We have seen a colder than normal zone 8a winter here.

As a result, I have been watching the effects of the cold on various herbs.

I have two rosemary plants. One is an upright and the other trailing rosemary.

Although the trailing rosemary lost its' blooms to the freeze, neither plant was affected by extended freezing temperatures.

This past week we had two different snowfalls within a few days but neither snow nor sleet nor freezing temps did any harm to these rosemary plants either.


Another plant that is in a container but was unaffected by this inclement weather was a Bay Laurel tree.

I was a bit concerned that the freezing temps might have damaged the roots but see no problems as of yet.

The leaves show no sign of stress at this time.

These herb plants are growing in a raised bed and were under cover of a frost cloth when the temperatures dipped and also when it snowed.

I know the snow cover can act as insulation and although the plants haven't grown quickly, the freezing temperatures haven't killed them.

The first two are actually greens in the herb bed.
Corn Salad ( Mache )

Salad Burnett

Cilantro

Chervil actually looks lush.

A pot of Oregano which has taken on a reddish hue.


I also have dill and savory growing but they are too delicate as yet to show up well in a photo.

I am fascinated by the durable herbs that can take the winter weather. Anyone else have experiences to share ~ good or bad?

Thyme is one of the hardiest of all herb - sage, parsley, catnip, lovage and oregano have all done well here in the cold. The rosemary, not always. I'll see what's doing well after this winter as it has been verrry cold for us.

Thanks Tee, Yes, it has been amazingly cold all around the country.

I should have remembered parsley. I grew Par-cel one year. It fascinated me to see it wilt down from frost and when the sun came out it perked right back up.

I know rosemary is not always cold hardy although there are cultivars that are more so. Arp is one. Sadly the rosemary plants purchased at the garden center don't tell which one they are.

I didn't realize catnip was. My boys and girls will be happy. I've always wintered it in the greenhouse and they have to sneak in there for a "fix".

Kristi ~ who is hoping all our winters are over soon...

I was rather excited to hear about cold hardy herbs but looking at your location I guess I can see why. We have a few (haven't discovered which yet other than mint which is invasive) and I want to start an herb garden that will winter over here. I think in the ground would work better here. It takes a while for the snow to build up enough to bury the raised beds I have so until then there would be cold surrounding the boxes and roots therein.

Hi Mary Stella ~ I don't mean to exclude anyone from northern climates at all. I do hope herb growers from the colder zones will join in on the discussion also.

Years ago I was surprised to learn from a northern gardener that oregano is winter hardy. Here I had been bringing a container of it inside every winter. Thanks to her, I don't do that any longer.

I will suspect that although the foliage gets frozen to the ground, there are many perennial herbs that do well for you. What do you grow?

By the way, this winter some areas of Alaska are warmer than we have been. Go figure...

I think I have lost all my herbs, Italian and garlic chives, Italian oregano, mint, cilantro, and parsley. My large rosemary bush still looks ok. Perhaps some of this will come back but all the tops are completely gone.

I brought in my rosemary bush last fall for the second winter. it had grown huge in the garden. It is now dead dead. Should have left it outside. I suspect that the bits of oregano plants augered into the raised beds might just survive. I have been babying a thyme plant in the house hoping to be able to put it outside in the ground in spring. It is barely holding on. The watering is the pivot point and I am trying hard not to overwater but suspect underwatering is the culprit.