• If you live in Florida and want to grow fresh herbs organically, there are a number of plants you can add to your garden that you can use for cooking or decoration. Many of the organic herbs grown in Florida also have a pungent scent that help to protect your garden by keeping pests away.
  
  

Basil

• Basil grows very well in Florida soil, and is an attractive potted plant that can be displayed indoors as well. Sweet basil is ideal for Florida gardens since this plant loves the heat and can tolerate lots of sun. Basil has a pleasant scent that will make time in the garden even more enjoyable, and has leaves that can be green, purple, or variations of both shades. It's best to plant basil in Florida during the early spring or the fall, and the leaves can be used fresh for seasoning savory dishes.
  
  

Cardamom

• Cardamom is a perennial herb that grows well in tropical climates, making it an appropriate choice for a Florida herb garden. The plant can grow to be between five and ten feet tall, and have yellow flowers that grow near the bottom of the stem. The flowers form capsules, and the seeds from the capsules are used for seasoning that can enhance the flavor and aroma of coffee and desserts.
  
  

Anise

• Anise is an annual plant that grows well in south Florida when it's grown in the winter. The plant is grown for its seeds, which add a licorice-like taste to foods; the seeds are found in the umbrels, or seeding structures, of the plant. Anise leaves can also be used fresh or dried as part of a fragrant potpourri. Anise can be planted as part of a flower garden, or used as a border plant since it wards off insects due to its scent.
  
  

Dill

• Dill can grow to be about 4 feet tall, and is a green plant with a fennel-like smell. Dill is produced commercially in Florida on a small scale, but is grown in home gardens often. It's best to plant dill in November or December, but dill will also grow well in Florida in the spring. The fruiting tops of dill can be used to season fruit in dried or fresh form, and portions of the leaves or stems can be used for cooking as well.
  
  

Fennel

• Fennel resembles dill, since both the plants have thin and narrow leaves. The plant grows well in the fall or early winter, and the bottom of the fennel plant is white and shaped like a bulb--this is the section that is boiled and used for cooking. The bulb, when cooked, can be eaten as a vegetable, and broth flavored with fennel will give an entree a flavor that is a mix of onion and licorice.
  
  

Ginger

• Ginger grows well in the region of Florida from Homestead to Pensacola. Ginger gives a bright, crisp aroma to any garden, and the leaves on the plant can grow to be about a foot long. The plant produces white flowers (sometimes with purple streaks), and the entire plant has to be harvested to obtain the plant's root. Ginger root can be used as a tea that helps with digestive disorders, and is used in desserts like gingerbread.