Last Updated on October 8, 2026

Herbs That Come Back Every Year: Perennial vs Annual Herb Chart

Chives, thyme, oregano, sage and mint come back every year in most gardens. Basil and cilantro do not: basil cannot take frost, and cilantro is an annual that goes to seed in its first year. Lavender, tarragon, lemon balm and bee balm are perennial too. Rosemary is a tender perennial that stays out only where winters are mild, and parsley is a biennial that flowers in its second season.

Perennial vs annual herb chart

Life cycles and zones come from Penn State Extension, University of Maryland Extension and the NC State Plant Toolbox. The USDA hardiness map sets zones by the average coldest winter night in 10°F steps. Zone 12 starts at 50°F, so zone 9 starts at 20°F, zone 8 at 10°F, zone 6 at -10°F, zone 5 at -20°F, zone 4 at -30°F and zone 3 at -40°F.

A zone rating is a guide, not a promise. A plant at the cold edge of its range can thrive for years, then be lost in a rare cold snap that lasts a day or two, USDA notes.

How to get perennial herbs through winter

1. Start with drainage. Wet soil is the most common cause of sage decline and winter loss, according to Iowa State University Extension. English lavender will die out in heavy clay (NC State Plant Toolbox).
2. Mulch after the ground freezes. Many herbs are shallow-rooted, and soil that freezes and thaws can push them out. University of Maryland Extension lays straw, oak leaves or evergreen boughs 4 inches deep once the ground has frozen, and leaves it until new growth shows in early spring, since pulling it early can let frost damage the new shoots.
3. Prune in spring. Wait until lavender puts out new growth, then cut off what the winter damaged. Do not cut it back hard; Maryland warns that can kill it. Hard prune sage when you first see regrowth in spring.
4. Protect potted perennials. Sage in a container will not overwinter without extra protection, Iowa State says.
5. Bring rosemary in 2 to 3 weeks before your first fall frost. That is Penn State’s timing where rosemary is not hardy. Indoors, Maryland says to keep it cool and out of drafts, in strong direct sun or under lights, and to water only when the mix feels dry. My fall gardening checklist brings rosemary and thyme in to keep flavoring winter meals.
6. Cut back and divide the spreaders. In my bee balm guide, the stems get cut to a few inches above the ground in late fall, and the plants get divided every 3 to 4 years in early spring.

Notes on the herbs people ask about

• Mint always comes back; spreading is the problem. Grow it in a pot 12 to 16 inches across, or sink a bottomless pot with about an inch of rim above the soil so you can spot runners and trim them (University of Maryland Extension).
• Tarragon gets its zone 3 rating from the NC State Plant Toolbox, whose page covers wild tarragon, the species. French tarragon, the cooking kind, is listed there only as a cultivar with no rating of its own. Give it the winter protection Maryland calls for in cold climates.
• Basil is rated for zone 10 only, where the coldest nights stay above 30°F (NC State). My vegetable frost tolerance chart puts it with the tender crops: pick everything once the forecast low is 32°F or colder.
• Cilantro takes light freezing once mature; long, hot summer days make it bolt. Sow small batches every few weeks in early spring and again in late summer (Oregon State University Extension).
• Parsley sown in fall can sometimes overwinter for an early spring picking, though the leaves taste weaker. Flat-leaf may overwinter better than curly (Wisconsin Extension).

When to plant perennial herbs

The Plan My Garden planner sets chives, thyme, oregano, sage and rosemary out 1 to 2 weeks after your last frost, mint and lavender up to 2 weeks after, and basil 3 weeks after. Cilantro goes in as seed 1 to 4 weeks before your last frost. Find your last spring and first fall frost dates by zip code, then count from there.

For how many fit in a square, see my pages for chives, thyme, oregano, sage and rosemary, or the full plan in my raised bed herb garden layout.

Wood Prairie Family Farm carries organic Staro chives, English thyme, Greek oregano and Broadleaf sage seed. Use code PMG5 for 5 percent off.

Quick questions

Is rosemary a perennial?

Yes, but a tender one. University of Maryland Extension says it is a hardy evergreen shrub where winters stay above 5°F, and Penn State rates it for USDA zones 8 to 10. In colder gardens, keep it in a pot and bring it indoors for winter.

Does thyme come back every year?

Yes, in most gardens. Penn State and NC State rate common thyme for USDA zones 5 to 9, about -20°F. Give it well-drained soil.

Are chives perennial?

Yes. NC State and Wisconsin Extension rate chives hardy to USDA zone 4, about -30°F. The leaves die back in cold winters and the clump regrows in spring.

Is oregano winter hardy?

Yes. Penn State rates oregano for zones 5 to 8 and NC State for zones 4 to 8, about -20 to -30°F. University of Maryland Extension suggests replanting when it turns woody, every 3 to 4 years.

Does parsley reseed itself?

It can. Parsley is a biennial that flowers in its second season, and NC State Extension says it may reseed itself after the second year.

Let the planner place them

Perennial herbs claim their squares for years, so decide where they go before anything else. Plan My Garden is free to start: enter your zip code, draw your beds, pick chives, thyme, oregano, sage and everything else you want to grow, and it places each plant at square-foot spacing and builds a planting schedule from your frost dates.

Related: Vegetable Frost Tolerance Chart · How to Protect Plants from Frost · Raised Bed Herb Garden Layout