Do you love a fresh cup of herbal tea to brighten up your morning? Well, what better way to guarantee that you have the tastiest cup to enjoy than by growing your own herbal teas at home.
There are a surprising number of herbs and other plants that you can grow at home for tea brewing. Some plants are even compact enough to keep on windowsill herb gardens!
In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the best plants home growers can cultivate in their tea gardens. These plants are all tasty, easy to grow, and prolific enough that you won’t need to buy teas at the grocery store!
Jump to:
- 25 plants to grow in your backyard tea garden
- 1. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis)
- 2. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 3. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
- 4. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
- 5. Turmeric (Curcuma spp.)
- 6. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 7. Mini citrus trees (Citrus × meyeri)
- 8. Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
- 9. Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
- 10. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
- 11. Chocolate mint (Mentha × piperita f.citrata'Chocolate')
- 12. Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora)
- 13. Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
- 14. Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
- 15. Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus)
- 16. Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
- 17. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
- 18. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
- 19. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
- 20. Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
- 21. Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus)
- 22. Rosehips (Rosa spp.)
- 23. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
- 24. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- 25. Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans)
- Summary
25 plants to grow in your backyard tea garden
From classic tea to herbal blends like chamomile and lavender, there are so many plants that home growers can sow for delicious and refreshing teas. Hot or cold, tea is one of the most popular beverages the world over. And you can grow your own right in your backyard!
1. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis)
| Plant name: | Tea plant |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | High |
| Growing zone: | Zones 7 to 9 |
The number one tea plant used by commercial growers, Camellia sinensis is the tea variety you’re probably most familiar with. Used to make green tea, oolong tea, black tea, and other favorites, this plant can be blended with diverse flavors, like bergamot, to create classic teas such as Earl Grey. Different parts of Camellia sinensis are harvested at different times of the year to create a range of tea colors, flavors, and intensities.
Camellia sinensis is native to China, and it requires a warmer growing season than many of the other plants on this list, so it is not appropriate for northern gardeners. It also doesn’t do well as a houseplant, as most homes are too dry and dark to keep this plant happy. However, if you live in a cold area and have a greenhouse, you may be able to keep this traditional tea plant at home.
2. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
| Plant name: | Chamomile |
| Parts for tea: | Flowers |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 9 |
Chamomile is a fast-growing herb that is kept for its pretty yellow and white, daisy-like flowers. Those flowers are picked throughout the growing season and dried to create a comforting and floral tea that blends particularly well with lavender flowers or lemon balm. To encourage your chamomile plants to bloom more flowers for harvesting, be sure to pick flowers early and often.
Two of the most common types of chamomile are Roman chamomile and German chamomile. Roman chamomile is often used for aromatherapy and is a short-lived perennial. German chamomile grows as an annual and is the chamomile variety to go for if you want to harvest your own chamomile tea.
3. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
| Plant name: | Peppermint |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 5 to 10 |
There’s nothing quite as refreshing after a large meal as a sweet and zingy peppermint candy. But you can get all that goodness right from your own backyard if you choose to grow your own peppermint plants. Peppermint is harvested for its flavorful leaves; however, it can be allowed to flower, too, if you want to attract pollinators.
Like other mints, peppermint can grow quite aggressively and will take over garden beds if you’re not careful. These plants spread via underground runners or rhizomes, which can slide under raised bed garden edges and through the drainage holes in terracotta pots. For this reason, if you want to grow peppermint, it’s best to cultivate it in a container and keep a lookout for any runners that spread beyond your plant’s pot.
4. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
| Plant name: | Lemon balm |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 4 to 9 |
Lemon balm is a type of mint, so it will grow vigorously like peppermint; however, it tends to be a little less aggressive. If you choose to plant your mint plants together in a single bed, you may need to protect your lemon balm from getting overwhelmed by more rapid growers, like peppermint. That said, lemon balm grows quite readily in most garden spaces and is a great tea plant to keep if you’re new to gardening, as it’s just so low maintenance!
As the name suggests, lemon balm has a slightly tangy, lemony flavor, but it isn’t very tart. In herbal blends, it pairs nicely with lavender or chamomile. Like peppermint, lemon balm is grown for its leaves, which can be dehydrated before use via hanging or a countertop dehydrator.
