The Best Herb Gardening Books for Herbalists
Compiled by Meghan Gemma, Juliet Blankespoor, and Sarah Sorci
Photography by Juliet Blankespoor
Tending a medicine garden is an ancient part of the herbalist’s path. For thousands of years, healers have planted their most-used remedies in the soil just beyond their doorsteps. The wisdom in this is two-fold: not only do herbalists need their medicines close at hand, but the presence, aroma, and beauty of herbs bring succor to those who are sick and those who heal. To build your own herbal oasis, take home some of the titles on our Best Herb Gardening Books for Herbalists list.
We’ve been planting our own herb gardens at the Chestnut School for decades. These lush sanctuaries are our primary source of medicine, and they fill our apothecaries to the brim year after year. More often than not, the plants are our teachers in the garden, but we also give loads of credit to a stellar selection of books on herb gardening, regenerative farming, and permaculture that we turn to season after season.
Are you ready to grow your own herbs? Check out our list of brilliant Herb Gardening Books below—they’ll help you start your herb garden, medicinal farm, or permaculture paradise. Please note that we don’t receive any compensation for promoting these books—they’re simply our personal favorites.
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ACCESSING BOOKS: We recommend purchasing from small and/or BIPOC-owned bookstores whenever possible. Here is one list of Black-owned bookstores, many of which offer an online store. Some books on this list may be more difficult to find and/or be more expensive, since they are offered by smaller publishing houses with smaller print runs. For tips on affordably accessing books, visit our Herbal Books Hub.
*Titles by BIPOC authors or co-authors (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) are written in purple.
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Juliet’s garden with interplanted medicinal and culinary herbs.
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A List of The Best Herb Gardening Books
1. The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies by Juliet Blankespoor
Juliet Blankespoor’s essential guide to growing and harvesting herbs, making herbal medicine, and practicing sustainable hands-on herbalism. This book will help you design the herb garden of your dreams and grow 30 of the most healing medicinal plants on the planet with time-tested organic methods. You’ll be treated to thorough herbal profiles, step-by-step photographic tutorials, and over 80 recipes for herbal teas, tinctures, and botanical delicacies like lavender-lemon bundt cake, calendula tulsi chai, and nettles pâté. This book is written for home gardeners and anyone looking to bring the therapeutic benefits of healing herbs into their garden, kitchen, and apothecary.
You can learn more about the book and the big set of bonuses you’ll receive when you purchase a copy at HealingGardenGateway.com. (The bonuses include 10 videos and 10 written lessons on herb gardening, medicine making, and plant propagation, 5 Printable Charts to Help Herb Gardeners Grow Herbs and Make Medicine, and 100 pages of Regional Herb Gardening Profiles.)
2. Herbal Renaissance: Growing, Using & Understanding Herbs in the Modern World by Steven Foster
Excellent all-around gardening reference for popular Western herbs. Includes information on medicinal use, processing, and cultivation for each herb. This is one of Juliet’s all-time favorite herb gardening books, as is Herbal Emissaries below, also by Steven Foster. Both books are highly affordable when purchased used.
3. Herbal Emissaries: Bringing Chinese Herbs to the West by Steven Foster and Yue Chongxi
Excellent all-around reference for popular Chinese herbs. Includes information on medicinal use, processing, and cultivation for each herb. The book is a collaboration between a Chinese scientist and an American author and herbalist, blending traditional wisdom from both cultures along with scientific verification of the medical effectiveness of many ancient Chinese plants. This is one of Juliet’s all-time favorite herb gardening books, as is Herbal Renaissance above, also by Steven Foster. Both books are highly affordable used.
4. The Medicinal Herb Grower, Volume 1 by Richo Cech
Written by an herbalist, gardener, and seeds-man, this useful little tome covers Mediterranean herbs, Chinese herbs, medicinal herbs from the English tradition, and growing tropical perennials in the temperate North. Medicinal use, cultivation, and harvesting are discussed in detail. Available from Strictly Medicinal Seeds.
5. The Aromatherapy Garden: Growing Fragrant Plants for Happiness and Wellbeing by Kathi Keville
Focuses on cultivating aromatic culinary and medicinal herbs, with detailed guidance on cultivation, uses, and the medicinal properties of featured plants. Includes instructions for a range of aromatherapy preparations, including sachets, teas, oils, and more. The beautiful illustrations combined with interesting tidbits and cultural histories about each plant make this book a treat to read.
6. The Beautiful Edible Garden by Leslie Bennett and Stefani Bittner
This beautifully-photographed book shows gardeners how to artfully incorporate organic vegetables, fruits, and herbs into a stunning modern garden design. This guide is perfect for anyone who wants a gorgeous and productive garden.
7. The Illustrated Herb Encyclopedia: A Complete Culinary, Cosmetic, Medicinal, and Ornamental Guide to Herbs by Kathi Keville
One of Juliet’s long-time favorite herb references. Covers more cultivation info than most generalist herbals. Beautiful illustrations. Recipes, historical references, aromatherapy, etc. Very affordable used.
