winter herbs

Hi, I'm an illustrator producing a floral and herb calendar and I'm really struggling with herbs that I can include in December and January.
Are there any herbs that flower in these winter months ?

Thanks in advance
Jane

 

Hi Jane
The term "herbs" is a very broad one, and many of the garden plants we see today originated in medieval monastery(Physick)gardens, & have medicinal properties and/or culinary uses. Although they are not generally used by the public now, they continue to be used by trained herbalists. If you widen your remit to include berrying plants you could include mistletoe (Viscum album)which of course has berries in December & is used to treat circulatory disorders. Holly (Ilex aquifolium) is used as a diuretic & for feverish illnesses.
Calluna vulgaris has winter interest & is used for coughs & colds, urinary tract infections & rhematism, the honey also has therapetic values.
Then there is witch hazel (Hamemelis mollis, H virginiana)with well known astringent properties, flowering Dec-Feb.
In short Jane, you could pick any plant & it will have a use as a herb! If you can get a copy of a good guide to herbs (The RHS one is great, or Collins) they will give you flowering times & uses.
If you are wanting purely culinary herbs, you may struggle a bit & have to include evergreens such as Bay (Laurus nobilis)which has black berries at that time of year or Juniper whose berries are used for gin & cooking with strong meats & fish(Juniperus communis).
Hope this helps a bit, & hope you'll let us see the end results!