5. Turmeric (Curcuma spp.)
| Plant name: | Turmeric |
| Parts for tea: | Roots |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | High to moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 8 to 10 |
If you love having a steaming cup of golden milk in the evening, you’re probably familiar with using turmeric in warm beverages. While turmeric is most often used as a spice in dishes like curry, its deep, earthy flavor makes it a comforting treat when heated into water, milk, or oat milk. And, while you can certainly use dried turmeric for this purpose, your evening cuppa will be even tastier if you use fresh, homegrown turmeric root.
Turmeric is a warm-season crop and doesn’t tolerate frost well. That means that if you live in a colder spot, you’ll want to plan your turmeric planting to ensure that you have enough time during the growing season to grow this crop. To give you a few more weeks of growing time, you may want to start your turmeric roots indoors in spring and then transfer them outside after the danger of frost has passed.
6. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
| Plant name: | Lavender |
| Parts for tea: | Flowers |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Low |
| Growing zone: | Depends on variety |
Lavender is most commonly grown as an ornamental plant or for harvesting for homemade crafts like dried bouquets and herbal sachets. However, lavender can also be a flavorful treat used in desserts, and it makes a fine, floral, herbal tea too! The taste is a bit bitter, but not unpleasantly so, and you can counter that flavor by adding a bit of honey or a squeeze of lemon to your cup of tea.
Lavender naturally comes from the Mediterranean region, and it doesn’t love a lot of moisture. To keep your lavender plants growing strong, avoid overwatering them, and be sure to locate your lavender in an area of your yard that gets a lot of suns. When pruning lavender, never cut your plant back into the woody sections, as this can create bald spots in your plant that won’t regrow.
7. Mini citrus trees (Citrus × meyeri)
| Plant name: | Mini citrus trees |
| Parts for tea: | Fruit |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Depends on variety |
Growers in warmer locations can certainly keep citrus trees outdoors, but for anyone living in colder spots, don’t despair. You can still grow citrus trees indoors! Mini trees, like Meyer’s lemon, are well-suited to indoor growing and will stay compact when kept in well-draining pots.
The bright flavors of citrus peels and juice make a fine complement to spicy ginger, earthy turmeric, or tangy rosehips. You can also use fresh citrus juice to elevate more mildly flavored herbal teas like raspberry leaves and stevia. Just keep in mind that citrus trees need lots of light when kept as houseplants, and they should be occasionally fed with a fertilizer intended for citrus trees.
8. Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
| Plant name: | Chicory |
| Parts for tea: | Roots |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 10 |
Chicory is less commonly grown by home gardeners than many other plants on this list, but times are changing, and this intriguing plant is gaining in popularity. Bright, bluish-purple flowers are daisy-like in form and look a bit like bachelor buttons. These plants are often found growing along roadways, but they can be intentionally grown in your backyard tea garden too.
If you choose to harvest wild-grown chicory, be sure to only pick plants from protected areas that have not been sprayed with pesticides. Growing your own chicory will give you peace of mind as you’ll know exactly where your plants were grown and what they were exposed to.
Chicory is often used as a coffee substitute, and it has a sweet and nutty flavor with a slightly bitter aftertaste. It’s actually chicory’s long tap root which is grown for consumption. Those roots are dug and then dried before roasting and grinding them up to add to hot beverages.
9. Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale)
| Plant name: | Dandelion root |
| Parts for tea: | Roots, leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 9 |
Like chicory, dandelion root is another coffee substitute, which has a similarly rich flavor. While they’re not caffeinated and they won’t wake you up, dandelion roots make a great hot drink if you’re trying to cut down on caffeine. Dandelion root is also very rich in antioxidants and nutrients, making it a healthy drink as well!
Dandelions should only be harvested from safe areas that have not been sprayed with pesticides. If your lawn has dandelions already, simply dig up the long tap roots and dehydrate and roast them. After drying, dandelion root can be ground with a coffee mill and steeped into hot beverages with a bit of cream and sugar.
10. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
| Plant name: | Catnip |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 9 |
Catnip isn’t just for felines – humans can enjoy it too! Many people don’t know it, but catnip can be enjoyed by people and makes a wonderfully refreshing, slightly herbal, and floral-tasting herbal tea. The leaves of this plant can be harvested and brewed like any other herbal beverage.
Catnip isn’t just a wonderful homegrown tea; it is also an excellent pollinator plant when it is allowed to go to flower. Just keep in mind that the flavor of this herb may change somewhat after flowering, and the leaf size may be reduced too. Catnip is another variety of mint, so it can have a tendency to spread in outdoor spaces.
11. Chocolate mint (Mentha × piperita f.citrata'Chocolate')
| Plant name: | Chocolate mint |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 9 |
When it comes to growing your own herbal teas, mints are some of the most easygoing plants to try because they can tolerate a range of growing conditions and are beginner-friendly plants too. Peppermint is one of the most commonly grown mint varieties for homegrown tea, but there are other intriguing mint types that may be fun to experiment with as well.
Chocolate mint is one of the most popular varieties of mint, thanks to its rich and slightly chocolatey flavor that is absolutely mouthwatering in hot teas, cocktails, and desserts. Other mints you may want to grow in your tea garden include:
- Strawberry mint
- Mountain mint
- Moroccan mint
- Spearmint
- Pineapple mint
- Ginger mint
- Lavender mint
- Apple mint
12. Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora)
| Plant name: | Lemon verbena |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 9 to 10 |
Lemon verbena, like lemon balm, has a slightly citrusy flavor; however, the taste of this plant is somewhat more complex, with a mild sweetness and fruity notes that are truly unique. In a teacup, lemon verbena’s flavor can be heightened with a small squeeze of lemon juice, or it can be blended with rich notes of rosemary or thyme for a truly out-of-this-world herbal tea.
Lemon verbena is a more tropical plant than a lemon balm and will only grow as a perennial in zones 9 and 10. This plant can be maintained as an annual in cooler areas; just be sure to harvest your lemon verbena leaves before the winter sets in. Alternatively, if you have a bright grow light, you may be able to overwinter your lemon verbena indoors.
13. Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
| Plant name: | Red clover |
| Parts for tea: | Flowers |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 4 and up |
That’s right, red clover, that common ground clover you may not even look twice at, can make a stunning, mild-flavored tea to enjoy on winter nights. Red clover flowers are harvested and then dried before brewing into your favorite hot beverage. These blooms can be used on their own and will produce a gentle and mildly sweet tea; however, they can also be blended with other dried herbs for a more well-rounded tea flavor.
If you want to harvest red clover for tea, your best bet is to grow your own if you want to make sure the clover you use hasn’t been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides. Red clover can be grown as an alternative lawn if you’re interested in replacing your turf grass with something more vibrant. When planted as a lawn covering, red clover is more drought resistant than grass, and its pollen- and nectar-rich flower heads will be sure to attract bees and other pollinators.
14. Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
| Plant name: | Horehound |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate to low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 9 |
Horehound was once used to make cough drops and candy, but it can be grown for homemade teas too. The flavor of this herb may not be for everyone. It is slightly bitter and tastes a bit like IPA beer and licorice, but that smooth flavor can liven up your teacup and add something noteworthy to your brews if you’re interested in trying new tastes.
Another mint plant, horehound, will spread if grown unchecked, so it is best to sow this plant in a container garden. Horehound can be grown either from seed or nursery starts, but it’s usually easier to find seeds unless your local nursery has a very diverse offering of plants. Once established, the horehound is very easy to grow and is naturally drought-tolerant.
15. Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus)
| Plant name: | Rosemary |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 7 to 10 |
Rosemary may be one of the most popular herbs for cooking and roasting, but it also makes an intriguing herbal tea. If you have a fresh rosemary sprig, you can steep it into a hot beverage as is, or you can dry your rosemary and store it so you can enjoy rosemary tea all winter long. Rosemary pairs beautifully with lemon and honey, or you can create a more complex flavor by steeping it with tart rosehips or savory thyme.
Like lavender, rosemary prefers drier soil, so be sure not to overwater your plants. Rosemary also is not as cold-hardy as some of the other plants on this list, and it is often grown only as an annual in cooler locations. If you want to overwinter your rosemary indoors, be sure to provide it with lots of bright light and add a pebble tray or humidifier nearby to ward against crispy leaves.
16. Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
| Plant name: | Holy basil |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 10 to 11 |
Also known as tulsi, holy basil is a soothing herb that is the perfect choice for a nighttime herbal tea. This plant has a highly nuanced flavor that is a bit floral and tangy, with notes of clove, pepper, and other spices. Try it on its own, or brew it up with other herbs like lavender or chamomile, and don’t forget to add a spoonful of your favorite local honey!
Holy basil grows much the same as other basil varieties. You’ll want to provide your plants with consistent watering, bright sun, and maybe a bit of afternoon shade if you live in a very hot location. If you allow your holy basil to flower, it is certain to attract a lot of pollinators, and it will readily self-seed throughout your garden too.
17. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
| Plant name: | Echinacea |
| Parts for tea: | Roots, leaves, flowers |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 4 to 9 |
Also known as purple coneflower, echinacea is a strongly flavored herb that is floral and earthy. While it can be served on its own, many tea drinkers choose to brew this plant with other strong tastes, like ginger, peppermint, or lemongrass.
Echinacea is a well-known pollinator plant, and it is also a gorgeous ornamental that can be grown in inground gardens or container planters too. Large blooms boast bright purple petals and can be grown as cut flowers or dried for preserved arrangements as well. These plants are also drought tolerant, so they’re a good choice if you live in a drier climate or you want to keep no-fuss plants that don’t need lots of maintenance.
18. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
| Plant name: | Raspberry |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 10 |
There’s more to enjoy about raspberries beyond their tart and sweet berries! Even after those berries fade in autumn or before they emerge in spring, you can still utilize your raspberry canes by harvesting their leaves for homemade teas. When picking raspberry leaves, look for tender, young leaves and avoid the spiny stems that can prick your fingers!
In tea form, raspberry leaves are mild flavored and slightly fruity and floral with a taste that is reminiscent of summer days and sunlight. These leaves can be brewed on their own or paired with more intense flavors, like rosehips, which will make them more refreshing to drink. Raspberry leaf tea can also be served chilled with a bit of honey for a homemade iced tea.
19. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
| Plant name: | Calendula |
| Parts for tea: | Flowers |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun to part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 9 to 11 |
Calendula is often grown as a pollinator and ornamental plant, and it's bright orange-yellow, daisy-like flowers add a cheeriness to garden beds and container planters alike. Those vivid blooms are also frequently featured in crafting projects and can be used to create bright, natural dyes and soothing skincare items. However, calendula flowers can also be brewed into teas.
Calendula has an earthy and floral flavor and looks very pretty served in clear glassware that will allow its bright, yellow tone to show to its fullest. Like other mildly flavored herbs, you may choose to enjoy calendula on its own or brew it with stronger tastes, like citrus. Either way, this pretty plant has so much to offer, and it’s a definite must-grow!
20. Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
| Plant name: | Bee balm |
| Parts for tea: | Flowers, leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 3 to 9 |
Bee balm is one of the top plants to keep if you want to attract bees and other pollinators, but there are tons of other reasons why you may want to grow this plant. Its bright sprays of vivid flowers are certainly eye-catching and make a statement in container gardens and in-ground beds. It is also a fast-growing plant and can tolerate drought, making it a fine pick if you want a no-fuss garden.
All the above-ground parts of bee balm are edible and have a citrusy aroma with a taste that is quite minty with hints of oregano. That should come as no surprise as bee balm is a relative of mints and can spread rapidly in garden spaces as mints often do. While bee balm is often called bergamot, it should not be confused with bergamot oranges, which are the flavoring agent in Earl Grey tea.
21. Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus)
| Plant name: | Lemon thyme |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Low |
| Growing zone: | Zones 5 to 9 |
While common thyme is most often used as a cooking herb, lemon thyme is versatile enough to employ in recipes and as a dried herb for teamaking. With the rich flavor of thyme, this plant has a brighter taste with notes of citrus that makes it perfect for warming you up on a chilly day. The flavor works well with honey or ginger, in addition to many of the other herbs on this list.
