I appreciate the beauty and symmetry of a formal herb garden or the informal. However, just as there are herbs for helping humans, there are herbs that also help other plants. This is called companion planting. For instance, basil, which is used primarily as a culinary herb, should be planted near tomato plants. Rue is grown near the fig.
Experimental work is inconclusive.
Nevertheless, many a gardener knows which herbs keep away harmful insects, improve other plants' flavors or cause a neighboring plant to die. Most herbs will grow well in soil that is a humus loam with added composted manure. In full sun or partial shade, herbs are easier to grow than most any other plant. An ideal pH is 6.5 to 7.0 which is slightly acidic. Tolerant to cold, herbs still need protection from frost and freezing in northern climates.