plants used as herbs or spices

| Achillea millefolium

|

|Actaea racemosa

|Ranunculaceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal

|roots, rhizomes

|

|Aesculus hippocastanum

|Sapindaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|seed extract

|toxic if eaten raw

|Aframomum corrorima

|Zingiberaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|seeds

|

|Aframomum daniellii and related species

|Zingiberaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|seeds

|

|Aframomum melegueta

|Zingiberaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|seeds

|sometimes also called alligator pepper

|Alkanna tinctoria

|Boraginaceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal, dye

|root

|

| Allium sativum

|

| Allium schoenoprasum

|

| Aloe vera

|

|Aloysia citrodora

|Verbenaceae

|perennial subshrub or shrub

|culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance

|leaves

|

| Alpinia galanga and related species

|

|Althaea officinalis

|Malvaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|root, flowers, leaves

|also used as a vegetable and to make candy

|Amomum subulatum and Lanxangia tsaoko

|Zingiberaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|seeds, rhizome

|

|Angelica archangelica

|Apiaceae

|biennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|stem, leaves

|also used as a vegetable

| Anethum graveolens

|

| Anthriscus cerefolium

| Apium graveolens

|petiole and root used as vegetables

| Armoracia rusticana

|

|Arnica montana

|Asteraceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal

|flowers, roots

|there are concerns about its toxicity

|Artemisia absinthium

|Asteraceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves, flowers

|moderately poisonous

| Artemisia dracunculus

|

|Artemisia vulgaris

|Asteraceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|leaves, root

|also used as a vegetable

| Aspalathus linearis

|

|Azadirachta indica

|Meliaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|fruits and seeds

|also used as an insect repellent; leaves and flowers also eaten

|Backhousia myrtifolia

|Myrtaceae

|tree

|culinary

|oil

|probably has antimicrobial properties; also used as insect repellent

|Bellis perennis

|Asteraceae

|perennial herb

|tea, medicinal

|

|leaves and flowers also eaten

|Berberis vulgaris and related species

|Berberidaceae

|shrub

|culinary

|fruit

|also used for jam

|Beta vulgaris

|Amaranthaceae

|herbaceous biennial

|medicinal, dye

|root, leaves

|primarily used as a vegetable

|Bixa orellana

|Bixaceae

|shrub

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|seeds

|

|Boesenbergia rotunda

|Zingiberaceae

|herbaceous annual

|culinary, medicinal, dye

|rhizome

|also used as a vegetable

|Borago officinalis

|Boraginaceae

|annual herb

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|leaves, flowers

|also used as a vegetable

| Brassica juncea

|

|Calendula officinalis

|Asteraceae

|short-lived perennial herb

|tea, medicinal, dye

|flowers, leaves

|also eaten as salad

| Camellia sinensis

|

|Canella winterana

|Canellaceae

|tree

|culinary

|bark

|

|Cannabis sativa and related species

|Cannabaceae

|annual herb

|medicinal, ritual

|flowers, extracts

|also used as a fiber plant

|Capparis spinosa

|Capparaceae

|shrub

|culinary

|buds, fruits

|typically pickled; leaves also edible

| Capsicum annuum and related species

|

| Carum carvi

|

|Catha edulis

|Celastraceae

|shrub or tree

|medicinal

|leaves

|primarily used as a recreational drug

|Centaurea cyanus

|Asteraceae

|annual herb

|tea, medicinal, dye

|flowers, rarely leaves and seeds

|

|Ceratonia siliqua

|Fabaceae

|tree

|culinary

|pods

|used as a chocolate substitute

|Chrysopogon zizanioides

|Poaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal, fragrance

|root extract

|

|Cichorium intybus

|Asteraceae

|somewhat woody perennial herb

|culinary, tea

|roots

|also used as a vegetable (leaves and roots) and sugar substitute (roots)

|Cinchona officinalis and related species

|Rubiaceae

|tree

|culinary (rarely), medicinal

|bark

|main culinary use is as tonic water

|Cinnamomum cassia

|Lauraceae

|tree

|culinary, medicinal

|bark, buds

|often sold as cinnamon sticks

|Cinnamomum tamala

|Lauraceae

|tree

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves, bark (rarely)

|

| Cinnamomum verum (and related species)

