Best Herbs to Grow Indoors: 10 Good Choices for Beginners

Not every herb enjoys life on a windowsill. Some put up with moderate light and a little neglect, while others sulk unless they get the sunniest spot in the house. Choosing well at the start saves a lot of frustration.

The best herbs to grow indoors are the ones that match the light and warmth you can really offer, and that you will actually use in the kitchen. Here are ten good choices, grouped by what they ask for, with a table for quick comparison.

How to choose from the list

Start with your light. If you have a window that gets direct sun for much of the day, almost everything here is worth a try. If your brightest spot gets only a few hours of sun, lean toward the more tolerant herbs in the first group, or plan to add a grow light.

Then think about how you like to water. Leafy herbs prefer potting mix that stays evenly moist, and the woody Mediterranean herbs want the top of the mix to dry out between waterings. If you are still setting up, the starting guide for beginners covers the basics that apply to all of them.

Herbs that tolerate moderate light

These three are the most forgiving when a window is good rather than great. They still grow best in bright light, but they cope better than most when it falls short.

Chives

Chives are a clump-forming perennial with thin, hollow leaves. They grow from seed or from a division of an existing clump, and they regrow after cutting when you snip the leaves a little above the potting mix. Expect them to slow down in winter. The guide to growing chives indoors has the details.

Parsley

Parsley is a biennial that is usually grown for its first-year leaves. It tolerates moderate light and prefers a slightly cooler spot. Seed is slow and uneven to sprout, so a young plant is the easier start. It forms a taproot and appreciates a deeper pot.

Mint

Mint is a spreading perennial that grows eagerly and likes more moisture than most herbs. Start it from a plant, a division or a cutting, since seed is not reliable. Give it a pot of its own, because its runners crowd out anything planted alongside. See how to grow mint indoors for more.

Basil: the warmth and light lover

Basil is a tender warm-season annual, and of all the common herbs it asks for the most warmth and light. It is sensitive to cold, so keep it away from chilly glass and drafts. In return it is quick and easy from seed and generous with leaves when you pinch the stem tips regularly.

Because it is an annual, a basil plant will not last indefinitely however well you treat it. Many growers sow a new pot every so often. The full guide to growing basil indoors explains pinching and timing.

Cilantro: cool-loving and short-lived

Cilantro is a cool-season annual. Warmth and long days push it into bolting, which means it runs to flower and the leafy harvest tails off. Indoors it does best in a cooler, bright spot.

It has a taproot and dislikes being transplanted, so sow the seed directly in the pot where it will grow. Treat it as a short crop and re-sow a fresh pot regularly for a steady supply.

Mediterranean herbs for your brightest window

Thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage are woody or semi-woody perennials from sunny, dry places. Indoors they need the brightest light you have, a free-draining potting mix and a chance for the top of the mix to dry between waterings.

• Thyme stays small and neat, which suits a narrow sill. Its seed is tiny, so most people begin with a young plant.
• Oregano is a spreading, semi-woody herb that responds well to regular trimming. A plant or a division is the simplest start.
• Rosemary is slow and unreliable from seed and is the hardest of this group to keep going indoors. Buy a plant, and give it your sunniest position.
• Sage has soft gray-green leaves and grows into a small shrub over time. It is easiest from a young plant.

Two optional extras

Lemon balm is a leafy perennial related to mint, with a similar liking for moisture and a similar tolerance of moderate light. It is easy from a plant or a division and, like mint, is better in its own pot.

Dill is a tall annual with a taproot. It should be sown in place, needs a deep pot and plenty of light, and tends to grow lanky inside. It is harder indoors than the others here, so think of it as an experiment rather than a first herb.

The ten herbs at a glance

Use this table as a rough guide.

Group herbs with similar needs

If you want several herbs in one container or along one sill, group them by what they like. Basil and parsley get along as neighbors because both want evenly moist potting mix. Thyme, oregano and sage suit each other because all three prefer to dry a little between waterings.

Do not plant thirsty and dry-loving herbs in one pot. Whatever you do with the watering can, one of them ends up too wet or too dry. Separate pots are the simplest answer.