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| Photo Credit: Lane Greer |
| In spring, rosemary plants are covered with pale blue flowers. |
Mmmmmmm. Rosemary. This lovely herb has been revered for centuries for its taste and scent. Every herb garden should have at least one rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) plant. But this tasty treat doesn’t just belong in the herb garden – it has a place in borders and perennial gardens, too.
All rosemaries are evergreen, with narrow leaves that resemble very short pine needles. Most rosemaries have small blue flowers in spring. The so-called “upright forms” reach about 2 feet tall, although they can get as large as 6 feet. (Mine never do, since I’m constantly cutting them.) Most rosemaries are hardy to Zone 8, although a couple of varieties can survive as far north as Zone 6b, but only if they’re given a sunny, well-drained, protected location and heavily mulched in winter. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Lane Greer | | While beautiful in the garden, rosemary’s flowers can’t be used in cooking. |
While any rosemary can easily fit as a decorative plant in your flower bed or garden, there are several cultivars that are more ornamental than the species and will attract the attention of your neighbors. The best part is that all of these selections are edible.
All the forms below have blue flowers and are hardy to Zone 8 unless otherwise noted. The upright forms include: - ‘Arp’, which has lightly lemon-scented foliage, is reportedly the most hardy cultivar, surviving to Zone 6.
- ‘Hill Hardy’, which was discovered by the well-known herb grower Madalene Hill in Texas, is hardy to Zone 7.
- ‘Logee Blue’ is preferred by many gardeners for its deep blue flowers, excellent flavor and vigorous growth habit.
- ‘Miss Jessup’ has larger leaves than most and grows up to 6 feet.
- ‘Tuscan Blue’ has larger flowers than most and gets 4 to 5 feet tall.
- Prostrate forms such as ‘Irene’ and ‘Prostratus’ (also called “prostrate form”) grow about 2 feet tall but spread out for about 6 feet.
- There are also cultivars that boast white flowers (‘Nancy Howard’) or pink flowers (‘Pink’ and ‘Portuguese Pink’).
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| Facts |
- Rosemary is quite difficult to start from seeds, so consider taking cuttings from a favorite plant. For best results, take 4- or 5-inch cuttings of plant tips in late spring or early summer. Stick them into a well-draining potting mix, and they’ll root in a few weeks.
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| Tips |
- Rosemary has been used for decades to “freshen” the air in musty indoor places. I’ve tucked stems into hidden spots, drawers and closets. Rosemary can even be used in bouquet – just don’t use too much, and be sure to remove all foliage below the waterline.
- To use rosemary, remove the leaves from the stem. It adds wonderful flavor to meats such as lamb, of course, but I usually combine mine with potatoes, onions and a little basil for some very satisfying comfort food.To use rosemary, remove the leaves from the stem. It adds wonderful flavor to meats such as lamb, of course, but I usually combine mine with potatoes, onions and a little basil for some very satisfying comfort food.
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| Resources |
- Well Sweep Herb Farm has a vast rosemary collection, with more than 40 cultivars for sale.
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