5 Easy Medicinal Plants to Grow in Your Garden

5 Easy Medicinal Plants to Grow in Your Garden: A Perfect Starting Point for Beginners

The Benefits of a Medicinal Garden

A medicinal garden is more than just a collection of plants—it’s a resource for natural wellness right at your fingertips. Growing your own medicinal herbs allows you to access fresh, natural remedies for common ailments like stress, colds, or minor skin irritations. Whether you’re making teas, tinctures, or salves, a medicinal garden provides ingredients for a variety of home remedies, adding a unique and purposeful element to your homestead.

Close-up of assorted spice jars with various herbs on a kitchen shelf, showcasing colorful culinary ingredients. 5 easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden

The beauty of a medicinal garden is that it doesn’t require a lot of space, and many herbs are surprisingly easy to grow. There are some herbs that are very easy to grow in containers if you don’t have a ton of space. With a few key plants, you can begin to build a garden that supports both health and well-being. I’ve shared what I have learned in last year’s garden and how I’m incorporating that change in this video. Let’s explore 5 easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden.

Herb #1: Lavender

Lavender is a popular herb known for its calming effects and soothing fragrance. Often used in teas, oils, and even bath products, lavender can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and sleep troubles. Beyond its medicinal uses, lavender also adds a beautiful touch to any garden with its purple blooms and lovely scent that attracts pollinators.

A wicker basket filled with fresh lavender bundles showcasing natural beauty. 5 easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden

Growing Tips for Lavender:

Sunlight: Lavender thrives in full sun, so choose a sunny spot in your garden.
Soil: This herb prefers well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. If your soil retains moisture, consider planting lavender in raised beds or pots to avoid root rot.
Watering: Water sparingly. Lavender is drought-tolerant once established, so allow the soil to dry out between waterings.

Lavender’s versatility and calming properties make it an essential addition to any medicinal garden, providing a natural way to relax and unwind. Making it one of the easy (in my opinion) medicinal plants to grow in your garden.

Herb #2: Peppermint

Peppermint is a refreshing and versatile herb known for its digestive and headache-relieving properties. It’s commonly used in teas to soothe an upset stomach and can also be applied as a cool compress for tension headaches. The invigorating scent of peppermint makes it a wonderful addition to a medicinal garden, and it’s easy to grow with minimal care.

Vibrant close-up view of fresh mint leaves, showcasing their vibrant texture and color. 5 easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden

Growing Tips for Peppermint:

Sunlight: Peppermint prefers partial shade but can tolerate full sun in cooler climates.
Soil: This herb does best in moist, well-drained soil, so water regularly to keep the soil damp.
Growth: Peppermint spreads rapidly, so consider planting it in a container or separate garden bed to keep it contained.

Peppermint’s fast growth and powerful benefits make it a valuable herb for natural remedies, providing relief for digestive issues and more.

Herb #3: Chamomile

Chamomile is well-known for its relaxing and calming effects, making it a popular choice for herbal teas to ease stress, anxiety, and insomnia. This gentle herb is also used for soothing an upset stomach and mild inflammation, making it a versatile addition to any medicinal garden. The small, daisy-like flowers of chamomile add beauty to the garden while providing a source of natural remedies.

A close-up of dried chamomile flowers ideal for tea brewing and herbal remedies. 5 easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden

Growing Tips for Chamomile:

Sunlight: Chamomile thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
Soil: Plant chamomile in well-drained soil, and water moderately, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings.
Harvesting: Once the flowers bloom, harvest them by snipping them off at the stem. Dry the flowers for use in teas and other remedies.

Chamomile’s gentle healing properties make it a must-have for any medicinal garden, bringing calm and relaxation to both the garden and your daily routine.

Herb #4: Echinacea

Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a hardy herb renowned for its immune-boosting properties. Often used to help prevent or shorten the duration of colds and other illnesses, echinacea is a staple in many natural remedies. With its vibrant pink or purple blooms, echinacea adds beauty to the garden while serving as a powerful medicinal herb.

Close-up of a honeybee pollinating a vibrant pink Echinacea flower in daylight.

Growing Tips for Echinacea:

Sunlight: Echinacea thrives in full sun and does best in areas with plenty of direct sunlight.
Soil: This herb prefers well-drained soil and is drought-tolerant once established, making it relatively low-maintenance.
Watering: Water young plants regularly, but once mature, echinacea can handle dry spells.

Echinacea is a resilient and beneficial addition to any medicinal garden, providing both health benefits and visual appeal.

Herb #5: Calendula

Calendula, often called “pot marigold,” is a powerful herb known for its skin-soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. Used in salves, creams, and teas, calendula is ideal for treating minor cuts, rashes, and skin irritations. Its bright orange and yellow flowers add a cheerful touch to the garden and attract beneficial pollinators.

Top view of vibrant orange dried calendula flowers, creating a textured background.

Growing Tips for Calendula:

Sunlight: Calendula grows well in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter climates.
Soil: This herb prefers well-drained soil and benefits from regular watering.
Harvesting: Pick the flowers once they are fully open, and dry them for use in oils, salves, or teas.

Calendula is a versatile and easy-to-grow herb, making it a great choice for beginners who want to create their own skin care remedies and teas. Dried calendula is an easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden for these reasons.

Starting Your Own Medicinal Garden

Creating a medicinal garden is more than just growing plants; it’s about cultivating a personal wellness resource right outside your door. With these 5 easy medicinal plants to grow in your garden you are ahead of the curve in brainstorming. Each herb in your garden offers its unique set of benefits, whether it’s the calming effects of lavender, the digestive support of peppermint, or the immune-boosting properties of echinacea. By starting small and choosing beginner-friendly plants, you can begin crafting a garden that supports both body and mind.

A medicinal garden also encourages a journey of learning and experimentation. As you become comfortable with a few basic herbs, you can expand your garden to include other plants that suit your family’s needs and seasonal challenges. Each new herb introduces you to more natural remedies, allowing you to make teas for colds, salves for minor cuts, or even homemade essential oils for relaxation.

In addition to the health benefits, a medicinal garden brings a sense of fulfillment and connection to the rhythms of nature. The process of growing, harvesting, and using your herbs teaches patience and mindfulness, bringing you closer to the land and its healing power. Whether you’re making tea with fresh chamomile flowers or harvesting calendula for a homemade salve, each step offers an opportunity to connect with nature’s gifts in a hands-on, meaningful way.

Embrace the journey with curiosity and joy, knowing that every season will bring new growth and deeper understanding. A medicinal garden isn’t just about remedies—it’s about creating a living, growing space dedicated to well-being and sustainable self-care. And if you need some inspiration to start prepping your garden for spring, read more here.