This beautiful shrubby flora can tolerate drouth well , while growing plenty of scented leaf for flavor formula .
eff 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 uprise as an yearbook in other climates . It grows quickly and can get very big .
The best time to reap your rosemary is in the morn , just after any dew has vaporise . you may prune stem throughout the produce time of year to utilize sassy , or cut a bunch to dry in the fall . To apply rosemary , strip the needlelike leaves from the stem and chop before add together to dishes . storage sassy rosemary up to one calendar week in the refrigerator by placing the stem turn in a plastic bag with a damp newspaper towel .
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Pulverize the wry parting before adding them todishes , herb portmanteau word , or sauce so the redolent oils are released , and they ’re leisurely to jaw . Rosemary ’s grain and flavor vary throughout the time of year — leafage are tender in the spring , with few redolent oil . By late summertime , the leaf pack a more potent tone .
Where to Plant Rosemary
Because of their Mediterranean heritage , these works thrive in hot and dry weather . uprise rosemary near paths and walkways to release its aroma as you brush past it . Plant it where there ’s lots of sunshine , away from any taller works that could block the light .
The needle - like grain of its leaves hit rosemary an interesting addition to mixed delimitation among plants with tolerant or strappy leave .
How and When to Plant Rosemary
flora rosemary in the spring , once the atmospheric condition has warm up up after the last frost . industrial plant should be 2 to 3 foot apart , and seeds plant with just a dusting of soil on them . To plant a pot Rosmarinus officinalis , poke a hole about the same width and depth as the planting container . transfer the plant and loosen the root a bit from the root lump before placing in the hole . Backfill with ground , tamp gently , and water well .
If you plan to grow it indoors , rosemary can be plant anytime . It may need supplemental light if there ’s not enough bright light come through windows . You ’ll know rosemary require light when it gets tall-growing .
Rosemary Care Tips
Rosemary is an easy herb to care for and fungus - resistant in the correct environment .
Light
Rosemarythrives in full Dominicus . Part Lord’s Day drastically increases the likelihood of problem with fungus .
Soil and Water
Rosemary needs well - drain , somewhat acidic - to - neutral territory to survive . It will slowly support in heavy and moist Lucius Clay , especially during wintertime . water system on a regular basis , but do n’t overwater since rosemary does n’t fly high in mucky soil . Whentopsoilis dry out , it ’s prison term for watering . Once plants are establish , they ’re drought - tolerant .
Whengrowing potted rosemary indoors , it ’s important to get the lachrymation cadence just right . The grime should be dampish but not water system - log .
Temperature and Humidity
Dry , red-hot air is best for rosemary . Humidity can create problems with fungi , especially if plant are too close together . They wo n’t survive cold weather ( under 30ºF ) but can take the heat . The best temperatures for rosemary are between 55ºF and 85ºF.
Fertilizer
Before planting , impart a few in of of age compost or other rich constitutional topic into the soil . fertilise rosemary in spring and summertime with an organic , high - N fertilizer . For the amount to practice , follow production label direction . Avoid chemical plant food , especially if you plan to make with cutting from your rosemary works .
Pruning
Prune rosemaryto your preferred size and style , including topiary designs . Pruning will make the flora bushier . However , do n’t prune more than a third of the plant at a sentence because it can cause stress .
Potting and Repotting Rosemary
If you’regrowing rosemaryas an yearly or a potted works , try develop itindoors . This can be gainsay since rosemary likes it hot and wry with plenty of sun . So in the home , verify plant are in full sun if potential — southerly photo is good . Container plants want a well - debilitate potting mix that ’s light . Since rosemary turn substantially , it take repotting at least every year . You ’ll roll in the hay it ’s time to repot when the low-down leaves start to yellow . The best time to repot is in the natural spring .
Pests and Problems
pitiable airflow and high humidness are significant contributor to powdery mildew and can make deprivation of sapidity in rosemary . Additionally , watch out out for spider mites , mealy bug , whitefly , and aphid . If you blob any of these blighter , use insecticidal goop to wash them away .
Rosemary is deer - tolerant .
How to Propagate Rosemary
The best way topropagate rosemaryis with cut . Rosemary seed are difficult to germinate , and the semen involve to be of splendid caliber , as do the originate conditions , for seeds to grow .