|

| Citrus limon and related species

|fruit usually eaten

| Clitoria ternatea

|

|Cnicus benedictus

|Asteraceae

|annual herb

|medicinal

|

|

|Coffea arabica and related species

|Rubiaceae

|tree or shrub

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|seeds

|brewed coffee is not usually referred to as a tea

|Cola acuminata and Cola nitida (and sometimes related species)

|Malvaceae

|tree

|culinary, medicinal, dye, ritual

|seeds

|the original source of "cola", though most colas no longer use actual kola

|Coleus amboinicus

|Lamiaceae

|semi-succulent perennial herb

|culinary, fragrance

|leaves

|

|Commiphora myrrha and related species

|Burseraceae

|small tree or shrub

|culinary, medicinal, fragrance, ritual

|sap/resin

|

| Coriandrum sativum

|

|Crataegus monogyna and related species

|Rosaceae

|shrub or small tree

|medicinal

|fruit

|fruit also eaten

| Crocus sativus

|

| Cuminum cyminum

|

| Curcuma longa

|

| Cymbopogon citratus and related species

|

|Dysphania ambrosioides

|Amaranthaceae

|annual or short-lived perennial herb

|culinary, tea

|leaves

|also used as a vegetable

|Echinacea angustifolia and related species

|Asteraceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal

|roots, flowers, extracts

|

|Echinopsis pachanoi and related species, also Lophophora williamsii

|Cactaceae

|perennial succulent

|medicinal, ritual

|stems

|also used as a purely recreational drug

| Elettaria cardamomum and related species

|

|Elsholtzia ciliata

|Lamiaceae

|annual{{Cite web |title=Elsholtzia ciliata {{!}} Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management. |url=https://www.lhprism.org/species/elsholtzia-ciliata |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=www.lhprism.org}} herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves, sometimes seeds

|

|Elwendia persica

|Apiaceae

|perennial{{Cite web |title=Elwendia persica (Boiss.) Pimenov & Kljuykov |url=https://eol.org/pages/51502896 |access-date=2022-04-21 |language=en-GB}}

|culinary

|seeds

|root also used as a vegetable

|Ephedra sinica and related species

|Ephedraceae

|shrub

|medicinal, ritual (disputed)

|

|legally restricted in the US

|Equisetum arvense

|Equisetaceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal

|

|also used as agricultural fungicide

|Eryngium foetidum

|Apiaceae

|perennial or biennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves{{Cite web|title=You Say Culantro, But Is It Cilantro?|url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/is-culantro-the-same-as-cilantro-1807011|access-date=2021-10-01|website=The Spruce Eats|language=en}}

|

|Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense

|Erythroxylaceae

|shrub{{Cite web |title=coca {{!}} plant {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/coca |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

|culinary (rare{{Cite web |title=The Ingredients in Coca Cola Explained |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/the-ingredients-and-their-function-in-coke-explained-3976096 |access-date=2022-07-16 |website=ThoughtCo |language=en}}), medicinal, ritual

|leaves, occasionally seeds

|source of the recreational drug cocaine

|Eucalyptus globulus and related species

|Myrtaceae

|tree

|tea, medicinal, fragrance

|oil from leaves

|

|Euphorbia hirta

|Euphorbiaceae

|annual herb

|medicinal

|

|

|Euonymus phellomanus

|Celastraceae

|tree or shrub

|culinary

|fruit

|common name shared with Schinus spp

| Eutrema japonicum

|

| Ferula foetida and related species

|

| Foeniculum vulgare

|

|Frangula alnus

|Rhamnaceae

|tall shrub

|medicinal

|bark, sometimes fruit

|

|Fumaria officinalis

|Papaveraceae

|annual herb

|medicinal

|

|poisonous

|Garcinia gummi-gutta

|Clusiaceae

|tree{{Cite web |title=Garcinia gummi-gutta - Useful Tropical Plants |url=https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Garcinia+gummi-gutta |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=tropical.theferns.info}}

|culinary

|fruit peel, extracts

|medicinal use is heavily disputed

|Garcinia indica

|Clusiaceae

|tree

|culinary

|fruit peel

|also used to make beverages, and as an oilseed

|Geum urbanum

|Rosaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|root

|

|Ginkgo biloba

|Ginkgoaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|leaves

|seeds also eaten

|Glechoma hederacea

|Lamiaceae

|perennial creeper

|culinary, medicinal

|

|used as a food preservative and salad green

| Glycyrrhiza glabra

|

|Gnaphalium uliginosum and related species

|Asteraceae

|annual herb

|medicinal{{Cite web|title=CUDWEED: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews|url=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-634/cudweed|access-date=2022-01-27|website=www.webmd.com|language=en}}

|

|

|Hamamelis virginiana (and related species?)

