Description
Grow fresh rosemary and add bright, piney flavor to everyday cooking. Plant this sun-loving herb in your garden or a container, and snip fragrant sprigs for roasts, breads, and infused oils whenever you need them. Enjoy an easy, drought-tolerant plant that stays evergreen in mild climates and brings pollinators to your beds.
Key Features
- Culinary on demand: Harvest crisp needles for meats, potatoes, focaccia, and cocktails.
- Pollinator friendly: Blue blooms invite bees and beneficial insects to your garden.
- Low maintenance: Thrive in full sun and well-drained soil; tolerate heat once established.
- Container ready: Grow on patios or balconies; keep flavor close to the kitchen door.
- Versatile form: Shape into neat mounds or small hedges; use woody stems as grill skewers.
Applications
Plant along paths for a burst of fragrance as you brush by. Tuck into raised beds and herb gardens, or set a pot by a sunny window for easy snipping. Pair with thyme, oregano, and sage for a resilient, Mediterranean-style planting.
Specifications
- Botanical name: Salvia rosmarinus (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Plant type: Woody perennial herb
- Light: Full sun; 6+ hours daily
- Water: Let top inch of soil dry; avoid soggy conditions
- Soil: Well-drained; sandy or loamy mixes preferred
- Mature size: 2–4 ft H x 2–3 ft W (variety and climate dependent)
- Hardiness: USDA Zones 7–10; grow as annual in colder zones
- Spacing: 18–24 in; choose containers with drainage
- Bloom: Spring to summer; blue to violet flowers
Clip tips often to encourage bushy growth and stronger flavor. Move containers indoors before frost and place in bright light with good airflow.