Rosemarinus officinalis
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosemary
Position: full sun
Soil: well-drained soil
Flowering period: March to June
Height: 0,8-1m
Foliage: evergreen
Hardiness: needs winter protection
Rosmarinus officinalis is an attractive, evergreen shrub that looks good all year round. The highly aromatic leaves are often added to meat or fish, especially sea bass, to give it a particular taste.
It can be grown in pots or in the open ground. Rosmarinus officinalis needs full sun and a sheltered position.
Varieties
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, has an upright habit, bearing small, pale blue flowers from March to June. It grows to about 1m tall.
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Majorie Pink’
Rosmarinus of. ‘Majorie Pink’ and Rosmarinus of. ‘Roseus’ are similar in size with lovely pink flowers.
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Miss Jessop’s Upright’
Choose Rosmarinus of. ‘Miss Jessop’s Upright’ for a herb garden. It is a vigorous shrub, reaching a height of 1,5m with purple-blue flowers.
Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’
Most rosemary plants have an upright habit, but not Rosmarinus of. ‘Prostratus’. This variety has an arching, prostrate habit with dark green leaves. It makes excellent ground cover.
Creeping rosemary Creeping rosemary in flower
Pruning
How to prune rosemary in a pot. Shorten the stems by 5-7cm after flowering to keep the plant compact and bushy. Don’t cut back into leafless, woody stems.
Pruning Rosmarinus of. ‘Prostratus’ (creeping rosemary). You can reduce its spread. Shorten stems after flowering, pruning back to new green leaves.
Rosmarinus offinalis Pruning rosemary
Planting Rosemary
Rosemary grown in open ground. The plant needs well-drained soil, especially if your soil is heavy. Add horticultural grit to the soil before planting to improve.
Harvesting
Don’t pick single leaves. Choose whole stems. Cut back the soft top growth by 5-8cm. Use a sharp knife or secateurs.
Overwinter rosemary
Most varieties of rosemary are not fully hardy. So the plant needs protection from severe frosts and cold winds. Store container-grown rosemary temporarily in a frost-free place if moderate to heavy frost is predicted.
Rosemary in open ground. Cover the base of the plant with a layer of deep dry winter mulch. Protect the leaves against frost with a thick layer of garden fleece
Plant Problems
Bare stems rosemary Cuckoo spit on rosemary
The stems of rosemary can become leggy. It’s not a good idea to cut the leggy, bare stems to the ground. It will not produce new growth. Best to replace the plant.
Cuckoo spit on rosemary is caused by a sap-sucking insect, called froghopper. How to get rid of cuckoo spit.
How to care for a thyme plant. See thyme