|Hamamelidaceae

|shrub

|medicinal

|stems, bark, leaves

|

|Helichrysum italicum

|Asteraceae

|tender perennial

|culinary, medicinal, fragrance

|leaves, flowers

|also called curry plant

|Hibiscus sabdariffa

|Hippophae rhamnoides and related species

|Elaeagnaceae

|shrub

|medicinal, dye

|fruit

|sometimes used as a fruit

|Humulus lupulus

|Cannabaceae

|perennial climbing herb

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|flowers

|

|Hypericum perforatum

|Hypericaceae

|slightly woody perennial herb

|medicinal

|leaves, flowers

|

|Hyssopus officinalis

|Lamiaceae

|shrub

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves

|

|Ilex guayusa

|Aquifoliaceae

|tree

|culinary, tea, medicinal, ritual

|leaves

|

|Ilex paraguariensis

|Aquifoliaceae

|tree

|tea, medicinal

|leaves, twigs

|

|Ilex vomitoria

|Aquifoliaceae

|shrub or small tree

|tea, medicinal, ritual

|leaves, stems

|

| Illicium verum

|

|Jasminum officinale

|Oleaceae

|perennial vine

|culinary, medicinal, fragrance{{Cite web |title=JASMINE: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews |url=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-617/jasmine |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=www.webmd.com |language=en}}

|flowers

|

| Juniperus communis and related species

|

|Kaempferia galanga

|Zingiberaceae

|perennial herb{{Cite web |title=Kaempferia galanga - Useful Tropical Plants |url=https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Kaempferia+galanga |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=tropical.theferns.info}}

|culinary, medicinal

|rhizome

|one of several plants known as galangal

|Lanxangia tsaoko

|Zingiberaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|fruit

|

| Laurus nobilis and related species

|

| Lavandula angustifolia and related species

|

|Lawsonia inermis

|Lythraceae

|shrub or small tree

|ritual

|leaves

|used as dye for skin, hair, and nails

|Levisticum officinale

|Apiaceae

|tall perennial herb

|culinary

|leaves, fruit

|leaves and roots used as vegetables

|Linum usitatissimum

|Linaceae

|annual herb

|medicinal

|seeds

|also used as an oilseed and fiber crop

|Lippia abyssinica

|Verbenaceae

|shrubby herb

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|leaves

|

|Lippia graveolens

|Verbenaceae

|shrub or small tree

|culinary

|leaves

|

|Litsea glaucescens

|Lauraceae

|shrub or small tree

|culinary,{{Cite web |date=2021-07-27 |title=Recognizing Edible Bay Leaves: Can You Cook With All Bay Leaves |url=https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/bay/which-bay-trees-are-edible.htm |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Gardening Know How |language=en}} medicinal{{Cite journal |last1=López-Romero |first1=Julio César |last2=González-Ríos |first2=Humberto |last3=Peña-Ramos |first3=Aida |last4=Velazquez |first4=Carlos |last5=Navarro |first5=Moises |last6=Robles-Zepeda |first6=Ramón |last7=Martínez-Benavidez |first7=Evelin |last8=Higuera-Ciapara |first8=Inocencio |last9=Virués |first9=Claudia |last10=Olivares |first10=José Luis |last11=Domínguez |first11=Zaira |last12=Hernández |first12=Javier |date=2018-02-20 |title=Seasonal Effect on the Biological Activities of Litsea glaucescens Kunth Extracts |journal=Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |volume=2018 |pages=2738489 |doi=10.1155/2018/2738489 |issn=1741-427X |pmc=5838430 |pmid=29675051 |doi-access=free }}

|leaves

|

|Litsea cubeba

|Lauraceae

|shrub or small tree

|culinary, medicinal,{{Cite journal |last1=Kamle |first1=Madhu |last2=Mahato |first2=Dipendra K. |last3=Lee |first3=Kyung Eun |last4=Bajpai |first4=Vivek K. |last5=Gajurel |first5=Padam Raj |last6=Gu |first6=Kang Sang |last7=Kumar |first7=Pradeep |date=2019-06-01 |title=Ethnopharmacological Properties and Medicinal Uses of Litsea cubeba |journal=Plants |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=150 |doi=10.3390/plants8060150 |issn=2223-7747 |pmc=6631214 |pmid=31159425 |doi-access=free }} fragrance

