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Herbalism

A beginner's windowsill: five herbs that forgive you

Mint, thyme, chamomile, lemon balm, and calendula — hardy companions for anyone who has killed a plant before.

Maren Ellis 21 June 2026 · 7 min read
lead photo

If you have killed a plant — and who hasn’t — start here. These five ask for little and forgive much.

The forgiving five

Mint, thyme, chamomile, lemon balm, and calendula will all tolerate a missed watering and a less-than-perfect sill. Begin with one, learn its moods, then add the next.

Written by

Maren Ellis — former product manager, now keeper of a very full windowsill. Writing about owning less and paying attention.

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