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Story Time
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We’re going to start this post with a story time.
In 2019 I believed that loose leaf tea was only for bougie rich people. I saw it in specialty tea shops and sometimes at the grocery store, but it was always twice as expensive as tea bags. Not only that, but it required special equipment like infusers and tea pots. Then, my mum got sick. Then, my view on tea changed.
Two days after starting a new job hours from home, I got the worst phone call a daughter can get. My mum was diagnosed with a highly aggressive, relatively unknown, rare form of abdominal cancer. Metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. As a science nerd, despite the treatment plans and positivity of my family, I knew this was the beginning of the end.
When you get news like that, it tilts your whole world upside down and you’re willing to try anything to flip it back right-side-up. I tried drinking. I tried exercise. I tried reading. I didn’t try drugs due to family history, but I thought about it. Nothing would tamp down the crippling anxiety I felt anytime I remembered my mother’s diagnosis. My pride would not let me ask for help. I was the oldest child. I grew up with a single mother. I had to be strong.
So, I did what anyone with a parent who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s would do, and started looking into how nature could fix this broken part of my soul. As time seemed to slow in the summer of 2019, as my mum’s cancer progressed and she got sicker and sicker, I stuck my hands into the soil for the first time in years and I started to grow tea.
Ok, story time over.
Why grow a patio tea garden?
Herbs are known throughout the world, and throughout history, to have medicinal properties that can heal the body, mind and spirit. They often grow in the most lackluster soil, but are somehow still full of vitamins, minerals, essential oils and other “stuff” that reacts with our bodies in different ways. The larger variety of herbs one consumes, the more health benefits a person can take advantage of.
Thankfully, herbs are small but mighty, and not hard to grow. They are the perfect beginning to a patio garden because they are incredibly useful, they tend to be hard to kill (for those who think they have black thumbs), and they don’t require a lot of space. One of the easiest ways to consume the herbs you grow is through herbal teas, also known as tisanes or herbal infusions.
When I started my tea garden I lived in a one-bedroom apartment with a communal patio. I did not have the space for 50 plants so I decided to focus on herbs that could help quiet my mind and lower my stress levels. I chose 6 herbs to start my patio tea garden: lemon balm, lemon thyme, chamomile, lavender, spearmint and basil.
I recommend that you also choose a theme for your patio tea garden. You could choose a stress-relieving garden like mine, or you could focus on a sleepy-time garden, a flu garden, or an energizing garden. There are SO MANY options when herbs are involved so do your research and choose what will best suit your needs. You can always add more herbs later when you have more space or when you become completely obsessed.
Below is a list of herbs that I recommend for the beginner patio tea garden. I have grown all of these herbs in containers myself and can say with confidence that they are easy for beginners. Please note, if you are growing a patio tea garden for medicinal benefits, please please please do your own research and consult with your doctor. I am not a medical professional and cannot give medical advice, but I will share the most common ways that folks use these herbs when it comes to herbal healing.
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) leaves are a common ingredient in herbal teas. The plant is a part of the mint family and is characterized by its light lemon flavor and abundant growing habits. It is most often paired with other lemony herbs like lemon thyme, lemon grass or straight lemon pulp to create a tasty warm or cold lemony beverage. It is most used in the herbal world to lift the spirits and relax the mind.
Chamomile
German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) flowers are one of the most popular and well known herbal tea ingredients. The dainty white flowers brighten up any patio and taste of fresh pear. This herb is often used for its relaxing properties and can also help with digestive problems and irritation.
Thyme – All varieties
Plants in the Thymus genus have tiny leaves with a powerful flavor profile. Often used in more savory teas, the plant is said to help with menstrual cramps, indigestion, prevent infections and aid in sleep. Lemon and lime thyme are great options for those that don’t love the classic thyme flavor.
Peppermint
A classic holiday staple, peppermint (Mentha piperita) leaves are used for a bracing beverage with that strong and classic peppermint taste. It is most often used to help with an upset stomach, nausea and can also be very relaxing.
Spearmint
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) has a sweeter and more subtle flavor than peppermint but is still great to have on hand. It is often drinken straight or in combination with herbs like lavender or chamomile to make a relaxing evening beverage. Bonus points, this is also a common mint used in mojitos.
Basil
Common basil (Ocimum basilicum) is usually thought of as a topping for pizza or caprese rather than tea, but don’t let that dissuade you! It is a great addition to any savory tea. It is commonly used to help with digestive issues, relaxation and nausea.
Holy Basil
Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also known as tulsi, is more well known than sweet basil in teas. Native to India the dried leaves, flowers and stems of this plant are crushed and used in tea to create a tonic that increases vitality, decreases digestive upset, relieves stress and even helps with colds. The flavor profile changes based on the variety but it is usually more clove-like than sweet basil.
Ginger
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) makes a great tea! I don’t know how to describe the flavor other than gingery with a bit of a bite if you let it steep too long. The root is the most common part of this plant used, but you can also make a milder tea from the dried leaves. It pairs great with lemon and hibiscus. Ginger is used for all sorts of things but is most well known to help with an upset stomach, fight off sickness and as an anti-inflammatory.
Turmeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is better known as a spice to flavor food but it can also be used in tea. The dried roots work best in savory blends and is most commonly used to reduce inflammation and increase circulation.
There are also herbs that I do NOT recommend starting with in a patio tea garden. I have tried to grow all of these herbs in containers myself. Some of these herbs I have in my current container garden because I now have more space, and some of these herbs I have had zero success with.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most well known herbal teas. Its characteristic purple flowers produce a savory and relaxing tea. I do not recommend this herb in the beginner tea garden because it can be difficult to water correctly and it can grow to be quite large when cared for properly. I have killed this plant three times from over and under watering.
Echinacea
Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), or purple cone flower, is a staple in herbal medicine most often used to boost immunity. I do not recommend it in a patio tea garden because the deep tap root does not enjoy being cramped in a container.
Elder
Elder (Sambucus nigra) is another common immune boosting herb. The flowers and herbs are often used in teas. I do not recommend trying to grow this in a patio tea garden because it is a large shrub and by the time it is large enough to produce an abundance of berries or flowers it will be way too big for the average patio.
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is another savory herb that makes a great savory tea. It is known to aid digestion, improve circulation and as a general uplifting herb. I do not recommend rosemary for the beginner tea garden because while the grocery store will try to trick you into thinking rosemary is a small herb, it actually grows quite large and can be difficult to water properly. Too much water and it drowns, too little and it dries up and dies.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is a well known flower that makes a refreshing citrus-flavored tea. I definitely recommend adding dried hibiscus flowers to your pantry, but I do not recommend adding the plant to your patio tea garden because it grows very large and needs to be moved indoors in the winter.
I hope that this post is helpful as you start your tea garden journey and I wish you the most fun and best chaos!
Additional Resources
Online Resources:
- University of Maryland Extension Growing Herbs in Containers
- University of Illinois Extension Plants to Grow in Tea Gardens
Books I love:
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