|fruit (or leaf) essential oil

|

|Magnolia officinalis

|Magnoliaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|bark

|

|Marrubium vulgare

|Lamiaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|

|

| Matricaria chamomilla (and related species)

|

|Melaleuca alternifolia

|Myrtaceae

|tree or tall shrub

|medicinal, fragrance

|oil from leaves

|toxic if eaten

| Melissa officinalis

|

| Mentha pulegium

|

| Mentha spicata (and related species)

|

|Mesembryanthemum tortuosum

|Aizoaceae

|succulent

|medicinal

|

|

|Mitragyna speciosa

|Rubiaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|leaves

|used as a recreational drug

|Momordica charantia

|Cucurbitaceae

|frost-tender perennial vine

|culinary, tea

|fruit

|also used as a vegetable

|Monarda didyma and related species

|Lamiaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves, buds

|

|Moringa oleifera

|Moringaceae

|tree

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves, pods, seeds, root

|used as a nutritional supplement, also eaten as a vegetable

|Murraya koenigii

|Rutaceae

|small tree

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves

|fruit is also edible

| Myristica fragrans (and related species)

|

|Myrrhis odorata

|Apiaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves

|roots and seeds are also edible

|Myrtus communis (and possibly related species)

|Myrtaceae

|shrub or small tree

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|fruit, leaves/twigs

|

|Nelumbo nucifera

|Nelumbonaceae

|perennial aquatic herb

|tea, medicinal

|leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, fruits

|Most of the plant is used as food

| Nepeta cataria

|

|Nicotiana tabacum and related species

|Solanaceae

|annual herb

|medicinal, ritual

|leaves, roots, extracts

|primarily used as a recreational drug

|Nigella sativa

|Ranunculaceae

|annual herb

|culinary, medicinal

|seeds

|

| Ocimum basilicum, including cultivars and hybrids

|Some cultivars and hybrids have very different flavor profiles from sweet basil

|Ocimum tenuiflorum

|Lamiaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, tea, medicinal, ritual

