The herb Spiral is a popular and successful permaculture element, it provides a variety of positions (sun, shelter and shade) and levels of moisture (the top is dry and the base boggy). It is usually 1 meter high and contains all the plants which are constantly used -- the herbs: mints, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, sage, basil etc. It is a simple design. The center of the spiral is elevated and the ground falls as the spiral unfurls. This allows you to plant, dry soil plants like rosemary at the top and water loving plants at the bottom such as watercress, water chestnuts. You should be able to reach all the parts of the spiral without having to step into it.
Here is a table providing information for the siting of a few common herbs.
| Common name | Sun/Shade | Soil type |
| Lavender | Sun facing | poor soil, rocks |
| Catmint, clary | sunny | Fertile loam |
| Bee Balm | Partial shade | |
| Yarrow | Partial shade | |
| Comfrey | sun/part shade | moist |
| Oregano | full sun | good, well drained |
| Thyme | sun | well drained, fair soil |
| Tansy | shade/morning sun | good |
| Borage | Full sun | dry |
| Sage | Full sun | dry |
| Sweet bay | Full sun frost tolerant | container/med. soil. |
| Mints | shade/part sun | moist, fertile |
| Cumin | Full sun | poor-good |
| Coriander | full sun | shelter from wind, poor-good |
| Violet | semi-shade | competes well with grass in moist soil, shallow rooted. |
| Rosemary | sun | dry well drained soil |
| Garlic | sun | well rotted compost, moist well drained |
| Parsley | full sun/part shade - likes afternoon sun | Fertile humus rich soil |
| Lemon Balm | Full sun/part shade | Fertile, moist |
Herbs which manage well in Clay soil include: Bee balm or bergamot, Comfrey, Mint, Wormwood, Mint.
Those suited to Wet soil: Angelica, Bee balm, Marshmallow (can become a weed) Meadowsweet, Self Heal, Valerian, Watercress, Waterchestnut.
Other small plants to include in shaded areas: Strawberries, alpine strawberries, violets, Angelica, swamp pennywort, warrigal greens.
Species which may tolerate frost include: Sweet bay, Sweet Fennel, Chickory,
Watercress, Ginseng (prefers woodland), parsley, Dandelion Taraxacum
officinale.