12 Herbs You Can Grow in Water on Your Windowsill

A few leafy cuttings in jars can bring greenery to a windowsill and make cooking feel a little more inviting.

The catch is that not every herb roots easily or grows happily in water long-term.

Here are twelve options, from cuttings that readily make roots to herbs that are better started from seed and may need a move into potting mix.

1. Basil: Fragrant, Broad Leaves That Root Readily from Cuttings

Basil’s broad, soft leaves and fresh, peppery scent make it one of the loveliest herbs to keep near the kitchen.

A cutting in a clear jar also shows off the pale roots as they form, so the little plant has something to admire between meals.

Choose a healthy stem and remove the leaves that would sit below the waterline.

Keep it in bright light, out of harsh midday sun, and refresh the water regularly.

Once the roots are established, you can keep harvesting leafy tips for a while, but plain water won’t provide much nourishment indefinitely.

If new growth slows or the leaves lose their lustre, add a suitable dilute liquid plant nutrient or pot the basil into a free-draining mix.

It’s a handy choice for a warm, bright windowsill and for anyone who reaches for basil often.

2. Mint: Easy-to-Root Stems for a Bright Windowsill

Mint’s crinkled, toothed leaves are easy to recognise, and brushing past them releases that cool, familiar scent.

It’s one of the easiest herbs to start from a cutting: place a healthy stem in water with its lower leaves removed, and roots can develop from the submerged nodes.

A bright spot suits mint, though a little protection from strong direct sun helps keep the jar from heating up.

Refresh the water when it looks cloudy, and don’t let leaves sit in it.

You can pinch off a few sprigs for tea or cooking, but a plant kept in water alone may eventually need dilute nutrients or a home in potting mix.

Mint is a cheerful option if you use it regularly.

Just keep the jar where you’ll notice it; otherwise, those leaves have a way of looking very ready for a cup of tea.

3. Oregano: Small, Rounded Leaves for a Sunny Spot

Oregano has compact, rounded leaves on fine stems, giving a jar a softer, less dramatic look than broad-leaved basil.

Its savoury scent is a good match for a windowsill near where you prep tomatoes, roast vegetables or make a quick pasta sauce.

Start with a healthy stem cutting, strip off any leaves that would be under water, and place it in a bright spot.

Oregano can root from cuttings, but it prefers plenty of light and won’t necessarily keep thriving indefinitely in plain water.

If fresh growth becomes sparse or pale, try a little dilute nutrient or move the rooted cutting into free-draining potting mix.

Seed is another way to grow oregano, though it takes longer to establish.

For a small kitchen display, a cutting is a satisfying place to begin—and the rounded leaves look lovely against the clear glass.

4. Thyme: Fine Stems That Suit a Compact Jar

Thyme brings a different texture to the windowsill: fine, woody stems dotted with tiny leaves, with a warm, savoury scent when you brush them.

A few cuttings look neat in a narrow jar and won’t take over the view.

Start with fresh, flexible stem tips rather than a very woody piece, and remove any leaves that would be submerged.

Keep the jar in a bright place and refresh the water when needed.

Thyme can root from cuttings, but its small, slow-growing stems may be less forgiving than mint or basil, and water alone is better treated as a starting point than a permanent growing medium.

Once roots form, potting the cutting into a free-draining mix gives it room to develop.

Thyme also suits a sunnier window and cooks who like a little sprig for soups, roasted vegetables or beans.

5. Rosemary: Needle-Like Leaves and Slow-Growing Cuttings

Rosemary’s slim, needle-like leaves and woody stems bring a tidy, evergreen look to a jar, along with that familiar piney scent when you brush past.

It’s a lovely choice if you cook with roast vegetables, potatoes or beans, but patience is part of the bargain.

Take a fresh, flexible tip from a healthy plant and remove the leaves from the part of the stem that will sit in water.

Rosemary can root from cuttings, though it’s slower and less reliable than softer herbs.

Keep it in bright light and refresh the water if it turns cloudy; once roots form, potting it into free-draining mix is usually a better long-term plan than leaving it in plain water.

6. Sage: Velvety Leaves That Appreciate Bright Light

Sage has a softer, more muted look than the glossy herbs: its broad, grey-green leaves are velvety to the touch and sit handsomely against clear glass.

The leaves release a savoury, earthy scent, and a few are enough to flavour stuffing, pasta or browned butter.

A healthy stem cutting can root in water, but sage appreciates a bright position and may not stay vigorous in a jar indefinitely.

Remove any leaves below the waterline, and move the cutting into free-draining potting mix once it has rooted and begins to look cramped or hungry.

A sunny windowsill helps keep its growth compact; in a dim spot, the stems can stretch towards the light and lose some of their neat shape.