|leaves, stems, seeds

|

| Origanum majorana

|

| Origanum vulgare

|

|Panax spp

|Araliaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|root

|

| Papaver somniferum

|

|Passiflora incarnata

|Passifloraceae

|perennial vine

|culinary, medicinal

|flowers, roots, extract

|Primarily used as a culinary fruit

|Peganum harmala

|Nitrariaceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal, ritual

|seeds, leaves

|Not closely related to true rue; used as tattoo ink

|Pelargonium graveolens and many related species

|Geraniaceae

|shrub

|culinary, medicinal (some species), fragrance

|leaves

|

|Persea americana var. drymifolia

|Lauraceae

|tree

|culinary

|leaves

|fruit usually eaten

|Persicaria odorata

|Polygonaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary

|leaves

|believed to reduce libido

|Peumus boldus

|Monimiaceae

|tree

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|leaves

|fruit is also edible

| Petroselinum crispum

|root used as vegetable

| Pimenta dioica

|

|Pimenta racemosa

|Myrtaceae

|tree

|tea, medicinal, fragrance

|leaves

|

| Pimpinella anisum

|

|Piper cubeba

|Piperaceae

|perennial vine

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|fruit

|

|Piper guineense

|Piperaceae

|vine

|culinary

|fruit

|

| Piper longum

|

|Piper methysticum

|Piperaceae

|shrub

|medicinal, ritual

|root

|also used recreationally

| Piper nigrum

|

|Piscidia piscipula

|Fabaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|bark

|toxic; also used to catch fish

|Pistacia lentiscus

|Anacardiaceae

|shrub or small tree

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|resin

|also used as chewing gum and turpentine

|Plantago lanceolata

|Plantaginaceae

|perennial herb

|tea, medicinal

|leaves, seeds

|leaves also eaten

|Platycodon grandiflorus

|Campanulaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|roots

|also eaten as a vegetable

|Psidium guajava

|Myrtaceae

|shrub or small tree

|medicinal

|

|Primarily used as a culinary fruit

|Quassia amara and Picrasma excelsa

|Simaroubaceae

|shrub or tree

|culinary, medicinal

|extracts of stem, roots, bark, leaves, flowers, seeds

|

| Rhamphospermum nigrum

|

|Rosa spp

|Rosaceae

|perennial woody shrub

|culinary, tea, medicinal, fragrance

|fruit, flowers

|occasionally used as a fruit, often used to make jams, etc

|Rumex acetosa

|Polygonaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary

|leaves

|also used as a leafy vegetable

| Ruta graveolens

|

|Salix spp., especially Salix alba

|Salicaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|leaves, bark

|

| Salvia apiana

|

| Salvia officinalis

|

| Salvia rosmarinus

|

|Salvia sclarea

|Lamiaceae

|biennial or short lived perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|oil, seed

|

|Sambucus spp

|Adoxaceae

|tree

|culinary, tea, medicinal

|flower{{Cite web|title=ELDERFLOWER: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews|url=https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-708/elderflower|access-date=2021-10-01|website=www.webmd.com|language=en}}

|berry is also eaten and used as a coloring agent; toxic in large quantities

|Santalum album and related species

|Santalaceae

|small tree

|culinary, medicinal, fragrance, ritual

|oil from wood

|S. album is endangered from overuse

| Sassafras albidum (and sometimes related species)

|

|Satureja hortensis

|Lamiaceae

|annual herb

|culinary

|leaves

|

|Satureja montana

|Lamiaceae

|perennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves

|

|Senna auriculata

|Fabaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, bark

|

|Schinus molle, Schinus terebinthifolia

|Anacardiaceae

|tree or shrub

|culinary, medicinal (S. molle, only)

|fruit

|common name shared with Euonymus phellomanus

| Sesamum indicum

|

|Silybum marianum

|Asteraceae

|biennial or annual herb

|medicinal

|seed

|medicinal use highly disputed

| Sinapis alba

|also known as Brassica alba or B. hirta

|Smyrnium olusatrum

|Apiaceae

|biennial herb

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves, seeds

|entire plant is edible

|Solanum centrale

|Solanaceae

|small shrub

|culinary

|fruit

|

|Stachytarpheta cayennensis

|Verbenaceae

|perennial herb or shrub

|medicinal

|leaves

|invasive species

|Stellaria media

|Caryophyllaceae

|annual herb

|medicinal

|

|edible, often used in Nanakusa-no-sekku

|Strobilanthes callosa and related species

|Acanthaceae

|shrub

|medicinal

|leaf

|leaves are poisonous

|Syzygium anisatum

|Myrtaceae

|tree

|culinary, tea

|leaf

|

| Syzygium aromaticum

|

|Syzygium polyanthum

|Myrtaceae

|tree

|culinary

|leaves

|

|Tanacetum balsamita

|Asteraceae

|perennial herb

|medicinal

|leaves

|

|Theobroma cacao

|Malvaceae

|small tree

|culinary, tea,{{Cite web |date=2023-02-24 |title=A Guide to Brewing Cocoa |url=https://chocolatealchemy.com/brewingcocoa |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Chocolate Alchemy |language=en-US}} ritual

|seeds

|also eaten as a candy

|Thymus vulgaris and related species

|Lamiaceae

|perennial subshrub

|culinary, medicinal, ritual

|leaves, stems

|

|Trachyspermum ammi

|Apiaceae

|annual herb

|culinary, medicinal

|fruit

|

|Trigonella caerulea

|Fabaceae

|annual herb

|culinary

|seeds, pods, leaves

|

| Trigonella foenum-graecum

|

|Tropaeolum majus

|Tropaeolaceae

|annual herb

|culinary

|unripe seed pods

|leaves, flowers used as salad

|Umbellularia californica

|Lauraceae

|tree

|culinary, medicinal

|leaves

|fruit, seed also edible

| Valeriana officinalis

|

| Vanilla planifolia and related species

|

|Vitex agnus-castus

|Lamiaceae

|tree

|medicinal

|leaves, flowers, fruit

|

|Xylopia aethiopica (and occasionally related species)

|Annonaceae

|tree

|culinary, medicinal

|fruit, bark (medicinal only)

|

| Zanthoxylum armatum and related species

|

| Zingiber officinale

|