Propagate by cut a branch from an existing plant . Strip the bottom of the branch of its leaves and douse the terminal of the cut in root endocrine . supply to a container with soilless potting premix and place it in a brilliant pip . Keep dirt moist , and the branch should have base in a few week and be ready for planting . you’re able to pull mildly on the branch to see if there are roots .
Types of Rosemary
Arp Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Arp ' forms a sturdy upright piano shrub three to five foot tall and two to three animal foot across-the-board . Zones 6–10
‘Tuscan Blue’ Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Tuscan Blue ' is one of the best rosemary varieties for topiaries . It acquire dense low-spirited - green foliation that ’s easily sheared into any shape . It ’s highly fragrant , and has many role in the kitchen . It grows four feet magniloquent . It grows as an annual except in Zones 8–10 .
Trailing Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Prostratus ' has a trail growth habit that looks cracking cascading over a retaining rampart or trailing down a raised bed . It is also called sneak rosemary or bow down rosemary , and it cook an effectual groundcover . It grows 18–24 inches tall , spreads four to eight feet broad , and bears light - blue flowers . zona 8–10
‘Roman Beauty’ Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Roman Beauty ' is a stocky , slow cultivator with a semitrailing form , grow just 12–16 inches improbable and spread 18–24 inches wide . It grows more upright than trailing rosemary , but still make a cascading effect in the landscape or in container garden . It has purple - blue flowers and fragrant greyish - green foliage . Zones 8–10
‘Gorizia’ Rosemary
genus Rosmarinus officinalis’Gorizia ' is noted for its exceptionally all-encompassing leaves , often twice as broad as common Rosmarinus officinalis . It grows four feet grandiloquent and wide of the mark , and it bears bunch of clean blueflowers from recent winterthrough summer . zone 8–10
Golden Variegated Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Aureus ' has green needlelike leaves with gold flecks . This rosemary is an upright grower that reaches two base magniloquent and disperse equally wide . It has pallid blue peak in leap . zone 8–10
‘Majorca Pink’ Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Majorca Pink ' has unusual pinkish - lavender blooms in spring with repeat rosiness in summer . It ’s an upright plant growing four foot tall and two to four feet broad . Zones 7–10
‘Benenden Blue’ Rosemary
UndemandingRosmarinus officinalis’Benenden Blue ’ is an excellent pick for poor but well - drained dirt . Its namesake blue blossom appear in late give and summertime . It grows 2 - 3 substructure tall and wide of the mark in zones 4 - 11 .
Barbecue Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis’Barbecue ' is a selection developed for its excellent flavor and aroma . It can get four feet magniloquent and will develop beautiful blue bloom . It grows as an yearbook , except in Zones 8–10 .
Companion Plants for Rosemary
Flowering Kale
The scent of rosemary keeps pests aside from flower cole and otherbrassica . Its bright colors stand out against rosemary ’s simple greens . Zones 2 - 11
Green Beans
Rosemary ’s impregnable aroma hides the scent ofgreen beansand other beans from Mexican bonce beatles , which are venomous to bean plants . zone 3 - 10
Lavender
Lavenderand rosemary have the same necessary for soil and water , and their scent complement each other . Zones 5 - 0
Garden Plans for Rosemary
Drought-Tolerant Garden Plan
This informal mixed garden bed features drought - patient of trees , evergreen shrubs , perennials , and yearbook .
Classic Herb Garden Plan
control your kitchen is always carry with fresh herbs with this classicherb gardenplan , where ten kinds of herb skirt a cosmetic sundial in a 6 - foot - diam seam .
Colorful Herb Garden Plan
Get an herbaceous plant garden that daze with this colorful architectural plan , where a 3x8 - foot border have foliage with purple , green , and golden hues — include variegated leaves .
Frequently Asked Questions
To preserve rosemary , gentle wind - ironic the cut stem by bundle and hanging them upside down in a dark billet with good air circulation . Once they ’ve dry , remove the leaves from the stem and store them in an airtight container . Dried , whole rosemary can keep on its smell for up to one twelvemonth . you’re able to alsofreeze whole stemsin a moldable bag . To practice , strip as many leaf as you want from the stock-still stems . Chop the leaves well before using .
Harvest youthful rosemarybranches in springtime and summer for the most flavorful and fragrant herb for fix or drying .
Credit: Jerry Pavia
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Denny Schrock
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
Credit: Illustration by Gary Palmer
