The Colonial Herb Garden

Imagine yourself transported back to colonial times in early America. Many of the herbs would have been exactly the same as ours, but the garden itself would have looked quite different. A picket fence would have surrounded it to keep out roving cattle. Inside, patches of flowers, vegetables and fruit trees would have been mixed in among the herbs. The plants provided food, medicine and household aids for the early settlers. Many of the herbs were brought over as slips (3-6 inch branch tips) and seeds in the holds of ships, while others were native to the New World and introduced to the colonists by the Native Americans. Much of the domestic work was done in the garden. Men chopped wood and women washed clothes or sat under shady trees doing other chores.

How do we know which herbs the colonists planted if no gardens have survived? In the seventeenth century, two Englishmen journeyed to America and recorded their observations. William Wood’s book, New England Prospect, (London, 1634), included a chapter, “Of the Hearbes, fruits, woods, waters. . .” and John Josselyn mentioned many herbs in his New England Rarities (London, 1672).

In addition, we have personal letters, diaries and journals such as Thomas Jefferson’s Garden Book, 1766-1824. Travelers have described food served at dinner parties and colonial cookbooks included both culinary and medicinal recipes using herbs. The map below shows the location of the Colonial Herb Garden, with numbers indicating each of the 30 most notable plants there. The rest of this Story Map details each one with a photo, Latin and common names, and historic uses.