This beautiful shrubby plant can tolerate drought well, while growing plenty of scented leaves for flavoring recipes.
Known for its scent and flavor,rosemarycan be planted as an herb or a garden ornamental.
This perennial evergreen shrub, hardy in Zones 8-10, can be grown as an annual in other climates.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
It grows quickly and can get very big.
The best time to harvest your rosemary is in the morning, just after any dew has evaporated.
To use rosemary, strip the needlelike leaves from the stems and chop before adding to dishes.
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Rosemary’s texture and flavor vary throughout the seasonleaves are tender in the spring, with fewer aromatic oils.
By late summer, the foliage packs a more potent flavor.
Grow rosemary near paths and walkways to release its fragrance as you brush past it.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Plant it where there’s lots of sunshine, away from any taller plants that could block the light.
To plant a potted rosemary, dig a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container.
Remove the plant and loosen the roots a bit from the root ball before placing in the hole.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Backfill with soil, tamp lightly, and water well.
If you plan to grow it indoors, rosemary can be planted anytime.
It may need supplemental light if there’s not enough bright light coming through windows.
Credit: Denny Schrock
You’ll know rosemary needs light when it gets leggy.
Rosemary Care Tips
Rosemary is an easy herb to care for and fungus-resistant in the right environment.
Light
Rosemarythrives in full sun.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Part sun drastically increases the likelihood of problems with fungi.
Soil and Water
Rosemary needs well-drained, slightly acidic-to-neutral soil to survive.
It will slowly suffer in heavy and moist clays, especially during winter.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Water regularly, but don’t overwater since rosemary doesn’t thrive in soggy soil.
Whentopsoilis dry, it’s time for watering.
Once plants are established, they’re drought-tolerant.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Whengrowing potted rosemary indoors, it’s important to get the watering cadence just right.
The soil should be moist but not water-logged.
Temperature and Humidity
Dry, hot air is best for rosemary.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Humidity can create problems with fungi, especially if plants are too close together.
They won’t survive cold weather (under 30oF) but can take the heat.
The best temperatures for rosemary are between 55oF and 85oF.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Fertilize rosemary in spring and summer with an organic, high-nitrogen fertilizer.
For the amount to use, follow product label directions.
Avoid chemical fertilizers, especially if you plan to cook with cuttings from your rosemary plant.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Pruning
Prune rosemaryto your preferred size and style, including topiary designs.
Pruning will make the plant bushier.
Potting and Repotting Rosemary
If you’regrowing rosemaryas an annual or a potted plant, try growing itindoors.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
This can be challenging since rosemary likes it hot and dry with plenty of sun.
So in the home, ensure plants are in full sun if possiblesouthern exposure is best.
Container plants need a well-draining potting mix that’s light.
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
Since rosemary grows substantially, it needs repotting at least every year.
You’ll know it’s time to repot when the lower leaves begin to yellow.
The best time to repot is in the spring.
Additionally, watch out for spider mites, mealy bugs, whitefly, and aphids.
If you spot any of these pests, use insecticidal soap to wash them away.
How to Propagate Rosemary
The best way topropagate rosemaryis with cuttings.
Propagate by cutting a branch from an existing plant.
Strip the bottom of the branch of its leaves and dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone.
Add to a container with soilless potting mix and place it in a bright spot.
Keep soil moist, and the branch should have roots in a few weeks and be ready for planting.
you could pull gently on the branch to see if there are roots.
It develops dense blue-green foliage that’s easily sheared into any shape.
It’s highly fragrant, and has many uses in the kitchen.
It grows four feet tall.
It grows as an annual except in Zones 810.
It is also called creeping rosemary or prostrate rosemary, and it makes an effective groundcover.
It grows 1824 inches tall, spreads four to eight feet wide, and bears light-blue flowers.
It has violet-blue flowers and fragrant gray-green foliage.
It grows four feet tall and wide, and it bears clusters of light blueflowers from late winterthrough summer.
Zones 810
Golden Variegated Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Aureus' has green needlelike leaves with gold flecks.
This rosemary is an upright grower that reaches two feet tall and spreads equally wide.
It has pale blue flowers in spring.
It’s an upright plant growing four feet tall and two to four feet wide.
Its namesake blue flowers appear in late spring and summer.
It grows 2-3 feet tall and wide in zones 4-11.
Barbecue Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Barbecue' is a selection developed for its excellent flavor and aroma.
It can grow four feet tall and will develop beautiful blue blooms.
It grows as an annual, except in Zones 810.
Its bright colors stand out against rosemary’s simple greens.
Once they’ve dried, remove the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container.
Dried, whole rosemary can retain its flavor for up to one year.
it’s possible for you to alsofreeze whole stemsin a plastic bag.
To use, strip as many leaves as you need from the frozen stems.
Chop the leaves well before using.
Harvest young rosemarybranches in spring and summer for the most flavorful and fragrant herbs for cooking or drying.
