As a culinary herb Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is widely grown in the kitchen garden. However with dwarf and prostrate varieties it is also a useful landscaping plant.
Used a herb in cooking all varieties have similar characteristics in the the aromatic foliage, however growth habits differ with some being prostrate and flower colouring being either blue or pink. plants are drought tolerant, can easily be pruned and are generally easy to grow.
How To Grow Rosemary Plants
Easy to grow, a well drained soil. Best suited to a sunny position although it will grow well in a part shaded position, and these tough plants require little care. They do well in most soils and seem to thrive on neglect. Purple flowers are attractive to bees.
Planting Rosemary – 9 Easy Steps
You can plant rosemary year round in temperate climates, in cooler zones we suggest planting in early spring for best results
- Choose a sunny position
- Amend poorly drained soils by adding extra drainage material.
- Dig through some compost and aged cow manure
- Plant and water in well.
- Mulch around the plant.
- Water regularly through the first summer.
- Fertilise each spring with a general purpose fertiliser.
- Renew mulch each spring.
- Prune regularly in spring to maintain shape and size.
In containers use a free draining potting mix and ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes.
It responds well to pruning and it is fairly easy to propagate new plants by striking cuttings from pruned pieces. Rosemary will also do well it pots and is reasonably drought tolerant once it is established.
Harvesting
It is the new fresh and tender growing tips that have the best flavour, so select these in preference to older growth.
One of the many widely grown herb plants
Propagation
Propagation is easy from cuttings, from seed rosemary can be difficult to propagate.
Landscaping Uses
Rosemary plants can be grown in the herb garden or a container, they are also useful as a low growing easy care fragrant hedging plant.
Summary Information
- Position – Best in full sun.
- Soil – Humus rich and well drained.
- Watering – Regarded as drought tolerant once established, some additional water during very long dry spells will be beneficial.
- Foliage – Evergreen, aromatic when rubbed and a mid to green in colour.
- Flowers – Purple in spring to summer.
- Height – Rosemary plants can reach over 1m (3 ft) in height in good conditions.
Rosemary Varieties and Cultivars
Varieties vary in growing habits from trailing or prostrate forms to upright plants. The foliage when crushed or rubbed releases an aromatic fragrant oil. As a culinary herb it is used widely with lamb dishes. Rosemary plants can also be used as a low hedge around the vegetable or herb garden.
- Rosmarinus officinalis Gallipoli – Purchase of this plant supports the Avenue of Honour 2015 project
- Rosmarinus Officinalis Tuscany Blue – Much deeper blue flowers
- Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Shimmering Stars’ is a wonderful variety with masses of flowers. Will reach around 1m and is a hardy plant.
- The Pink flowering Rosemary officinalis – Similar to the species however with attractive pink flowers and a more compact growth habit.
- R. officinalis ‘Savor’ – Very pale blue to white flowers, more compact than the species.
- A prostrate form known as Rosemary ‘Huntington’s Carpet’ will reach around 50cm, however this is difficult to find in Australia in its true form.
Rosemary plants are available for sale from most garden centres and online from the following nurseries
www.planterspatch.com.au