8. The Herb Society of America New Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses, Revised Edition (2001) by Deni Bown
A fantastic reference for the cultivation and usage of over 1,000 medicinal herbs. Each monograph includes cultivation, propagation, harvest, and medicinal properties. Juliet uses this book for researching cultivars and international plants.
9. Edible Landscaping: Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat It Too! by Rosalind Creasy
How to create an inviting home landscape with vegetables, fruits, nuts, and berries. Includes plant profiles with horticultural information, culinary uses, sources, and recommended varieties. Appendices cover the basics of planting and maintenance, and of controlling pests and diseases using organic and environmentally friendly practices. Get the revised edition. This is one of Juliet’s tried and true gardening references.
10. How to Move Like a Gardener: Planting and Preparing Medicines from Plants by Deb Soule
Gardening book with practical advice, imbued with Deb’s spiritual connection to the earth, along with visually beautiful photos from her medicinal herb gardens at Avena Botanicals, in Maine.
11. The Complete Book of Herbs & Spices: The Ultimate Sourcebook to Herbs, Spices, and Aromatic Seeds by Lesley Bremness and Jill Norman
Full of medicinal and culinary herb information—cultivation, medicinal use, crafts, and culinary use, including recipes. Beautiful photos accompanied by identification characteristics.
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A 15-year-old ginseng root from the Chestnut School woodland gardens.
12. The Medicine Wheel Garden: Creating Sacred Space for Healing, Celebration, and Tranquility by E. Barrie Kavasch
A step-by-step guide for honoring the tradition of the Native American Medicine Wheel garden, including planting guides for every zone, an illustrated encyclopedia of 50 key healing herbs and how to grow them, and easy-to-follow herbal recipes.
13. Native American Gardening: Stories, Projects, and Recipes for Families by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto
Gardening tips and practices from an Indigenous perspective, including tips for preparing a garden site, celebrating the harvest, and garden design using methods such as the “Three Sisters Garden” of corn, beans, and squash. The book also offers suggestions for using the harvest, including gourd rattles, corn husk dolls, and many recipes.
14. Native Trees, Shrubs and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants by William Cullina
The native plant growers’ manual. Excellent photos, cultivation, and propagation details for many of our natives.
15. The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control: A Complete Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Garden and Yard the Earth-Friendly Way by Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis, and Deborah L. Martin
Includes a wide range of methods for growing and maintaining an organic garden, with a plant-by-plant guide featuring symptoms and solutions for 200 popular plants. Get the revised edition.
16. Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens by Vaughn Sills, Hilton Als, and Lowry Pei
A beautiful collection of photos of African American folk gardens and gardeners in the Deep South. The design elements and spiritual meaning present in featured gardens invokes the gardeners’ African heritage, blues musical roots, and traditions from times of enslavement.
17. Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada by William Cullina
The native plant growers’ manual. Excellent photos, cultivation, and propagation details for many of our natives.
18. Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs: Cultivation, Conservation, and Ecology by Richo Cech
Detailed instruction on the cultivation requirements for at-risk plants such as ginseng, goldenseal, black and blue cohosh, bloodroot, etc. using only organic techniques.
19. The American Horticultural Society: Plant Propagation by Ian Toogood
Illustrated manual for most basic plant propagation methods: cuttings, divisions, seed saving, and sowing.
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The gardens at the Wild Abundance school in North Carolina, a permaculture oasis.
A List of The Best Books on Permaculture
& Regenerative Farming
1. Plants for a Future: Edible and Useful Plants for a Healthier World by Ken Fern
Exciting permaculture plant reference with many lesser-known edibles, including many North American natives.
2. Eating the Landscape: American Indian Stories of Food, Identity, and Resilience by Enrique Salmón
Salmón offers stories from Native American farmers of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, illustrating how their farming and culinary traditions are rooted in environmental stewardship. Salmón spotlights the resilience that these practices foster in the face of global climate change and other challenges of our time.
3. Farming the Woods: An Integrated Permaculture Approach to Growing Food and Medicinals in Temperate Forests by Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel
This book invites a remarkably different perspective—that a healthy forest can be maintained while growing a wide range of food, medicine, and other non-timber products.
4. Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman
An important book offering insight into the regenerative farming practices and ritual elements of agriculture in African societies. It is the first comprehensive “how to” guide for aspiring African-heritage growers to reclaim their dignity as agriculturists. A resource for all farmers to understand the distinct, technical contributions of African-heritage people to sustainable agriculture.
5. The Resilient Farm and Homestead: An Innovative Permaculture and Whole Systems Design Approach by Ben Falk
Filled with gorgeous photography and detailed design drawings, this book is based on Falk’s nationally renowned permaculture research farm in Vermont. Most applicable to cool and other temperate climates.
6. Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica M. White
Started in the 1960s, a community-based rural and economic development project called Freedom Farms Cooperative provided a way for sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and domestic workers to pursue community well-being and self-sufficiency. Explores the work and contributions of southern Black farmers and the organizations they formed.
7. Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, 2nd Edition by Toby Hemenway
One of the classic books about ecological gardening, it shares the basic permaculture principles you need to build and maintain a fertile, energy-efficient, biodiverse, and edible permaculture garden.
