Pink flowers can add a pop of color and visual interest to any herb garden Their bright hues stand out against the predominant greens of most herb foliage When planning an herb garden, it can be helpful to know which herbs produce pink blooms so you can incorporate them for maximum impact.
There are a number of culinary medicinal and ornamental herbs that bear pink flowers. Here is an overview of some of the most popular pink-flowering herbs to consider
Thymes
Thymes are a large group of herbs in the mint family that are grown for their culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. Many thymes produce clusters of tiny pink flowers on wiry stems.
Some thymes with pink flowers include:
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Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) – This is the most widely used culinary thyme. It has tiny leaves and bright pink-purple flowers.
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Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) – A low-growing thyme that makes an excellent groundcover. It has mats of small leaves and light pink flowers. Popular varieties include ‘Pink Chintz’ and ‘Coccineus’.
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Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus) – A fuzzy, gray-leafed thyme with soft pink blooms. Grows in a dense mat.
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Mother of thyme (Thymus praecox) – Features dark green foliage and dense clusters of light pink flowers.
Oreganos
Like thymes, oreganos belong to the mint family. They are grown for their robust flavor and pink summertime blooms.
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Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) – The most flavorful oregano for cooking. Produces hop-like lavender-pink flower spikes.
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Italian oregano (Origanum x majoricum) – Similar to Greek oregano but with white or light pink flowers. Popular for pizza seasoning.
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Golden oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Aureum’) – Features golden leaves and pale pink flowers. Used for ornamental value and seasoning.
Mint Family Herbs
In addition to thymes and oreganos, there are other culinary herbs in the mint family that produce pink blooms:
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Lavender mint (Mentha x piperita f. citrata ‘Lavender’) – Mint cultivar with purple-flushed leaves and pale lavender flowers. Used for tea.
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Pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’) – Variegated mint with pink or white flowers and a fruity aroma. Used in drinks, salads, and jellies.
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Apple mint (Mentha suaveolens) – Features fuzzy, round leaves with a spearmint aroma and pink-purple flowers. Used for tea and potpourri.
Other Pink-Blooming Culinary Herbs
Beyond the mint family, other culinary herbs with pink flowers include:
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Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) – Grows in clumps with white flowers that take on a pinkish hue. Leaves have a mild garlic flavor.
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Salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor) – A perennial herb with serrated, oblong leaves and tiny pink flowers borne on spikes. Adds a cucumber flavor to salads, drinks, and vinegars.
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Borage (Borago officinalis) – An annual herb with fuzzy gray-green foliage. Bears drooping clusters of star-shaped pink and blue flowers. Used in lemonade and tea.
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Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) – Delicate annual herb used in French cuisine. Has lacy leaves and umbels of white flowers with pink stamens.
Medicinal Herbs with Pink Flowers
Some medicinal herbs also produce pink blooms. These include:
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Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) – Coneflowers with pink ray florets surrounding a prickly center. Used to support the immune system.
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Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – Tall perennial that bears clusters of fragrant pale pink or white flowers. The roots are used as a sleep aid.
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Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) – An upright perennial covered in tiny pink flowers. Used to treat anxiety, menstrual issues, and heart palpitations.
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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Fern-like aromatic foliage with flat clusters of tiny pink or white flowers. Used to treat colds, fever, and inflammation.
Ornamental Herbs with Pink Blooms
Lastly, the following herbs are primarily grown for their ornamental pink flowers:
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Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – An aromatic woody perennial with blue, pink, or white flowers depending on variety.
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Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) – Features gray-green foliage and spikes of tubular lavender-pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
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Mexican oregano (Poliomintha longiflora) – A perennial groundcover with small pink flowers and little culinary value despite its name.
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Curry plant (Helichrysum italicum) – Grown for its fragrant silver foliage. Bears clusters of tiny pink or white flowers.
How to Use Pink-Flowering Herbs
The pink flowers of herbs not only provide visual appeal in the garden, but many are also edible. They can be used as garnishes in salads and desserts or infused into tea, vinegar, jelly, and cocktails for pops of color and flavor. Herbs with medicinal properties can be made into tinctures, teas, or skin oils to harness their beneficial compounds. Pink herb flowers also dry beautifully for potpourri, crafting, or decor.
