat ourselves to a free aromatherapy.Here, special attention should be paid to the irreplaceablecommon marjoram(Origanum vulgare), more often known under the Polonized name oregano. It is a herb that gave rise to a series of beautiful garden varieties with aromatic leaves and honey-bearing flowers, which are frequently visited by bees throughout the summer. My favorites when it comes to oregano are the varieties 'Variegata' with white-edged leaves and the 'Aurea' with golden foliage throughout the season. These plants can be safely planted in any soil without fear that they will lose some of their beauty. They are perfect both on the sands and on heavy and confluent clay soils, quickly growing into colorful spots that catch the eye of every visitor.
The central part of the decorative flowerbed should also include catnip (Nepeta cataria), varieties of narrow-leaved lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) and annual herbal plants - borage (Borago officinalis) and calendula officinalis.The last two species form a beautiful duo, complementing each other with the shape and texture of the leaves and the contrasting combination of blue and angry orange colors.
For those who love strong pharmacy fragrances and colorful leaves, varieties of sage (Salvia officinalis) such as, for example, 'Citrina' or 'Tricolor', can be recommended, which can tolerate our winters only when slightly protected with tunics, and their leaves can become interesting addition to salads, cold soups and refreshing desserts.
The aromatic leaves of the Monada hybrida are also used in the kitchen for the preparation of aromatic teas and herbal sauces. However, the plant owes its increasing popularity to beautiful inflorescences composed of flowers gathered in labial whorls with intense colors and a subtle aroma.
Another herbal gem that should definitely find its place on a decorative flowerbed is rue (Ruta graveolens).This perennial of Mediterranean origin diversifies each plant with feathery leaves with a specific, slightly tart aroma and yellow flowers with a very original structure.
A place where we plant two or three purple basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Atropurpurea') plants will also be a beautiful accent to each flowerbed. The assumption will be more charming when we plant a large clump of mugwort (Artemisia sp.) With fine feathery leaves and a bitter aroma rising after rubbing the plant as a background.
At the very edge of the flowerbed, right next to the paths, it is worth planting whole clumps of aromatic varieties of thyme, thyme, low varieties of oregano, rosemary and catnip. The plants will be a beautiful finish to the composition, and their intense aroma will be felt after each rubbing of the twigs by the household members walking along the path.
" A very interesting idea that is worth applying in various places of the garden that are rarely visited, and sunny and quite dry, is to plant the entire surface with resistant varieties of lemon thyme (Thymus citrodorus) or common thymus (Thymus vulgaris).After a year or two, the plants will cover the entire free area and a walk on such a fragrant lawn will become our favorite way of spending free time in the garden. "
I encourage everyone to plant herbs together with ornamental plants, because thanks to this our garden will gain not only a unique character, but also a place where plants will delight us with both colors and unforgettable smells.
Emil Gwizdała
