Herbs

Name	Light	Brewing Use	Parts Used	Life Cycle
Alecost (Chrysanthemum balsamita)	partial shade	bittering	leaves	perennial
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)	partial shade	flavoring	flowers	perennial
Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)	full sun	bittering	leaves	annual
Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)	partial shade	flavoring	flowers	perennial
Betony (Stacys officinalis)	partial shade	bittering	leaves	perennial
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus)	full sun	bittering	leaves	annual
Borage (Borago officinalis)	full sun	flavoring	flowers	annual
Chamomile (Chameamelum nobile)	full sun	bittering	flowers	annual
Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)	full sun	bittering	flowers	biennial
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)	full sun	flavoring	leaves	annual
Elder (Sambucus nigra)	full sun	flavoring	flowers /berries	perennial
Elecampane (Inlua helenium)	partial shade	flavoring	roots	perennial
Gentian (Genitana lutea)	partial shade	bittering	roots	perennial
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)	partial shade	flavoring	roots	perennial
Greek Oregano (Origianum vulgare hirta)	partial shade	bittering	leaves	perennial
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)	full sun	bittering	flowers	perennial
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)	full sun	bittering	leaves	perennial
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)	full sun	flavoring	flowers	perennial
Juniper (Juniperus communis)	full sun	flavoring	leaves	perennial
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)	full sun	bittering	flowers	perennial
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)	partial shade	flavoring	leaves	perennial
Licorice (Glycyrriza glabra)	full sun	flavoring	roots	perennial
Milk Thistle (Silybub marianum)	full sun	bittering	leaves	annual
Mint (Mentha spp.)	partial shade	flavoring	leaves	perennial
Rhubarb (Rheum x cultorum)	full sun	flavoring	stems	perennial
Rose Hips (Rosa rugosa)	full sun	flavoring	fruits	perennial
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)	full sun	flavoring	leaves	perennial
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioicia)	partial shade	bittering	leaves	perennial
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)	partial shade	flavoring	leaves	perennial
Valerian (Valariana officianlis)	partial shade	flavoring	roots	perennial
Wintergreen (Gautheria procumbens)	partial shade	flavoring	leaves	perennial
Yarrow (Achilia millefolium)	full sun	bittering	flowers	perennial

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Dennis Fisher and Joe Fisher are brothers who reside in Winterport, ME. They run a small organic farm and greenhouse business, and are authors of Latitude Hooks & Azimuth Rings, Great Beer from Kits, Brewing Made Easy and The Homebrewer's Garden. Their most recent article on hop growing will appear in Kitchen Gardener magazine next year.

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This story originally appeared in All About Beer Magazine in January 2000.