# Herb identification assistance, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 7, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150 "2019-06-07T01:10:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/1 "2019-06-07T01:10:07Z")
My wife received a set of 4 herbs for Mom’s day this year. She got this plant, spearmint, cilantro, and basil. I re-potted them all, and I lost the tag for this one. What is this plant? Additionally, with what dishes should I expect to use this? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/2 "2019-06-07T01:20:38Z")
I don’t think your link worked as expected(or else my browse is hosed) ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/3 "2019-06-07T01:20:49Z")
I’m pretty sure that’s Herb Tarlek, from WKRP in Cincinnati. Also, that link isn’t working. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/4 "2019-06-07T01:26:23Z")
Thanks, guys. This one should: [https://photos.app.goo.gl/SB69MJ8qZu2kHBwr7](https://photos.app.goo.gl/SB69MJ8qZu2kHBwr7) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/5 "2019-06-07T01:29:58Z")
No worky. I’m gonna take a stab in the dark and say it’s Sage. See it now Yep, looks like Sage. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/6 "2019-06-07T01:49:38Z")
Oregano. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/7 "2019-06-07T03:41:12Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Oregano. Or possibly marjoram. But I agree that it looks like an oregano type plant, not a sage. Rub it between your fingers and smell it.(Of course, this would require you to know what these herbs smell like.) ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/8 "2019-06-07T03:43:49Z")
Sage has a softer look, almost furry. These leaves look too shiny. I’d guess another kind of mint. Of course, the easy answer is to smell and taste it. Have you tried that? ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/9 "2019-06-07T06:42:50Z")
Looks like oregano to me. Great with many Italian recipes! ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/10 "2019-06-07T11:24:46Z")
Looks like basil to me. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/11 "2019-06-07T11:31:02Z")
Oregan and basil are in the family of mints which mostly look alike. As **TroutMan** says, use your nose and tongue to figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/12 "2019-06-07T11:42:08Z")
Oregano. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/13 "2019-06-07T12:19:16Z")
99% certain it’s oregano. Certainly not sage (furrier pointier leaves) or basil (larger shinier greener leaves). I grow all 3 in my garden. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/14 "2019-06-07T12:24:44Z")
Oregano. For sure. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/15 "2019-06-07T15:16:31Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > 99% certain it’s oregano. Certainly not sage (furrier pointier leaves) or basil (larger shinier greener leaves). > > I grow all 3 in my garden. Only the Italian basil has large, shiny leaves. I grow that, but also cinnamon, Thai, and Greek basil, and all those have smaller leaves and are not shiny. But I agree that this doesn’t look like any of those basils to me, either. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/16 "2019-06-07T15:33:51Z")
You guys are the best… thanks for all the replies and info. I’ll confirm with a pinch, a sniff and a taste when I get home this evening. I’m just now learning about growing herbs. I was under the impression that I could simply plant `em and (basically) forget `em. I mean, that’s how we’ve grown mint (for mojitos) before. However, I now know that it’s going to take some time and attention to keep things tasty; I’m looking forward to it all. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/herb-identification-assistance-please/835150/17 "2019-06-07T16:28:26Z")
> [@somepumpkin](#): > > You guys are the best… thanks for all the replies and info. I’ll confirm with a pinch, a sniff and a taste when I get home this evening. > > I’m just now learning about growing herbs. I was under the impression that I could simply plant `em and (basically) forget `em. I mean, that’s how we’ve grown mint (for mojitos) before. However, I now know that it’s going to take some time and attention to keep things tasty; I’m looking forward to it all. Most of them grow fine just by themselves. I don’t pay a lot of attention to my herbs, and they grow well (so much so that there’s way, way more than I could ever possibly use by the end of the summer.) With basil, you do want to use it somewhat regularly (using up to 1/3 of the plant) and nip off the buds when they form to help it grow out instead of just up, but with the other herbs, I don’t bother with much maintenance. I grew four kinds of basil, sage, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, chives, mint, oregano, lovage. And then each year there’s usually a new herb or two just for fun. Last year it was hoja santa. This year I added garlic chives to the mix. Oh, and also parsley. I generally don’t grow parsley or cilantro because it’s just dirt cheap at the supermarket, but I thought it might be convenient to have around and I don’t always need an entire bunch to get me through the week. The thyme, chives, mint, sage, and lovage come back year after year in my zone (5b/6a) without any special precautions taken to overwinter them. The rosemary I just start with a new plant every year, but you should be able to overwinter that with some care–I just never bothered.