Growing Your Own Herbal Teas

Growing herbal teas at home comes down to four plants: bee balm, chamomile, peppermint and hibiscus. Bee balm wants at least 6 hours of sun, mint wants a pot, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says chamomile and peppermint teas are likely safe in the amounts people drink. It also says neither has enough proof behind it to treat any condition.

Updated October 29, 2026.

Those bright, colorful blooms in a summer garden are more than pretty faces. Some of them can go straight into a teacup. Best of all, you can grow them yourself, then pick, dry and store them to use all year. Anyone who has grown mint for a few seasons knows it spreads far past where you planted it, and a pot on the patio keeps a tea herb from taking over a bed. Most of us have also found an old tea bag in the back of the cupboard that tasted like dust. A sprig steeped fresh is a whole different drink. That is the real case for an herbal tea garden: good flavor and a small harvest, not a pharmacy.

Growing herbal teas: bee balm for Oswego tea

Bee balm, also called bergamot or Monarda, is the plant behind Oswego tea. The Old Farmer’s Almanac says the tea gets its name from a Native American word for a river in what is now New York. It also says Native Americans and early colonists used the leaves and flowers to make teas and other drinks. The almanac says the leaves are sometimes used in herbal teas and the flowers can be eaten.

Bee balm comes back every year and grows in clumps. It does best in full sun, at least 6 hours a day, and once it settles in, it spreads, so give it room. The flowers come in white, pink, red, lavender or purple and bloom from June through July. The strong smell draws bees, so plant it away from your doors and the spots where you like to sit. Anyone who has tried to eat lunch on a patio with bees buzzing around knows how hard it is to relax. Crowding and shade invite powdery mildew, a dusty white mold on the leaves, so give plants some air. The almanac names types that resist mildew, including the Monarda didyma kinds Marshall’s Delight, Jacob Cline and Raspberry Wine. Divide the clumps every 2 to 3 years.

To brew, rinse a bloom or a few leaves, drop them in a cup and pour boiling water over them.

Growing herbal teas from chamomile

You may already have chamomile growing in your garden. It looks like tiny daisies and blooms from late spring until October. The flower gives your tea a slight taste of apple. Most of us have looked at a patch of little white flowers in a field and never given it a second thought, and that is a good reason to be sure what you have before you brew it.

The NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says chamomile is likely safe in the amounts found in teas and foods, and that side effects are uncommon. They can include nausea, dizziness and allergic reactions. Some people have had severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, which is a sudden and serious allergic reaction. People who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds or daisies are more likely to react.

On benefits, NCCIH says the evidence is not strong enough to rate chamomile for any specific condition. A 2019 review it cites found one study on insomnia that showed no benefit. NCCIH also reports that chamomile can interact with warfarin and some drugs the liver processes. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you take medicine, ask your provider first.

Peppermint tea from your own garden

Peppermint is a leafy green herb that sends up spikes of lavender-colored blooms. The leaves are the part you use. Pick them, dry them, and drop a teaspoon into a cup with boiling water. If you have ever chewed a peppermint after dinner, you know that cool, fresh smell. NCCIH says peppermint tea made from the leaves appears safe. It also says nobody knows the long-term safety of large amounts, and there is not enough proof that peppermint leaf helps any health condition.

Peppermint oil is a different product. NCCIH reports a 2022 review of 10 studies with 1,030 participants. In it, peppermint oil beat a placebo for overall irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and belly pain. It also caused more side effects, mostly mild ones like heartburn. A 2021 American College of Gastroenterology guideline recommended it. Do not assume a cup of tea does the same thing.

Hibiscus tea from the calyx

Hibiscus tea is made from the calyx, the red cup that sits under the bloom, and not from the petals. Pick the calyx about 10 days after the flower first appears, then brew it fresh or dry it for later. It brews tart and deep red. Treat it as a tasty drink, not a remedy. If you take any prescription medicine, ask your provider before a daily cup of any herbal tea becomes a habit.

Safety when you brew homegrown herbs

The FDA does not approve dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold. It advises talking to a doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional before using one. Herbs from your own garden come with no label at all, so checking is up to you.

Never brew plants that have been sprayed with pesticides, and be certain what a plant is before you drink it. Grow with care, brew with care, and then go have a sip of tea today.

Growing Herbal Teas FAQ

Is homegrown chamomile tea safe to drink?

NCCIH says chamomile is likely safe in the amounts found in teas and foods. People allergic to ragweed, daisies, marigolds or chrysanthemums are more likely to react, and chamomile may interact with warfarin. Ask your provider if you take medicine or are pregnant.

Does peppermint tea help with health problems?

NCCIH says peppermint tea made from the leaves appears safe, but there is not enough evidence that peppermint leaf helps any health condition. Peppermint oil, a different product, has research behind it for irritable bowel syndrome.

How much sun does bee balm need?

The Old Farmer’s Almanac says bee balm grows best in full sun, at least 6 hours a day. Plants in less sun produce fewer flowers and are more prone to powdery mildew. Good air circulation and mildew-resistant cultivars also help, and clumps should be divided every 2 to 3 years.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician about your own situation.