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EARLY HERB GARDENS

Herbs have been used for thousands of years by all cultures alike and were the first plants to have been cultivated by mankind. The range of plants that we call herbs has, however, changed over the centuries in Europe. At one time, many familiar flowers such as pinks, peonies, roses and irises were termed herbs, as were most of our common vegetables. In the sixteenth century, for example, carrots and onions were known as pot herbs, whereas lettuces and radishes were called salad herbs. Many aromatic plants, such as sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), were also grown purely for their household uses. Although a large proportion of herbs are scented and contain aromatic oils, this is not always the case – many herbs are not fragrant and do not contain any essential oils at all.

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), above, and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), below, were traditionally grown to be strewn on floors to create a pleasant aroma.

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Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), were traditionally grown to be strewn on floors to create a pleasant aroma.

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