Best Starter Medicinal plants?

Alright here is the question I have. I'm making a Hugel bed specifically for medicinal herbs. Some Annuals and some Perennial and was looking for some recommendations on what herbs to start with thanks!!

Thyme is a good choice. It is great for food and medicine and it creeps along. It likes dry soil so it's good for near the top of the hugel.

Mint, of course! It will spread but is good for holding on to the soil.

Oregano is one of the most successful herbs on my hugels. Wormwood also does well but be cautious as it's allelopathic

Yeah I like mints for soil holding, lemon balm and peppermint are good plants for beginners. I also think sage, Rosemary, and lavender are all easy aromatic herbs for hugel.


I would consider marjoram as an easy to grow ground cover that is delicious, related to oregano, does well on hugel.

Jason Pitzer wrote:Alright here is the question I have. I'm making a Hugel bed specifically for medicinal herbs. Some Annuals and some Perennial and was looking for some recommendations on what herbs to start with thanks!!

It seems to me that you want to start with the ailments that you want to treat. I've found a good source to be James Duke's The Green Pharmacy. He lists out many common ailments that folks have to deal with and the plants that can be used to treat them. I've attached the ailment list. The book isn't assembled with a matching list of plants.

Having the plants is only the first step.

These are the herbs that I never want to be without;

Yarrow
Comfrey
Garlic
Mullein
Plantain
Feverfew
Oregano

Elderberry
Serviceberry
Choke Cherry

Black Walnut
Cottonwood
Linden

Arnica
Immortal
Osha
The last 3 I harvest from the wild, but I love them, so I included them as well.

It would help to know where you are located, the climate and how much sun the spot gets....

I would add to what everybody else has listed: calendula, echinacea, red clover. Mints are great, but do be sure that where you put them is where you want them forever! Chamomile is another great annual with a lot of gentle applications.

I would suggest Basil... I got holy basil growing in my garden and is going into seed right now and use it in teas and to make incense around the house on a constant basis... very nerve relaxing.