--- title: "Guide to Growing an Herbal Wellness Garden: Intermediate Level" description: Last week, we shared 20 beginner-friendly herbs to grow for wellness. In this article, professional gardener Bevin Cohen will teach us about some of the herbs that require a bit more finesse to grow, along with tips to set us up for success. --- [Mountain Rose Herbs Blog ](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com) # [Guide to Growing an Herbal Wellness Garden: Intermediate Level](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/guide-to-growing-an-herbal-wellness-garden-for-intermediate-gardeners) Written by [Bevin Cohen - Guest Writer](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/author/bevin-1) | March 18, 2026 There’s a plethora of wonderful herbs that we can grow for health, beauty, and overall wellness. Some offer several culinary uses, and many of them attract pollinators and other beneficial insects into our gardens. There are herbs for every gardener, and for the most part, herbs are forgiving and easy to grow. You might start your gardening journey with simple herbal starts, like [peppermint ](https://mountainroseherbs.com/peppermint-seeds)and [calendula](https://mountainroseherbs.com/calendula-seeds), purchased from a local greenhouse. After a few seasons and a little more experience under your belt, you might feel inclined to heighten the experience and try growing herbs from seed. I think this is the most rewarding avenue—planting a tiny, precious seed and caring for the plant throughout its life until harvest. While most herbs are still easy to cultivate this way, there are a few plants that are considered a bit more advanced. These more advanced herbs might require cold stratification, scarification, or may be more finicky about climate. ### ## Helpful Terms ### Cold Stratification This process mimics a cold winter by exposing the seeds to cold and damp conditions for a period of time. The timeline can vary depending on the seed, but most are cold stratified for 30-90 days, with 60 being the most common timeline for perennials. ### Scarification This process includes nicking the seed coat to weaken the tough outer coat. This helps water better penetrate the seed.  ### ## Angelica **Seed Starting Tips: **[Angelica seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/angelica-seeds) require cold stratification, and seeds must be fresh. They can be difficult to germinate. Seeds can also be surface sown in the garden in late autumn. Wellness qualities: Digestive and respiratory support   ### Arnica **Seed Starting Tips: **Germination can be tricky and slow; and it prefers specific acidic, sandy soils. [Arnica seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/arnica-seeds) should be soaked for a few hours, then cold stratified for up to 8 weeks before planting. Wellness qualities: Skin and muscle support   ### Ashwagandha **Seed Starting Tips:** This powerhouse herb requires very warm soil to germinate and a long, hot growing season. Surface sow [ashwagandha seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/ashwagandha-seeds) indoors about 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Use a heat mat to keep the soil warm. Transplant into a full sun area. Wellness qualities: Cognitive and stress support ### Astragalus **Seed Starting Tips: **[Astragalus seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/astragalus-seeds) require scarification and sometimes stratification for best results. Soak seeds for 24-48 hours before planting to improve germination. Wellness qualities: Immune and cardiovascular support ### ### Burdock **Seed Starting Tips: **While easy once growing, it has a massive taproot requiring very deep, loose soil. Direct sow [burdock seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/burdock-seeds) in the garden in the late fall or early spring, 3-4 weeks before the last frost. Wellness qualities: Liver and digestive support ### Clary Sage **Seed Starting Tips: **This plant often benefits from a period of cold to improve germination rates. [Clary sage seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/clary-sage-seeds) should be surface sown as they require light to germinate. Wellness qualities: Stress and respiratory support ### Cleavers **Seed Starting Tips: **Cleavers usually requires a period of cold stratification to sprout in spring. Either plant[ cleaver seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/cleavers-seeds) in late fall, or stratify for around 30 days before planting. Plant seeds at a depth of 1/2 inch. Wellness qualities: Lymphatic and urinary support ### Comfrey **Seed Starting Tips:** This plant is extremely hardy and will spread readily. [Comfrey seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/comfrey-seeds) should