Norfolk Herbs

Norfolk Herbs, a family herb nursery in mid-Norfolk

Norfolk Herbs is a family-run nursery based at Blackberry Farm in Dillington, near Dereham, in the mid-Norfolk countryside. The business describes itself as a grower of naturally raised culinary, medicinal and aromatic herb plants, supplied both to retail customers and by mail order throughout the UK. Its own presentation places the operation's history at four decades, summarised on the site as "40 years and still growing strong".

Plants are raised in peat-free compost, a detail the nursery highlights as part of its growing approach. Alongside the herb range, the nursery sells salvias, scented pelargoniums, bay trees and larger specimen plants.

What the nursery grows and sells

The catalogue is organised around several plant groups rather than a single line. The main categories shown are herbs, salvias, scented pelargoniums and bay trees, with a separate section for larger specimen plants. Beyond living plants, the shop lists chamomile lawn stock, natural skin care products, terracotta pots and hanging baskets.

Herbs can be browsed by plant type or by plant use. The use-based filters cover herbs for cooking, herbs for drinks, house plants, medicinal plants, plants for hedging and edging, plants for lawns and paths, plants for pollinators, plants for containers and plants for scent. The catalogue also records culinary applications in some detail, with filters for desserts, drinks, fish, garnish, lamb, omelettes, pork, poultry, red meat and game, salads, sauces, oils and vinegars, soups and vegetables.

Salvias and scented pelargoniums

Salvias form a distinct section of the shop and are classified by flower colour, including blues and purples, multi or bi-coloured, orange and salmon pinks, pink, mauve and magenta, reds, crimsons and cerise, whites and creams, and yellow. Scented pelargoniums are likewise grouped by flower colour and, separately, by leaf scent, with categories such as apple, cola, lavender, lemon, lemon rose, lime, mint, orange, perfumed, rose, spice, sweet scented and woody, plus a category for subtle scent.

Gifts, prints and collections

The shop includes plant gifts and collections, and also vintage botanical poster prints. A click-and-collect option is offered for collection at the nursery.

Growing guidance published alongside the catalogue

The nursery publishes a body of practical reference material for customers. This includes herbal help pages, FAQs, seasonal tips and ideas, quantity advice, garden planning, herb care, a hardiness guide, herb identification and availability information. A blog and a downloadable brochure are also listed. The catalogue itself carries detailed filters for height, spread, planting position, life cycle, flower colour and whether a plant is suitable for bees and butterflies, tubs and containers, or use as a house plant.

Ordering, delivery and payment

Orders are dispatched by overnight courier in purpose-made boxes. The nursery states that it aims to send orders within a few days of ordering, noting that this can occasionally take a little longer and can often be quicker. Online payments are handled through SagePay or PayPal, with customers able to pay by credit or debit card through SagePay or with a PayPal account.

On customer service, the nursery says calls are answered by the owners or by senior members of the production staff rather than through an automated menu system.

At the nursery

Visitors to the site near Dereham can buy herb plants together with salvias, scented pelargoniums, bay trees, natural skin care products and other items. The nursery describes a warm welcome to visitors and provides opening times, directions and contact details on its site. A rainwater harvesting system at the nursery was part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.