For aficionados of the leafy brew, the myriad advantages of sipping tea are well-known, and personal preferences in flavors are likely well-established. Yet, imagine crafting your own bespoke blend, cultivated right in your own backyard. Enter the tea garden—a charming retreat within your yard, where you can plant the herbs that flavor your favorite cuppa and find a serene spot to unwind amidst nature.
Are you ready to embark on this journey? Here are some expert suggestions for cultivating your very own tea haven, along with some recommended plants to ensure a delightful cuppa straight from your garden.
Start by finding a sunny niche in your garden to establish your tea haven. Select a variety of plants suited for tea, and feel free to include your favorite sun-drenched flora as well.
The true charm of a tea garden lies in the ability to bask in the garden’s natural beauty while savoring your tea. Add a quaint bench or a couple of plush chairs—and don’t forget a small table for your teacup, perhaps accompanied by a good book. “The cozier a seating area is nestled within a garden, the more inviting it becomes,” Kevin Lenhart, the design director of Yardzen, observes.
Many plants that are perfect for tea thrive in abundant sunlight, which can be too intense on a sweltering day. A canopy or pergola can provide respite in the shade, allowing you to sip and savor the garden’s splendor.
Enhance your garden’s ambiance with additional elements, such as wind chimes for their tranquil sounds, a petite water feature like a birdbath or fountain, or a few stones or a statue to complete the space.
To enjoy tea all year round, consider harvesting extra plants to dry and store. After harvesting, ensure the plants are completely dry, tie them in bundles, and hang them upside down in a warm, dry place away from direct sunlight, or lay them out on a screen until they are fully dry, according to Lenhart.
Chamomile, the queen of herbal teas, boasts not only its lovely blooms but also its leaves, which are steeped to create a potion promising everything from a tranquil night’s sleep to a boost to your immune system. It flourishes in partial to full sun with moist soil. “Chamomile has the enviable reputation of enhancing the growth of nearby plants,” Lenhart notes. “It has a delicate appearance, and its presence among other plants is quite pleasing. It’s easy to grow, requires minimal maintenance, and can tolerate poor soils if drainage is adequate.”
Echinacea, a hardy, drought-resistant native plant, is beloved by herbalists for its immune-boosting properties. Its roots, leaves, or flowers can be used to create a tea, whether fresh or dried.
Mint, a versatile plant, is invaluable in the kitchen and in cocktails, like mojitos, and also makes a refreshing tea. Be mindful of its tendency to spread aggressively, and consider planting it in a container or with a barrier to prevent it from taking over your garden. Mint also serves as a deterrent to deer when kept in contained spaces.
Roses, with their edible blooms, can be used to craft a fragrant and delightful tea. Opt for tea roses or older rose varieties. These roses require ample sunlight and more water than many other plants, so they should be grouped with similarly water-needy plants in your garden.
If you’re incorporating roses into your tea, avoid using chemical fertilizers or pest control products on them.
English lavender, or culinary lavender, is a delightful addition to any garden, offering a soothing scent and a tea that can ease digestion. It thrives in a sunny, dry spot, away from moisture-loving plants like roses.
Lemon balm, with its sweet lemony notes, produces delicate white flowers and can help soothe indigestion. A member of the mint family, it spreads less aggressively than other mint species, making it easier to plant near other plants. Keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t harm neighboring flora.
Lemongrass, a staple in Thai cuisine, is also excellent for a citrus-scented tea, boasts antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and can deter mosquitoes. It prefers a warm, sunny, and moist location in your garden.
Calendula, or marigold, with its anti-inflammatory properties, is a beautiful choice for tea brewing. Use the petals and flowers to create a brew. This plant, like chamomile, thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained soil.
