97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com have partnered with NC State Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Orange County for “Playing in the Dirt,” a monthly column providing information and inspiration to gardeners of all skill levels! Check back on Chapelboro each month for a new subject – from our gardens to yours!
By Katie Jaworski, NC Cooperative Extension of Orange County Intern
Mountain mint flowers and leaves. (Photo: Lynn Calder).
When colonists set foot on North Carolina’s soils in the 1600s, they brought European herbs with them, and they discovered new plants and herbs being used by Native Americans. Traditionally, herbs were used in medicines in addition to dyes, aromatics and flavorings. The colonists began cultivating, trading, marketing and selling a wider variety of herbs than ever before.
Hans Martin Kalberlahn was a Norwegian physician who used native plants and regional remedies along with his medical training to treat patients across the backcountry around (now) Forsyth County, NC. In the mid-1700s, Dr. Kalberlahn established and maintained the Moravians Medicinal Herb Garden, Hortus Medicus — the nation’s oldest and most well-documented medicinal herb garden — located in Historic Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem. As this article describes, the garden has been restored and is kept as close to the historical records as nature will allow with local seeds and plants. You can visit this incredible garden year-round, though visiting in spring is highly recommended when many of the herbs are in bloom and pollinators are buzzing all around. Herbs are highly attractive to pollinators!
The Moravians Medicinal Herb Garden located in Historic Bethabara Park, Winston-Salem, NC (Photo: Katharine Jaworski.)
In the 1800s, Isaac and David Wallace and botanist Mordecai E. Hyams established the Wallace Brothers Herbarium along with a teaching garden. Located in Statesville, NC, their “Botanic Depot” became the largest herbarium in the world by 1890 with over 2,000 varieties of herbal ingredients. Hyams journeyed throughout the Appalachian Mountains identifying and collecting herbs. He also trained people throughout the state to identify, preserve and prepare medicinal plants. The “Botanic Depot” no longer exists but there is a Wallace Brothers Herbarium historical site to visit in Iredell County.
Although the demand for herbal ingredients for pharmaceuticals has decreased with the advent of synthetic drugs, many herbal companies and herbalists in North Carolina still cultivate and use herbs for various purposes. Herbs are a fantastic addition to any home or patio garden. The plants can be sprinkled throughout your native or edible garden, utilized as stunning ornamentals along a pathway or kept potted on a windowsill or patio ready to be added fresh to any dish or drink.
Pots of rosemary ready to plant in the garden or in a container. (Photo: Katharine Jaworski.)
Some Native and Naturalized Herbs for Your Home Garden
What is an herb? While botanists would define an herb as a seed-producing annual, biennial or perennial that does not develop woody tissue and dies down at the end of a growing season, most gardeners would include plants valued for their medicinal, culinary and aromatic qualities. A “native” herb is one that has evolved naturally in a geographical area without human intervention, whereas “naturalized” plants are nonnative, or exotic, plants that reproduce and become established outside their native range.
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) – Native to the mountains (but found throughout North Carolina), you may see the burgundy flowers of Monarda didyma along the Blue Ridge Parkway from July through September. Bee balm, sometimes called bergamot, was used as a black tea substitute during the Revolutionary War. The minty leaves are still used for tea today to soothe stomach aches and sore throats.
Monarda is a genus of native flowering herbs and a member of the mint family. Species of Monarda grow best in moist, well-drained soils in full sun but they can tolerate some shade. The flowers can be pink, lavender, red or burgundy. Pollinators love bee balm and it is deer and rabbit resistant!
Bees love bee balm! (Photo: Lynn Calder.)
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) – Sometimes called yellow root, goldenseal is a perennial, native to eastern North America. Due to over-harvesting, it has been listed as endangered in a number of states, including North Carolina. Medicinal herbalists are interested in the phytochemistry of the rhizome of goldenseal — the rhizome contains the alkaloids hydrastine and berberine among others. Native Americans and modern herbalists use this herb medicinally for its antiseptic, diuretic, laxative and anti-inflammatory properties.
Goldenseal grows best in nutrient-rich forests so can be used in natural woodland landscapes and in herb gardens. Emerging in early spring, mature plants (at least three years old) have two or more hairy stems and grow to 10 to 14 inches tall. The plant produces small white flowers in late April to early May that last about a week. Fruit on the plant appears mid-summer and looks like a single red raspberry.
Goldenseal, Summer Haywood County, NC (Photo: Patty Felder CC BY 4.0)
More NC native herbs to try: American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), spotted horsemint (Monarda punctata), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) (see the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox for photos and descriptions).
Catmint/Catnip (Nepeta cararia): This is a naturalized, deer-resistant herb. With a vast variety of cultivars, it can fit among many different gardens. Oils found in the catnip leaves make a powerful insect repellent against mosquitoes, ticks and bed bugs.
This perennial member of the mint family has prolific floral growth. It grows in full sun and well-drained soil and can handle drought once it is established. Flowers bloom in spring/summer and can be white, purple or blue. This herb is suitable for planting in meadows, naturalized areas, herb gardens and large containers.
Caution: Many cats are attracted to catmint, but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It can sedate some cats and stimulate others.
More naturalized herbs to try: Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), dill (Anethum graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Mexican tarragon (Tagetes lucida), sage (Salvia clevelandia), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) (photos and descriptions in the Plant Toolbox).
Although not a native, lavender is an herb that attracts pollinators. (Photo: Lynn Calder.)
Learn more about herbs! The North Carolina Cooperative Extension leads two medicinal herb grower groups which host educational events throughout the year: WNC Medicinal Herb Growers and Piedmont Herb Growers. Additionally, the Asheville Herb Festival is a major herbal event held each spring at the WNC Agricultural Center. The 35th Annual Asheville Herb Festival will be April 25-27, 2025 with all kinds of information, workshops, plants and products.
For More Information, Check Out These Resources:
Growing Medicinal Plants in the Home Garden (NC State Extension article and video) NC State Extension New Crops & Organics – Herbs (includes links to numerous resources related to herbs in NC) How to Grow Medicinal Herbs (NC State Extension) Good Agricultural Practices for Medicinal Herbs (NC State Extension series of videos) Cultivating Native Woodland Botanicals (NC State Extension) NC Medicinal Herb Growers Groups (NC State Extension)More from the Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County:
Join us for “The Buzz About Pollinators” during Hillsborough’s Climate Challenge!
Sunday, April 13, 2-4 p.m. The Bee Hotel and Pollinator Garden at Gold Park, 415 Dimmocks Mill Road, Hillsborough — Fun and inspiration for all ages (activities for kids!) at Gold Park’s Bee Hotel and beautiful Pollinator Garden, featuring Orange County Extension Master Gardener volunteers, Orange County beekeepers, and representatives of the Town of Hillsborough Public Spaces and Sustainability and Tree Board.
Free gardening talks: Join the Master Gardener volunteers of Orange County for “Dig Deeper With Us,” a series of free, monthly gardening presentations. Coming up in April:
Monday, April 21, 10-11:30 a.m., Native Trees and Shrubs. Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill. Sunday, April 27, 2-3:30 p.m., Native Trees and Shrubs. Orange County Public Library, 137 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough.Join us at Farmers Markets!
Carrboro Farmers Market – every Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Eno River Farmers Market, Hillsborough – Saturday, March 15, 10:00 a.m.-noon.Have a plant or garden question? Email the Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers at [email protected] or phone 919-245-2061.
Follow us on Facebook! Our page is NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers, Orange County.
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