Nature is resting and inviting you to do the same. In winter, plants shift into dormancy. Sap moves down, roots dig in, and growth pauses. This natural pause creates space for reflection rather than action.

It’s the season where we can listen instead of rush.

Planning now makes spring go smoothly. When gardeners wait until spring to plan, they often feel rushed. Winter gives you quiet time to map out your beds, the space to choose which herbs to grow, and room to sketch, dream, and revise. When spring arrives, your decisions are already made – all you have to do is plant.

Today, we’re going to look at four beginner-friendly medicinal plants and learn how to grow them and why. If you’re looking for very detailed information on planning a garden, including how to define the garden’s purpose, watering techniques, assessing sunlight quality, and more, this post is for you.

4 Beginner-Friendly Medicinal Plants

Calendula (Calendula officinalis, Asteraceae)

Calendula is a stunning plant, prolific grower, and long bloomer. Often referred to as “sunshine incarnate”, Calendula has long been a staple of apothecaries due to its myriad of uses.

With good quality seeds, germination is quite easy and can be sown directly in mid-spring. For the most prolific blooms, grow in full sun and well-draining soil. Every 2-3 days, whole flower heads should be harvested and any spent blooms dead-headed to encourage more blooms. Flower heads should be air dried until crunchy, for at least a week, before storing. Calendula is a self-seeder and collecting seeds at the end of the season is exceptionally easy, you will have plenty for the following year and many after that. For more information about collecting seeds, check out this post.

The petals are edible and full of antioxidants, but the resinous, green calyx of the flower is where all of the medicinal oils are found. Petals can be used fresh or cooked into baked goods, soups, or stews, sprinkled over salads, frozen into ice cubes, or added as a garnish to beverages. I use calendula all winter in teas; just one or two flower heads with fresh ginger and dried tulsi make an excellent immunity-boosting infusion.

Internal: tea, tincture, infused oil, broth
Anti-inflammatory in the digestive system (gastric and duodenal ulcers). Relieves gallbladder problems and indigestion. Eases painful periods and normalizes the menstrual process. Stimulates the lymphatic system, addresses acutely swollen lymph nodes, and builds immunity by activating it.

Internal and External:
Anti-fungal combats fungal infections

External: salve, compress, poultice, suppositories, sitz bath
Anti-inflammatory and healing for skin infections, wounds, bleeding, bruising, and strains. Good for slow-healing wounds, skin ulcers, and minor burns.

Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis)

Lemon balm was one of the first medicinal plants incorporated into my garden. The scent is complex and delicious; my children and I will often break off small pieces to chew on and tuck behind our ears while we’re outside in summer. Once they begin to flower, it vibrates with the buzzing of bees who can’t seem to get enough of it.

Another prolific grower and self-seeder, be prepared to maintain the perimeter of its growth – an excellent opportunity to harvest in abundance throughout the growing season. A single packet of high-quality seeds is all you will ever need; lemon balm can be started indoors or direct-sown and dug up and transplanted at any time. Dry on screens in a dark, cool space before putting up. Lemon balm won’t last as long as other herbs and is prone to oxidation, so drying it in a single layer is important.

Internal: tea, tincture, infused oil, vinegar, honey, oxymel, compound butter, finishing salt, pesto
Gentle sedative, soothing and uplifting. Eases anxiety, tension headaches, insomnia, restlessness, and panic attacks. Gentle for use with children.

Eases indigestion and bloating- particularly induced by stress, and can be sipped by breastfeeding mothers to reduce colic and calm babies.

External: salve
Its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties make it an excellent topical herb as well.

Tulsi or Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum, Lamiaceae)

The first time I smelled Tulsi, I thought I was smitten – then I tasted it and realized it was much more serious than that. Tulsi has such a complex and unique flavor, peppery with hints of mint, clove, and anise; it’s no wonder its nickname is Holy. My hands are left delightfully perfumed after harvesting, and I will often keep one precious sprig in my pocket to replenish once it’s worn off.

Tulsi is another herb that is easy to grow and delights the bees. I purchased my Tulsi seeds from Botanical Interests, and they germinated quickly in a grow bag located in full sun. Next year, though, I will likely plant more in the ground with an olla, since they suffered a bit on very hot days.

Tulsi is a sacred herb that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for 3000 years; it’s considered an important plant for spiritual and emotional health.

Internal: tea, tincture, infused oil, infused vinegar
Adaptogenic for depression, stress, and anxiety. Supports the digestive system, upper respiratory system, and lungs. Used to increase mental focus and clarity. Treats cold, flu, allergies, cough, sinus infections, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and melancholy.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Asteraceae)

Yarrow can be grown from seed indoors or direct-sown in well-draining soil and plenty of sun. During germination, soil should be kept consistently moist, but once established, Yarrow is very drought-tolerant. It is beloved by beneficial insects and there are many native varieties that will support local wildlife. I have even known people who plant yarrow in place of a grass lawn and mow it when it grows tall.

Yarrow has a long history in Ayurvedic traditions, Chinese Medicine, and North American Indigenous healing practices. Today, Yarrow is a staple in the emergency kits of many herbalists.

Internal: tea, tincture, infused oil
Both blood-clotting and wound healing, when taken internally or used externally in the case of nose bleeds, deep wounds, postpartum hemorrhage, high blood pressure, and circulatory stagnation. Its diaphoretic properties help break fevers and sweat out cold or flu.

External: compress, poultice, wash, powder, and salve
Topical applications include bruises, varicose veins, peritoneal tears, and hemorrhoids. Yarrow can be used as a wound wash, due to its antiseptic properties, and then as a poultice to stop bleeding.

Winter Brings Clarity

When your garden isn’t overflowing with weeds, it’s easier to see which spaces are ready for something new, what worked last year and what needs rethinking. The simplicity of winter makes the planning process easier.

Winter makes room for the deeper questions. Listen to your intuition and pickup a garden journal, ask yourself:

What do I want to grow?

What medicine do I want to make?

What beauty do I crave in the yard?

What rituals do I want to create around growing?

Dreaming is its own phase of growth

Embrace the hush of winter and allow your imagination to take over.

Love you to your roots,

Elizabeth