be stratified for 30-60 days before planting. Wellness qualities: Skin and muscular support ### Echinacea **Seed Starting Tips:** [Echinacea angustifolia](https://mountainroseherbs.com/echinacea-angustifolia-seeds) or [purpurea seeds ](https://mountainroseherbs.com/echinacea-purpurea-seeds)typically require 4–12 weeks of cold stratification to germinate well. Planting in the fall is a great option. Once established, this perennial herb requires little care. Wellness qualities: Immune and skin support ### ### Lavender **Seed Starting Tips:** This apothecary staple can be a bit difficult to grow from seed. [Lavender seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/lavender-seed-set) should be stratified for 3-4 weeks to improve germination. Seeds should then be surface sown. Wellness qualities: Skin and sleep support ### Lemongrass **Seed Starting Tips:** Surface sow [lemongrass seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/lemongrass-seeds) 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Soil must be kept warm, and seeds can take up to 35 days to germinate. Wellness qualities: Immune and cardiovascular support ### Licorice **Seed Starting Tips:** Licorice requires a long growing season (3+ years) and deep, sandy soil to develop roots. Soak [licorice seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/licorice-seeds) overnight before planting. They can take up to 30 days to germinate. Wellness qualities: Digestive and oral care support ### Marshmallow **Seed Starting Tips: **This demulcent ally benefits from cold stratification and prefers very moist soil. Plant [marshmallow seeds ](https://mountainroseherbs.com/marshmallow-seeds)outdoors in late fall or stratify for 4-6 weeks before planting in spring. Wellness qualities: Skin and digestive support ### ### Motherwort **Seed Starting Tips:** [Motherwort seeds ](https://mountainroseherbs.com/motherwort-seeds)often require cold stratification for consistent germination. Once established, this is a very hardy, self-seeding perennial. Wellness qualities: Stress and sleep support ### Skullcap **Seed Starting Tips:** Skullcap requires 2-4 weeks of cold stratification to break seed dormancy. Plant [skullcap seeds](https://mountainroseherbs.com/skullcap-seeds) indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Seeds should be surface sown. Wellness qualities: Stress and sleep support ### Spilanthes **Seed Starting Tips:** Surface sow [spilanthes seeds ](https://mountainroseherbs.com/spilanthes-seeds)about 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Soil must be kept warm and evenly moist for optimal germination. Wellness qualities: Oral care and immune support ### Valerian **Seed Starting Tips: **[Valerian seeds ](https://mountainroseherbs.com/valerian-seeds)can be scattered in the garden in late fall or stratified indoors and then surface sown about 4 weeks before transplanting out.  Wellness qualities: Stress and sleep support Gardening herbs can help us deepen our connection with plants and also give us access to fresh wellness-supporting ingredients when we need them. What will you be growing this year? ### Want to learn more from bevin cohen? ## **[You Can Find Him at SmallHouseFarm.com](https://www.smallhousefarm.com/)** You may also enjoy: - **[Learn About the Benefits of Companion Planting with Herbs](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/companion-planting-with-herbs?hsLang=en-us)** - **[Bringing Plant Diversity and Natural Pest Solutions to the Garden](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/natural-garden-pest-solutions?hsLang=en-us)** - **[How to Substitute Fresh Herbs for Dried Herbs](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/how-to-substitute-fresh-herbs-for-dried-herbs?hsLang=en-us)**   [View full post](https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/guide-to-growing-an-herbal-wellness-garden-for-intermediate-gardeners) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Bevin Cohen - Guest Writer" }, "dateModified" : "2026-03-18T14:10:08.857Z", "datePublished" : "2026-03-18T14:01:56Z", "headline" : "Guide to Growing an Herbal Wellness Garden: Intermediate Level", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 720, "url" : "https://2310191.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/2310191/Blog%20images/Intermediate%20Wellness%20Garden%20Featured_AdobeStock_410131171.jpg", "width" : 1080 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/guide-to-growing-an-herbal-wellness-garden-for-intermediate-gardeners", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60.0, "url" : "https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/hubfs/MRHLogo_Color_TransparentBackground-1.png", "width" : 161.9469 }, "name" : "Our Blog" } } ```