By Cheryl Toivola, U. C. Master Gardener

Every Napa Valley garden, no matter how small, should include at least one variety of lavender, rosemary and salvia. These plants are the mainstay of the Mediterranean garden, offering attractive foliage, fragrant flowers and long-lasting blooms. Some have culinary and medicinal uses as well. They are undemanding and accustomed to our climate, so even the novice gardener can grow them with ease.

Lavenders have been grown for centuries for use in perfumes, sachets and oils. They need little water but do need good drainage. Planting lavenders on a mound can keep the roots from getting too wet and developing root rot. They look best in groups.

Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas) can bloom repeatedly during the year. Its purple flowers consist of large bracts that resemble a small butterfly. French lavender (Lavandula dentata) has a distinct toothed edge to its leaves and in warm climates can bloom almost all year.

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) blooms in the spring. Its blossoms may be pink, white, blue o purple. Lavandin (Lavandula intermedia) is a hybrid and includes the Napa favorite 'Provence.' It is a classic variety for sachets and is used in France for perfumes. To use the flowers in sachets, cut them just as the flowers begin to show.

Rosemary is a tough evergreen plant, tolerant of hot sun and poor soil. However, like lavender, good drainage is a must. It has narrow, needle-like leaves with small blue flowers from late winter to spring. All rosemary varieties can be used in cooking but the more upright varieties contain more of the aromatic oils. My cat often hides in the rosemary and then carries the spicy aroma into the house.

Tuscan blue rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue') is an upright shrub that quickly makes a six-foot informal hedge. For a mounding shrub of about three feet, try the 'Collingwood Ingram' variety. Rosemary is a great choice to cascade over a wall, and the groundcover 'Huntington Carpet' does that perfectly.

Salvia is a member of the mint family and has been used for centuries to heal minds and bodies. There are more than 900 species, which include annuals, perennials and evergreen and deciduous shrubs. They come from all over the world and offer all colors of bloom. More than 60 species thrive in the west. To learn more, consult "The New Book of Salvias" by Betsy Clebsch (Timber Press, 2003).

Cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) is a native evergreen shrub with fragrant leaves and blue flowers. Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) blooms from summer to fall in colors that include white, pink, red and purple. Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) has purple blooms from summer to fall. Garden or common sage (Salvia officinalis) is very aromatic and is often used in cooking and seasoning.

With so many easy-to-grow choices, isn't it time to find a sunny, well drained corner of your garden for these appealing plants? They will beautify your landscape while providing enticing fragrance, attracting beneficial insects and supplying seasoning for your kitchen.