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Ripe elderberries (Sambucus nigra var. canadensis) ready to harvest in Juliet’s herb garden.
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8. The Holistic Orchard: Tree Fruits and Berries the Biological Way by Michael Phillips
This book demystifies the inner workings of the orchard ecosystem, as well as orchard design, soil biology, and organic health management. Detailed insights on grafting, planting, pruning, and choosing the right varieties for your climate are included. You’ll find extensive profiles of pome fruits (apples, pears, Asian pears, quinces), stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums), and berries.
9. Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical, Self-Reliant Gardening by Will Bonsall
This friendly, almost conversational book imparts a wealth of knowledge drawn from Bonsall’s more than 40 years of veganic, or plant-based, farming experience.
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The Best Books on Commercial Herb Farming
1. The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer: The Ultimate Guide to Producing High-Quality Herbs on a Market Scale by Jeff Carpenter with Melanie Carpenter
Jeff and Melanie share their experiences at Zack Woods Herb Farm in Vermont to teach readers how to successfully grow and market organic medicinal Western herbs.
2. Growing and Marketing Ginseng, Goldenseal, & Other Woodland Medicinals, revised edition by Jeanine Davis and W. Scott Persons
The most thorough and technical guide available for growing at-risk woodland medicinals. Some non-organic info. Be sure to get the revised edition.
3. The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator’s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production by Peg Schafer
Presents information for growers interested in producing high-quality efficacious herbs in all climates of the US, with the historical connectedness of ancient practitioners.
4. Herbal Harvest: Commercial Organic Production of Quality Dried Herbs by Greg Whitten
Discusses many facets of commercial production, including the state of the herb industry, site selection, climate, irrigation, weed management, propagation, trial plots, composting, pests and diseases, harvesting, drying, processing and marketing, innovative tool design, personal health, and more.
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P.S. This book list is an excerpt from our 1,000-hour Online Herbal Immersion—THE most comprehensive online program in sustainable, bioregional herbalism on the planet. The Immersion features our personal mentorship on:
- Using herbs for health + healing
- Growing the medicinal herb garden of your dreams
- Foraging wild food + medicine
- Plant identification
- Medicine making
- Holistic nutrition
- Herbal careers + livelihoods
- And more!
The program features 161 videos, a gorgeous printable course manual that is 1,446 pages long, and over 100 scrumptious herbal and wild foods recipes. Ready to join us? You can find the course curriculum, student testimonials, and payment plan options here.
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Meet Our Contributors:
JULIET BLANKESPOOR is the founder, primary instructor, and Creative Director of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, an online school serving thousands of students from around the globe. She's a professional plant-human matchmaker and bonafide plant geek, with a degree in botany and over 30 years of experience teaching and writing about herbalism, medicine making, and organic herb cultivation. Juliet’s lifelong captivation with medicinal weeds and herb gardening has birthed many botanical enterprises over the decades, including an herbal nursery and a farm-to-apothecary herbal products business.
These days, she channels her botanical obsession through her writing and photography in her online programs, on her personal blog Castanea, and in her new book, The Healing Garden: Cultivating and Handcrafting Herbal Remedies. Juliet and her family reside in a home overrun with houseplants and books in Asheville, North Carolina.
MEGHAN GEMMA is one of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine's primary instructors through her written lessons, sharing herbal and wild foods wisdom from the flowery heart of the school to an ever-wider field of herbalists, gardeners, healers, and plant lovers.
She began her journey with the Chestnut School in 2010—as an intern and manager at the Chestnut Herb Nursery and then as a plant-smitten student “back in the day” when the school’s programs were taught in the field, and later she became part of the school’s writing team. Meghan lives in the Ivy Creek watershed, just north of Asheville, North Carolina.
SARAH SORCI is an herbal educator, writer, and the founder of Sweet Flag Herbs. She loves supporting folks who seek connection, empowerment, and environmental sustainability by connecting with plants. Through her writing project, A Nourishing Harvest, Sarah explores environmental contamination issues that affect gardeners and foragers, translating scientific data into practical free articles. She also creates beautiful educational boxes that facilitate ancestral connection by way of the plant world.
Sarah has offered hundreds of classes and plant walks throughout Western New York and beyond. Sarah worked on the student services team at Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, and she’s contributed course content to Herbal Academy. Follow Sarah on Instagram @sweetflagherbs.
Interested in becoming a contributor?
© Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and chestnutherbs.com, 2011-2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and chestnutherbs.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Ready to build your botanical bookshelf?
Check out our Favorite Herbalism Books Hub. We’re happy to present seven special reading lists that highlight our personal picks. There are selections for every kind of plant person: beginning herbalists, advanced and clinical herbalists, herb gardeners, foragers, medicine makers, and budding aromatherapists.
Looking for more blog articles about medicinal herb cultivation?
Check out our Medicinal Herb Gardening Hub. It is brimming with articles, including:
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Permaculture says:
Very insightful post.
It was a great experience learning about permaculture!
Sarah Sorci says:
So glad you’re enjoying this book list!