What is a Tea Garden and How Do I Design One?
A tea garden is one of the most rewarding and functional gardens you can create — a dedicated space where the plants you grow can be harvested, brewed, and enjoyed as fresh herbal teas. If you've ever wanted a garden that gives back in a tangible, daily way, a tea garden is it. Here's everything you need to know to design one in South Louisiana.
What is a tea garden? A tea garden is a curated planting of herbs and edible plants chosen specifically for brewing. Unlike a purely ornamental garden, a tea garden is designed to be harvested regularly. The best tea gardens combine beauty with function — plants that look stunning in the landscape and produce leaves, flowers, or roots that can be dried or brewed fresh.
Choosing your plants The foundation of any good tea garden is a selection of plants suited to your climate and your palate. For Lafayette and the Acadiana area, the most productive and flavorful tea garden plants include:
Lemongrass — bright, citrusy, and incredibly easy to grow in Louisiana heat
Passionflower — a stunning Louisiana native vine with exotic blooms and deeply calming properties. Passionflower tea is one of the most effective natural remedies for anxiety and sleep. It grows vigorously in Acadiana and is as beautiful in the garden as it is in the cup.
Lemon Balm — gentle and soothing, perfect for evening teas
Rosella Hibiscus — tart and ruby-red, one of the most beautiful tea plants you can grow
Echinacea — immune-supporting and striking in bloom
Rosemary — aromatic and medicinal, a Louisiana perennial staple
Spotted Bee Balm — a Louisiana native wildflower with a spicy, oregano-like flavor that brews into a bold, aromatic tea. Spotted bee balm attracts bees and butterflies prolifically and thrives in dry, sunny spots where other plants struggle.
Wild Mountain Mint — intensely fragrant and incredibly prolific, wild mountain mint is one of the best pollinator plants you can grow in Acadiana. Brew fresh or dried leaves into a clean, cooling mint tea. Like all mints, best grown in containers or a dedicated spot to keep it from taking over the garden.
Designing the space The best tea gardens have a sense of intention and order. Consider planting in a circular or geometric layout with a central gathering point — a bench, a small table, or a birdbath. Group plants by use (calming herbs together, energizing herbs together) or by harvest season. Raised beds work beautifully for tea gardens and give you control over soil quality and drainage.
Soil and sun Most tea herbs prefer well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. In Louisiana, amend heavy clay soil with compost before planting. Raised beds are ideal for herbs that prefer drier conditions like rosemary and chamomile.
Harvesting and brewing Harvest in the morning after dew has dried but before the heat of the day — this is when essential oils are most concentrated. Fresh herbs can be brewed immediately by steeping a generous handful in hot water for 5-10 minutes. For dried teas, hang small bundles in a warm, ventilated space for 1-2 weeks then store in airtight jars away from light.
At The Gardens Keepers, tea garden design is one of our most requested services. We work with clients across Lafayette and the Acadiana area to design and install tea gardens that are as beautiful as they are functional — tailored to your space, your soil, and how you want to use your garden. Contact us to start planning yours.