Ornamental sage is very popular, as it provides landscape value along with being a tasty herb.
Barbara Smith, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Why Grow Fall Herbs in South Carolina
With our gardens winding down for the coming winter, I find myself missing those vine-ripened tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. Most of all, I miss all those sweet springtime herbs.
If you cook and garden, you know how convenient it is to run outside and gather ingredients for dinner. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, all these great veggies that decline before our first fall frost.
With the coming holidays, it’s a rather inconvenient time to have to purchase fresh foods for our recipes; They can get expensive!
How Fall Herb Gardening Extends Your Growing Season
Unfortunately, many of our lovely vegetables will slow down or die back in the fall. However, there are still tons of plants you can have in your garden that will produce throughout the season, sometimes well into winter!
My favorite fall crop has to be the great herbs that grow in South Carolina. They’re fragrant, easy, and incredibly useful for holiday cooking.
Several herbs can be grown throughout South Carolina in the fall, but the choice of plants depends on your USDA hardiness zone and local microclimate. For more information regarding USDA Hardiness zones, see HGIC 1050, Site Considerations When Selecting Plants.
Fall Herbs to Grow in South Carolina
Borage
Description: This plant is a self-sowing annual with silvery foliage and star-shaped flowers.
Culinary or Garden Uses: Its cucumber-like scent makes it great for teas and salads.
Hardiness Zones: Hardy in zones 2a to 11b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: This plant does well statewide in SC.
SC Fit: Statewide
Chives
Description: This perennial plant is super forgiving to grow and thrives in our climate.
Culinary or Garden Uses: The leaves are used in many dishes, and the flowers are edible as well!
Hardiness Zones: Chives are hardy in zones 4a to 8b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: They can be tricky in some areas along the coast.
SC Fit: Upstate & Midlands (less reliable Coast)
Fennel
Description: Fennel is another perennial herb.
Culinary or Garden Uses: Fragrant leaves are often used in cooking.
Wildlife/Garden Notes: Swallowtail caterpillars also use this as a host plant.
Growing Caution: If you plan to plant both dill and fennel and save seed, be mindful of their location, as they can cross-pollinate.
Hardiness Zones: Fennel is hardy in zones 4a to 9b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: This plant does well statewide in SC.
SC Fit: Statewide
Lemon Balm
Description: This herb has a lemony scent.
Culinary or Garden Uses: It is often used to flavor teas and soups, and is also suitable in marinades.
Growth Behavior: Lemon balm, a member of the mint family, can become aggressive if left unchecked.
Hardiness Zones: Hardy from zones 3a to 7b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: This plant does best in the Upstate, but it can be grown as an annual in other places.
SC Fit: Primarily Upstate
Marjoram
Description: This herb is similar to milder oregano.
Seasonal Behavior: Can be harvested from late spring to fall, but it often dies off after the first frost in colder areas.
Hardiness Zones: This plant is hardy from zones 9a to 10b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: It does better in the lower half of the state.
SC Fit: Midlands & Coast
Parsley
Description: A widely used biennial herb, parsley can be harvested throughout the spring and fall.
Culinary or Garden Uses: It’s a great herb often used in soups and stews.
Growth Habit: Parsley is typically grown as an annual and performs best in areas with mild climates.
Cultivar Dependency: The exact growing conditions will depend on the type of parsley being grown.
SC Fit: Statewide (best in mild-season zones)
Flatleaf parsley is commonly sold in grocery stores year-round in the US.
Barbara Smith, ©2025, Clemson Extension
Rosemary
Description: Highly aromatic and easy to grow.
Culinary or Garden Uses: Rosemary is a versatile evergreen shrub often used in landscaping. The fragrant leaves and stems are often used in stews, soups, and breads.
Hardiness Zones: Hardy in zones 8a to 10b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: Rosemary is an excellent evergreen shrub for SC.
SC Fit: Midlands & Coast; marginal Upstate
Sage
Description: An evergreen herb
Culinary or Garden Uses: Sage is widely used in the fall to add flavor to meats and soups.
Hardiness Zones: Salvia species are hardy in zones 5a to 10b.
South Carolina Growing Notes: Sage can be difficult to grow in more coastal regions.
Species Variability: Different species of sage may perform better in your area.
SC Fit: Upstate & Midlands; some species Coast
Rosemary is a popular evergreen shrub with small purple flowers and fragrant leaves.
Barbara Smith, ©2025, Clemson Extension
How to Care for Fall Herbs in South Carolina
Most herbs are fairly easy to grow and require fewer soil amendments than fruits and ornamental plants.
Generally, they are drought-tolerant and require full sun.
For information about growing and harvesting herbs, see HGIC 1311, Herbs.
