Plant Finder

Other Names:  Rosemary

Description:

One of the finest herbs, this is actually a pretty shrub as well, with narrow grayish needle-like foliage and pretty lavender-blue flowers in spring; leaves are a mainstay for cooking and as garnish, wonderful to grow in a container

Edible Qualities

Common Rosemary is a perennial herb that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. The fragrant grayish green needle-like leaves are usually harvested from early to mid summer. The leaves have a sharp taste and a pungent fragrance.

The leaves are most often used in the following ways:

• Cooking
• Drying
• Seasoning

Features & Attributes

Common Rosemary features dainty spikes of lightly-scented lavender flowers at the ends of the stems in early spring. Its attractive fragrant needle-like leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the year.

This is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial herb with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Common Rosemary is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use
• Herb Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Common Rosemary will grow to be about 30 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant is quite ornamental as well as edible, and is as much at home in a landscape or flower garden as it is in a designated herb garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America.

Common Rosemary is a good choice for the edible garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

Sizes available:

3.5" CONT $3.99