7. Lemon Balm: Fresh, Textured Leaves with a Citrus Scent

Lemon balm’s bright green, softly crinkled leaves bring a fresh, relaxed feel to a windowsill.

Rub one gently and you’ll notice its lemony scent, which makes it a natural pick for tea, fruit salads or a few leaves tucked into a glass of water.

It can be started from a fresh stem cutting in water, with the lower leaves removed so they don’t sit submerged.

Keep the jar in bright, indirect light and refresh the water if it becomes cloudy.

The leaves are a little larger and more textured than mint’s, so even a single stem has plenty of presence.

Like other cuttings, lemon balm may eventually need dilute liquid nutrients or potting mix to keep producing healthy growth; plain water is a handy beginning, not an endless pantry.

8. Parsley: Start from Seed for a Steady Supply of Curly or Flat Leaves

Parsley’s fresh green leaves make a generous-looking little pot, whether you choose the frilly curls or the flatter, bolder leaves of Italian parsley.

It’s useful in all sorts of cooking, from soups and salads to a quick handful stirred through potatoes.

Unlike the cuttings above, parsley is best started from seed rather than kept as a stem in a jar.

Sow it in potting mix in a container with drainage, keep the mix gently moist, and give the seedlings the brightest window you have.

It can take a while to sprout, so don’t assume the pot is empty and give up too soon.

Once established, snip outer leaves as needed and leave the centre to keep growing.

Parsley wants more room and nourishment than plain water can provide, but a small pot by the kitchen window makes harvesting easy.

9. Coriander: Grow from Seed for Its Tender, Lacy Leaves

Coriander’s soft, lobed leaves bring a fresh, lacy look to a windowsill, and a small handful can lift a curry, salsa or salad.

It’s best grown from seed in potting mix rather than started as a cut stem in water; its long taproot doesn’t take kindly to life in a narrow jar.

Sow seeds in a small pot with drainage and keep the mix lightly moist while they sprout.

A bright window helps the seedlings grow sturdy, though a hot, sunny spot can encourage coriander to bolt and flower sooner.

If your sill is warm or the light is strong, choose a cooler bright position and sow a little more seed when you want a fresh supply.

That way, you’ll have tender leaves to snip without asking one plant to keep going indefinitely.

10. Chives: Slender, Onion-Scented Shoots from Seed or a Division

Chives have a tidy, upright shape that brings a little structure to a windowsill: slender green leaves rise in a loose tuft, ready for snipping over eggs, potatoes or soup.

Their mild onion scent is there when you cut them, rather than filling the room uninvited.

You can start chives from seed in potting mix, or divide an established clump and pot a small section for the sill.

They aren’t a great choice for keeping as bare stems in a jar long-term; roots need room and a steady supply of nutrients.

Give them a bright position, water the mix when it begins to dry, and snip a few leaves at a time so the plant can keep producing.

In a dim window, the shoots may grow thin and floppy, so choose another herb if your light is limited.

11. Dill: Feathery Fronds Best Started from Seed

Dill’s fine, feathery leaves have a lighter, airier look than the sturdier herbs, and their fresh, distinctive scent suits fish, potatoes and pickled vegetables.

It’s a lovely windowsill choice if you enjoy cooking with it, though the delicate fronds can look a bit windswept if the plant stretches towards weak light.

Start dill from seed in potting mix rather than trying to root a cutting in water.

Sow it in the container where you plan to grow it, since its long taproot dislikes being disturbed.

A bright, sunny window helps keep the stems more compact; turn the pot now and then if growth leans towards the glass.

Keep the mix evenly moist, not waterlogged, and harvest a few fronds as needed.

Dill is happier with soil and room to grow than with its roots confined to a plain-water jar.

12. Tarragon: Narrow, Aromatic Leaves from a Stem Cutting

Tarragon’s narrow leaves and fine stems make a simple glass jar feel a little more delicate than a jar of broad-leaved herbs.

Brush the foliage and you’ll notice its distinctive anise-like aroma; a few leaves are lovely with eggs, chicken or a simple vinaigrette.

A fresh, healthy stem cutting can root in water, but tarragon is better thought of as a cutting to start than a plant to keep in plain water indefinitely.

Remove the leaves that would sit below the waterline, place the jar in bright light, and replace the water if it becomes cloudy.

Once roots have formed and the cutting begins to grow, pot it into free-draining mix so it has room and nutrients.

If your window is on the dim side, expect slower growth and choose a hardier, more forgiving herb for that spot.

Start with one or two herbs you already use, pop them into clean jars you have at home, and see how your particular windowsill suits them.

Bright light and refreshed water give cuttings a better chance, while seed-grown herbs may need nutrients or a move into potting mix as they grow.

If a plant seems hungry or struggles in water, potting it up is a sensible next step—not a failure.

There’s something lovely about having a little fresh greenery within reach.