Rosemary

Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis

A woody, shrubby, evergreen perennial herb with narrow, leathery, pungently aromatic leaves, scaly bark and blue, pink or white flowers

Varieties

Tuscan Blue, Portuguese Pink, Huntington Carpet, Gorza, Blue Lagoon, Golden Rain, Salem, Pink Remembrance, Benedon Blue, Majorca Pink, Irene

Planting & care

Rosemary is easy to grow in containers or in beds as a freestanding bush or fragrant hedge. Containers are best in areas that get freezing winters and hot and wet summers, as they can be moved. Rosemary thrives in a sunny spot in any soil type as long as it is well drained. If drainage is poor, plant in a pot or raised bed. Choose a container that is 25–30cm wide and deep, and use a premium potting mix or one blended for herbs. Water regularly to keep the mix just moist, and feed every six months with a slow-release fertiliser. Plants in the ground need initial watering but can be ignored once established, except for a good soak in extended dry periods and the occasional feed if your soil is poor. Buy potted plants at garden centres, or take tip cuttings in the second half of spring.

Harvesting & pruning

Cut sprigs as needed. Hedges should be clipped regularly to maintain their form. Prune bushes in spring to manage size and shape, but avoid cutting into old wood as this rarely reshoots. Use prunings to propagate plants, or dry the leaves and store in jars for future use.

Turn to page 64 for rosemary recipes.