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Bee feeding on rosemary flower |
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Mature Rosemary shrub |
Plant Family
Mint Family (Labiatae / Lamiaceae)
Common Names
Rosemary
Rose of Mary
Anthos
Description
Rosemary is a drought tolerant aromatic evergreen herb native to the Mediterranean region. It is also grown as a perennial landscape plant in areas where winter temperatures seldom dip below zero.
Plant as a perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9 (some references list Zones 8 through 10).
Rosemary can grow up to 4 to 6 feet tall and wide eventually becoming woody and shrub-like. Small blue-purple flowers bloom along a stalk in late spring.
Dwarf cultivars and those with white or pink flowers are available. Some cultivars will bloom again if spent flowers stalks are removed. Thin dark green leaves have grayish green undersides.
Plant in full sun in well drained dry soils or in pots if plant will be taken inside during winter. Although difficult, sometimes Rosemary may successfully be grown indoors in colder regions.
Rosemary is used as an herb in cooking as well as for fragrance. Some evidence supports its medicinal properties.
Attracts
Bees
Butterflies
Hawk moths
Hummingbirds
Additional Resources:
West
California - Rosemary
Idaho - Rosemary
Northeast
Southeast
Florida - Rosemary
Florida - An Aromatic Gift
