| All of the so-called Mediterranean herbs will do very well indeed. Don't worry about the humidity - they love it, despite what you've probably read! And they can also handle our summer downpours. That means lavender, any of the salvias, Winter Tarragon, basils, fennel, yarrow, dill, thymes, rosemary, savory, hyssop, patchouli and a whole bunch more. The best of living near Brisbane, is that you can also grow tropical herbs like ginger, lemongrass, galangal, cardamom, chillies (which add excellent colour when in fruit) etc. Just make sure you provide good drainage for all of them. The only herbs which don't do so well here are the cool-climate ones. I've have no luck keeping meadowsweet or sweet woodruff, for instance, and chamomile has to be kept well-shaded to survive. The mints do well in partial shade. But anise and coriander and rocket tend to bolt to seed in the blink of an eye - definitely only winter crops. Parsley prefers partial shade, chives will go anywhere. Bay does well, also things like curry plant and Curry Leaf Tree. I see plenty of roses around, but I have only a tiny tea-rose in my all herb/vege courtyard garden. Nasturtiums do brilliantly well, and can get out of control. Lemon verbena will lose its leaves in winter, but bounce back early in spring. Just remember that Brisbane is a BIG city, and the western suburbs are prone to frosts in winter. I'm lucky to be living close to the coast, so I get no frosts. But I lived for a short while not far from Ipswich, and my herbs all survived no problem. |
