There are lots of options for heat-tolerant herbs and spices, but let’s stick to the useful ones that you and your family will actually consume. Whether it’s in the kitchen or the medicine cabinet, these herbs are some of the most useful that can really hang in there in the warmer zones.
Many of the herbs are the more common things you likely use often, so that’s helpful! You can basically grow Italian herbs for your kitchen. Some will grow a bit slower in higher temperatures, but will still be there when you want freshness in the kitchen.
Others you may not grow now, but I highly recommend them for medical or daily use. Once you start growing them successfully, it will get you excited to grow them every year!
Be careful of your zone. If you are in a cooler zone, you may not have a long enough season for some, like ginger, to completely mature before you lose the warmth. If you live in a very hot or desert-like climate, you may want to plant an entire garden of heat-tolerant plants.
Here is a link to heat-tolerant vegetables to add to your list.
Garlic
Many garlic varieties are heat-tolerant. Since most garlic takes 9 months to mature, many of us need it to get us through a hot summer. Some heat-tolerant varieties are Creole, Asiatic, Turban, and Siberian.
Basil
Basil is one of the easier herbs to grow from seed. It grows well in beds and containers. You can even throw it on a windowsill in a sunny spot. Either way, it handles the heat well, and you can enjoy fresh basil all season long, even on hot summer days.
Being from the Mediterranean, it thrives in the sun. Give her some shade in the more blistering late afternoon. However, mine is in full sun all day. It starts to get a bit off-color in late Summer, but still tastes and grows perfectly fine. I’m not fortunate enough to have good PM shade in my garden, which is not ideal, but we all have to work with what we have.
Thai basil gets larger, with cute flowers that pollinators love. So if you’re looking for heat-tolerant plants to attract bees, these could be a go-to.
Cayenne
Cayenne not only is heat-tolerant, but it loves the heat! It also requires less watering and is much more drought-resistant than anything else on this list. It is super low maintenance. Since it is for both the kitchen and the medicine cabinet, I highly recommend this one, especially if you’re a fan of Cajun foods!
Ginger & Turmeric
These two love heat as well, due to their Southeast Asia origins. However, they require more watering than a cayenne plant. Super low maintenance and amazing plants for that home remedy drawer. These guys do need a long hot season to grow, but can be planted directly outdoors once the weather is consistently above 50-55 degrees at night. They both grow well in containers and directly in beds, giving you location options!
The Mint Family
These herbs, like their basil cousin, originated in the Mediterranean and can handle hotter climates. Like basil, give them afternoon shade to avoid the most blistering part of the day. Again, though, if that’s not possible for you, they will still grow, slow down a bit in the “dog days” of Summer. They still produce and do not wilt easily in the hot sun.
Lemon Balm
Oregano
Rosemary
Mints
Thyme
As you can see, even in a hotter climate, you still have the option of growing your own herbs and spices. When you consider that all of these also have healing and health benefits, you win twice! While you may have to water more often & check on them more than someone in a cooler zone, it’s awesome that you can still go from garden to table with so many things!
Here is a link to heat-tolerant vegetables to add to your list.
Here is a link for Low-Maintenance Herbs.
Until Next Time!
PJtxGirl
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