Herb Awareness Month is an important way for you, to present your local herb society, and the Herb Federation of New Zealand, before the public. If you or your herb society is able to assist by preparing herb datasheets for Herb Awareness Week, please contact

Information about assisting the Federation to select the herbs to feature in Herb Awareness Week, and to prepare the data sheets etc. is available in Herb Awareness Week: Committee Terms of Reference (PDF, 169.12 kB).

Each year the “International Herb Association” selects a herb to be the International Herb of the Year, refer to the International Herb Association website for further information. The Herb Federation of New Zealand selects a further three herbs, and these, together with the International Herb of the Year, become the subject of study. A data sheet detailing the identification of the herb, information regarding the medicinal and culinary uses for the herb, together with “helpful hints”, is prepared for each.

These data sheets, together with a publicity poster and draft press release are sent to each individual and member herb society. One week each year, generally in March, is nominated as Herb Awareness Week, and local herb society’s are urged to mount exhibitions, seminars, lectures etc. to publicise the use of herbs, and membership of local herb society’s.

Herb Awareness Month 2024

The herbs for 2024 are:

Yarrow Achillea (the international herb of the year) (PDF, 435.49 kB)

California Poppy (PDF, 1.01 MB)

Rongoa NZ Cabbage tree Cordyline species (PDF, 1.19 MB)

Salad Burnet (PDF, 461.12 kB)

Poster

Click here for printable Herb Awareness Week poster (JPG, 4.60 MB)