Food-Gardening Lessons From A Wartime Victory Garden

Best Perennial Herbs for Zone 7 Gardens in Texas

“Are  there any herbs that will overwinter in zone 7b?” Question from Deb of Alvarado, Texas

Answer: Yes! There are many perennial herbs that will thrive in your northeast Texas location. I understand that your summers are hot and muggy and your winters are chilly and windy. For your home, I would opt for perennial herbs adapted to Mediterranean climates. These include the following:

Chives

The spring onionyflavor of chives (Allium schoenoprasum, USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8) is a favorite in spring dishes. Edible clusters of mauve flowers appear in mid-spring, rising above the upright foliage. Chives love sun and rich garden soil amended with compost, such as OMRI Listed Black Gold Garden Compost Blend. Harvest them fresh, when they are most flavorful, and add them to omelets, salads, or vegetables.

Oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare, USDA Hardiness Zones 4-10) thrives in sun and has low, rooting stems that spread, so be sure to give it space to grow. You can also contain it in a pot. Dry the leaves in fall for winter cooking.

Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris, USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9) is a common herb across Europe with a low, spreading, shrubby habit and pungent evergreen leaves. It requires well-drained soil and a sunny spot. Harvest the leafy stems any time of year or dry the leaves for herbal mixes.

Sage

The leathery, gray, evergreen leaves of sage (Salvia officinalis, USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8) are tasty, and this hardy shrubby perennial bears pretty lavender-blue flowers in summer, which are also edible, and attract bees. Give it plenty of sun and average soil with good drainage.

French Lavender

Of all the French lavenders to try, ‘Provence’ (Lavandula x intermedia ‘Provence’, USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9) is extra fragrant and beautiful. It is a vigorous hybrid between English lavender (L. angustifolia) and Portuguese lavender (L. latifolia).  [To learn more about growing lavender, click here.]

Rosemary

In the Mediterranean, hardy rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp’, USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10) is planted in aromatic evergreen hedges. This sun and drought-loving herb has needle-like leaves that are resinous and piney. Dry them for winter cooking or harvest fresh stems year round.

I hope this helps!

Happy perennial herb gardening!

Jessie

About JESSIE KEITH

Plants are the lens Jessie views the world through because they’re all-sustaining. (“They feed, clothe, house and heal us. They produce the air we breathe and even make us smell pretty.”) She’s a garden writer and photographer with degrees in both horticulture and plant biology from Purdue and Michigan State Universities. Her degrees were bolstered by internships at Longwood Gardens and the American Horticultural Society. She has since worked for many horticultural institutions and companies and now manages communications for Sun Gro Horticulture, the parent company of Black Gold. Her joy is sharing all things green and lovely with her two daughters.

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