Rosemary

Known as a symbol of remembrance and friendship, rosemary fills a garden with aroma, flavor, and activity -- busily pollinating bees love the blooms. This herb comes in various forms, from stiff and upright, ideal for a hedge planting, to mounded and spreading, perfect for scrambling along a slope or wall. The secret to beautiful rosemary is to give plants a hot, dry footing. Grow plants in well-drained soil or a raised bed and surround them gravel mulch for best results. Rosemary thrives in containers, too.

In coldest zones, overwinter rosemary in an unheated room with a fan. Protect overwintering plants from extreme humidity. Too low humidity can cause plants to drop leaves; too high can favor powdery mildew.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

6-10

Plant Type:

Perennial,Herb,Shrub

Plant Height:

1-6 feet tall

Plant Width:

2-4 feet wide

Flower Color:

Shades of pink or blue

Bloom Time:

Blooms in summer in the north; can be everblooming in warm-winter climates

Landscape Uses:

Containers,Beds & Borders,Slopes,Groundcover

Special Features:

Flowers,Attractive Foliage,Fragrant,Winter Interest,Dried Flowers,Attracts Birds,Attracts Butterflies,Drought Tolerant,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Arp rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Arp' forms a sturdy shrub 3-5 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide. It thrives in average, well-drained soil. Zones 6-10
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Barbecue rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbecue' is a selection developed for its excellent flavor and aroma. It can grow 4 feet tall and will develop beautiful blue blooms. It grows as an annual except in zones 8-10.
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Tuscan Blue rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue' is one of the best rosemary varieties for topiaries. It develops dense, blue-green foliage that's easily sheared to any shape. It's highly fragrant and has many uses in the kitchen. It grows 4 feet tall. It grows as an annual except in zones 8-10.
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Garden Plans

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Drought-Tolerant Garden Plan
A Garden of Salad Greens
Fragrant Slope Garden Plan
Planting Plans Inspired by the White House Kitchen Garden

Harvest Tips

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Snip fresh rosemary stems throughout the growing season. To use rosemary, strip needles from stems and chop before adding to dishes. To store fresh rosemary up to one week in the refrigerator, place stems in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel.

To preserve, air-dry stems by bundling and hanging upside down in a dark place with good air circulation. Remove leaves from stems and store in airtight containers. Dried, whole rosemary retains flavor up to one year. You can also freeze whole stems in a plastic bag. To use, strip as many leaves as you need from frozen stems. Chop rosemary well before using.

Pulverize dry leaves before adding to dishes, herb blends, or sauces to release aromatic oils and to make them easier to chew. Rosemary texture and flavor varies throughout the season. Leaves are tender in spring, with fewer aromatic oils. By late summer, foliage packs a more potent flavor. Toss late summer stems onto grilling coals to infuse meat with delicious flavor.

Harvest rosemary flowers for a delicious addition to lettuce or fruit salads, pasta, or rice creations.

Propagation

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Stem Cuttings