Like common thyme, lemon thyme prefers drier soil and lots of bright light. A cold hardy plant, lemon thyme will grow as a perennial in most growing regions and will even stay green and keep growing all winter in milder climates. Lemon thyme should be cut back by about ⅓ after it blooms to keep the plant from becoming overly woody.
If you love lemon thyme, orange thyme is another fun flavor to try!
22. Rosehips (Rosa spp.)
| Plant name: | Rosehips |
| Parts for tea: | Fruit |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Depends on variety |
Most gardeners choose to grow roses for ornamental reasons, but these gorgeous plants have other uses too. All roses produce edible rosehips, which can be infused into desserts, homemade jams and jellies, and, of course, herbal teas. Jampacked with vitamin C, rosehips have a bright, lemony flavor and taste wonderful when steeped with honey, lavender, lemon balm, or many of the other herbs on this list.
Rosehips are actually rose fruit, and they appear on bushes after rose flowers fade. When harvesting rosehips for tea, you’ll probably want to wear gardening gloves to keep from getting stuck by sharp thorns.
After picking your rosehips, cut them in half and scoop out the seeds and hairs inside the fruit, as these can be irritating to your digestive system. Once your rosehips have been prepped, use them fresh or dry them thoroughly for longer-term storage.
23. Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
| Plant name: | Stevia |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 11 and up |
As a tea, stevia is usually used in conjunction with other herbs as its flavor is quite mild, with hints of licorice. But what stevia is really known for is its sweetness, as this plant is used as a sugar alternative for sweetening up desserts, cocktails, and teas too. Leaves can be used fresh; however, the sweetness is intensified after drying and really packs a punch.
In the garden, stevia prefers full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Compact enough to grow in pots, stevia can also be ground in garden beds, but remember to feed your plants regularly with an organic fertilizer or compost tea for more prolific leaf development. A heat-loving plant, stevia can grow as a perennial in zones 8 and above, although it is kept as an annual in cooler spots.
24. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
| Plant name: | Ginger |
| Parts for tea: | Roots |
| Lighting requirements: | Part shade |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 9 and up |
Like turmeric, ginger is another tasty spice that can be grown in backyard gardens, grow bags, and indoor planters. Known for its slightly spicy roots, ginger is relatively easy to grow, but it should be fed with an organic fertilizer from time to time. There are also a lot of ginger varieties to choose from, so do a bit of research before ordering your ginger for planting.
Native to tropical locations, ginger can be grown in cooler regions with a bit of prep work. Most notably, ginger may not have enough time to produce a large harvest before autumn frosts if you live in a cool climate. To help extend your growing season, try starting your ginger indoors under grow lights in early spring.
25. Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans)
| Plant name: | Pineapple sage |
| Parts for tea: | Leaves, flowers |
| Lighting requirements: | Full sun |
| Watering requirements: | Moderate |
| Growing zone: | Zones 8 to 11 |
Common sage is a traditional ingredient in soups and roasted dishes and makes a fine complement to butternut squash and gnocchi. But for a truly unique flavor, pineapple sage can make a wonderful homegrown herbal tea. This herb has the comforting qualities of sage but with sweet and citrusy notes that feel like sunshine in your mouth.
Like other sage plants, pineapple sage prefers drier conditions, and it can grow quite large over time. However, this plant is not as cold-hardy as common sage and only grows as a perennial in zones 8 to 11. This plant is a favorite pollinator plant, and its bright red blooms are certain to attract hummingbirds to your garden.
If you’re interested in growing other unique sage types, tangerine sage is another popular plant to try!
Summary
Herbal teas can be sipped throughout the day and well into the evening to refresh and soothe you after a hard day’s work. While once you may have resorted to purchasing bagged teas at the grocery store, as you get more confident in your growing abilities, you may be tempted to cultivate your own tea garden at home.
Growing your own teas gives you complete control over the quality of your tea plants, what they’re exposed to, and their freshness. Process your teas with a countertop dehydrator and then brew them up in tea strainers or looseleaf teapots. You’ll be surprised how delicious your homegrown teas taste, and by brewing your own, you can create new and unique herbal blends just for you!
If you liked this article and would like to learn more about preserving your herbs for loose-leaf teas, check out our article on drying herbs here.
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