Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is a woody perennial plant. It resembles a small Christmas tree in the way its upright branches grow. The “needles” are actually needle-shaped leaves with a very pungeant aroma.

Flowers are white, pink, purple or blue and borne along the stems.

Rosemary is actually a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, if you’re into the scientific backgrounds of plants. There are only two species of Rosemary: Rosemary officinalis and Rosemary eriocalyx, grown in Africa and Iberia and not readily found. We will be talking about Rosemary officinalis.

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean and Asia, but it is reasonably cold hardy. If you live in a Southern state, it will likely survive your winters. However, you may want to give it some protection, just in case.

Rosemary can withstand droughts. You are way more likely to kill your rosemary plant by over-watering it than by forgetting it for a bit. Please note that it is less drought tolerant in a very small pot than in a larger container and way more tolerant if it’s planted in the ground. Because of this tolerance, rosemary makes a great plant for your xeriscape.

You can find rosemary plants in various “forms”, ranging from the perfectly straight, tall plants to the trailing or “prostrate” type that hangs over the edges of walls or containers. The upright plants can reach 5 to 6 feet tall, so if you want it to reach its full size, plan to give it plenty of room!

Rosemary prefers a nice loam soil with good drainage, in full sun. It will not withstand waterlogging… and there are some varieties that are susceptible to frost, example: prostrate rosemary. Plant your rosemary at the same depth as in the original pot. Water it well at transplanting… and once it starts to show new growth, water it sparingly.

As a side note… my rosemary does quite well during our hot, humid and rainy summers. It’s in a pot with good drainage and it sits in full sun and it pretty much care-free. 

 Because of the fragrant aroma and warm, tangy flavor of the leaves, Rosemary is popular for flavoring meats and soups. To add zest to grilled beef, chicken or ribs, toss some leaves over hot charcoal.

Rosemary is used in many cosmetics, especially in hair preparations, and even in the perfume industry.

3 inch pot – $3.00