With their diversity of flavors, fragrances, and uses, pink-blooming herbs are a versatile addition to any garden. Keep this guide handy when planning your herb beds and borders to ensure you include herbs with charming pink flowers. Their colorful blooms will give your garden month after month of beauty.
Part Two Includes information about:
| English Lavender |
| Meadowsweet |
Growing:Hardiness Zones: Angelica grows best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to Soil: Prefers moist, rich, well-drained soil.Sun and Water: This plant likes full sun to partial shade and needs consistent watering, especially during hot days. Poor water maintenance can easily kill it.Color: White, beigeOther Tips:Angelica is a biennial. This means it completes its life cycle over the course of two years. It flowers in its second year, and then goes to seed.Start Angelica seeds indoors eight weeks before the last frost. Transplant seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.Angelica is a slow grower but has the potential to grow quite large. Its roots and seeds should be harvested in the second year.A Few Cautions and Reasons to Grow:While generally safe for most people, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid ingesting angelica.Contact with the leaves may cause skin irritation. (It’s always best to wear gloves when handling herbs with which you are unfamiliar.) Angelica has hollow stems that have been harvested and candied as a sweet treat for centuries. Angelica can also be used to make jams and jellies.Add angelica to your flowering herb garden if you want to create height in the space and enjoy the idea of growing a plant with a rich history. Making your own candied angelica stems might have some interest too, especially if you like to make candied ginger or citrus.
| Bee Balm |
- Pinching off spent flowers encourages continuous blooming.
- Bee balm can be invasive. It spreads through rhizome and seed propagation. To control it, divide plants every three years and remove flowers before seeds develop.
- The flowers and serrated leaves of bee balm are edible and can be used in teas and salads.
- This plant attracts pollinators like hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
- Dried bee balm flowers are an excellent addition to potpourri.
- Bee Balm is susceptible to powdery mildew. Provide plants with good air circulation and dont overcrowd them. Prefer watering in the morning rather than at night, and water from the bottom. Drip irrigation is an excellent watering method.
- Consider adding bee balm to your flowering herb garden if you are interested in low maintenance options.
| Borage |
- Deadheading spent flowers encourages continuous blooming.
- Borage self-sows readily, so keep it contained.
- Candied borage flowers are a popular decorative element for baked goods. They are also pretty when frozen into ice cubes and served in summer beverages.
| Candied borage flowers |
- Borage contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be toxic in large quantities. Consume this flowering herb in moderation.
| Calendula |
- As with many flowering herb plants, deadheading spent flowers (pinching them off) encourages heavy blooming throughout the season and discourages self seeding.
- Some individuals with allergies to daisies or ragweed may have an allergic reaction to calendula, so use caution when introducing it into your garden.
| Chamomile |
- Sow seeds directly outdoors in early spring or started chamomile indoors a few weeks before the last frost date for your area.
- Its small flowers are the most commonly used part of the plant, and can be harvested fresh or dried for use in calming teas, potpourris or crafts. Chamomile tea smells pleasantly of apples and hay.
- People with allergies to ragweed or daisies may also have allergic reactions to chamomile.
- Although there is interest in the use of this flowering herb for a number of medical conditions, and reports of its medicinal use date back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, self treating with chamomile is not a substitute for professional medical treatment for digestive issues, anxiety, diabetes and other conditions.
| Dwarf chamomile ground cover |
| Chives in bloom |
- Divide chives every three years or so to prevent overcrowding. Chive flowers are edible and make a nice addition to salads. They are an attractive garnish, too.
- Chive leaves are the most commonly used part of this flowering herb. They can be harvested throughout the growing season by simply snipping them with scissors. Avoid taking more than one third of the plant during any single harvesting session.
- For winter access to chives, consider chopping bunches, placing them in a water slurry and freezing them into ice cubes. Drying chives is also an option, although dried chives tend to lose their flavor after a few months.
