Miniature Herb Garden Recipe

You can pack a lot of flavor in just a little space, as this container garden shows. Fresh sage, thyme, and oregano add plenty of color, too. Use our formula, or add some of your other favorite herbs to the mix.

A: Variegated lemon thyme (Thymus x citriodorus ‘Variegata’) — 2

B: Oregano (Origanum vulgare) — 3

C: Tricolor sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’) — 2

D: English thyme (Thymus vulgare) — 3

Thymus x citriodorus ‘Variegata’ is a beautiful edible ornamental. The lemon-scented foliage of lemon thyme is versatile in the kitchen and the plant itself makes a striking ground cover for sunny spots. The golden hues of this variety's dainty leaves add texture and color to this container garden.

This sprawling herb pumps up the taste in tomato sauces, pizza, and Mediterranean cuisine. An easy-growing perennial, oregano thrives in planting beds or containers. Oregano comes in a variety of colors and sizes, but we decided to use three plants of an upright, green variety in this container.

Even when not used as a flavoring agent, sage makes a wonderful perennial plant in the garden or container garden. Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ has foliage splashed with green, cream, and purple. In sunniest locations, the cream deepens to pink, like it has in this herb garden.

Thymus vulgaris is the classic culinary thyme and it sounds a savory note in dishes. It has a more savory flavor than citrusy lemon thyme. This variety has dark green foliage and features small pink flowers in the summer.