- Individuals with allergies to onions or other allium plants may have allergic reactions to chives.
- Chive vinegar is a classic herb project you can make with chive flowers. Beyond tasting wonderfully oniony, chive flowers also turn the vinegar a deep ruby color.
| Comfrey bell blossoms |
- Comfrey is a fast-growing spreader. Plant it in a location where it has room to roam, or restrict it to a container.
- Comfreys leaves and roots are nitrogen rich and make a great addition to the compost pile. For the best results, compost comfrey before using it as a soil amendment.
- Wear gloves when handling comfrey to avoid skin irritation. Do not consume this herb internally in any form.
| Curry Plants everlasting flowers |
- Curry Plant is a low-maintenance perennial in warmer zones.
- Prune after flowering to maintain a compact and attractive shape.
- Happily this plant is pest and disease resistant.
- The strong fragrance may not be for everyone. If you do think it smells delicious, though, consider planting it near your deck or kitchen window.
- Excessive handling of leaves may irritate sensitive skin.
- Curry plant can be a good choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance and fragrant border shrub for a sunny location that drains well.
| Dill |
| Dill vinegar with a decorative dill flower. |
- Dill is an annual flowering herb. That means it sprouts, set seed and dies in a single season.
- It can be sown directly outdoors in early spring or started indoors a few weeks before the last frost in your area.
- The leaves and seeds are the most commonly used parts of this flowering herb. Fresh leaves can be enjoyed throughout the growing season, while seeds are harvested in late summer when the flower heads dry and turn brown.
- Dill tends to “bolt”, or intensify its flowering efforts early in summer at the cost of leaf production. As the leaves are usually the most valued part of the plant, some of the newer varieties are designed to delay bolting.
- Dill has a strong flavor that may not be to everyones taste. Start with a small amount and adjust the quantity you use in your recipes accordingly.
- Dill flowers make an attractive garnish.
| Echinacea |
- Deadheading encourages robust blooming.
- Echinacea readily self-sows. To control its spread, remove spent flowers before seeds develop.
- The above-ground parts of the plant are the most commonly used for medicinal purposes.
- Some individuals may experience allergic reactions to this flowering herb. Consult with a healthcare professional before using it medicinally.
- Important Note: Echinacea should never be used by pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by individuals with autoimmune conditions.
| Evening Primrose |
- As with many herbs and other plants, deadheading encourages flowering.
- Use some caution as this plant self-sows aggressively.
- Medicinally, the oil extracted from the seeds of evening primrose are the most commonly used part of the plant. (Please consult your healthcare provider before attempting to use any herb for self treatment.)
- Evening primrose contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can be toxic in large quantities.
- This easy flowering herb is a great candidate for a wildflower garden.
| Feverfew |
- The leaves are the most commonly used part of the plant for potential health benefits.
- While safe for most people as a garden addition, some individuals with allergies to ragweed or daisies may experience allergic reactions to feverfew.
- Feverfew is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Consult with a healthcare professional before using feverfew medicinally as it can interact with prescription and over the counter medications.
This Pink Flower Can Boost Your Mood and Bring You Out of a Funk
FAQ
Which herb has pink flowers?
Rosebay willowherb is a tall plant with pink flowers rising up a flower spike. It has lance-like leaves that are arranged in spiral formation up its stem.
What North American herb has white or pink flowers?
Its flowers are white or pale pink. American willowherb, also known as fringed willowherb, is a fast-growing, clump-forming perennial that was introduced to the UK and is now widely naturalised. It can reach a height of 1m (3½ft) and has narrow, finely toothed leaves.
What herb has scarlet flowers?
As both its scientific name of coccinea (meaning “scarlet dyed”) and common names of scarlet sage and blood sage suggest, this herbaceous perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) has bright red flowers.
What is the name of the plant with pink flowers?
Azaleas are known for their vibrant and abundant pink blossoms. These flowering shrubs thrive in acidic soil and create a stunning display when they bloom in spring.