Rosemary Sprigs on a Kitchen Table

In short: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is an easy evergreen sub-shrub growing 1-2 m tall. Sow seeds in March or April, then plant out in May or June, 50 cm apart, in sunny, well-drained soil with enough calcium, and water sparingly. It does not tolerate frost, so overwinter it indoors in a bright spot at 5-10 °C.

Rosemary (Latin: Rosmarinus officinalis) is a sub-shrub, undemanding to grow, that we have known since time immemorial. It improves mental as well as physical condition, calms the nervous system, supports digestion, acts against flatulence, but we also use it for overall exhaustion and winter flu illnesses. During flowering time, it attracts bees and butterflies with its scent and is thus a very attractive part of the garden. We also use it in the kitchen, for example as part of Provençal herbs.

People have known rosemary since ancient times; it had its place in ancient Egyptian and ancient Greek rituals. In Greece, it was dedicated to the goddess Venus as a symbol of love and fidelity. The Romans called it sea dew. Even in ancient times, it was considered a symbol of love, marriage, but also death and eternity. In the sense of tradition, they added rosemary to the bride's wedding wreath along with coloured ribbons to symbolise lifelong fidelity of partners during the ceremony.

In the Middle Ages, people added a sprig of rosemary to incense. The first written mention of rosemary can be found in the decree of Emperor Charlemagne, who ordered its cultivation on his royal estates. We also know it from the Leipzig Pharmacopoeia dating from the 15th century, which states: "Rosmarinus, also called sea rose, is warming and drying. It grows by the sea and in the mountains. With its warmth, it has the power to open sweat pores. Against faintness and weakness of the heart, use flowers mixed with wine." Rosemary was often depicted in folk songs and poems. In the rooms of the sick, people burned rosemary to purify the air. At the same time, in courtrooms, they threw sprigs of rosemary on the floor so that the court would be protected from "gaol fever". Spaniards venerate rosemary because, according to them, it was the hiding place of the Virgin Mary during her flight to Egypt. According to legend, she spread her cloak over it and the rosemary flowers changed colour from white to blue from that time on. During the plague epidemic, travellers passing through various lands put rosemary in a cloth bag to prevent the plague. In the Mediterranean, they dried laundry on rosemary twigs so that it would absorb its scent and thus repel moths.

In the past, rosemary was a common plant in the Czech countryside and had an honourable place in the household. However, rosemary is a modern herb and we can find it in contemporary households as a fresh seasoning with a very specific fragrance.

The homeland of rosemary is southern Europe, where we currently find it as a freely growing shrub. In warmer areas, they still grow hedges from it, especially in Italy, Spain and southern France. In our conditions, we grow it in pots indoors or on the balcony; it can also be part of a flower bed or herb garden.

Rosemary is often referred to by various names. In English, we use its full name common rosemary or garden rosemary. The Latin name of rosemary is derived from the words ros, meaning dew, and marinus, meaning sea. Rosemary is thus "dew of the sea," as it grows on sea coasts in its original homeland.

Growing Rosemary

Common rosemary (lat. Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen, densely branched perennial shrub, growing up to 1-2m in height. It is very easy to grow. Its stem becomes woody from the second year, making it a perennial. The stem has a pleasant scent when dried and burned. Rosemary has dark green felted leaves that are white to grey on the underside. The entire plant is very aromatic with a characteristic aroma.

We grow rosemary from seeds, which are best sown in a seedbed during March-April. They germinate within 1-2 weeks. Rosemary thrives in well-drained sandy-loam soil with sufficient calcium content. It loves sunny locations - direct sun or partial shade, but the site must be protected from wind. It does particularly well near house walls, as these accumulate heat and radiate it to the surrounding area. Indoors, it cannot tolerate drafts. Young plants are placed in the garden bed during May-June at a distance of 50cm apart. In the garden, it's suitable to place rosemary together with mallow.

Be careful with watering! It doesn't like very waterlogged soil. Rosemary blooms with blue-violet flowers in July. It produces fruits. The rosemary plant cannot tolerate frost, so we bring it indoors for winter to a bright location and maintain a constant temperature of 5-10°C. During this period, it has a dormant phase and we water it very sparingly.

Tip: Prune rosemary after flowering (only non-woody parts of the plant) to maintain its fresh and regular shape.

From the rosemary plant, we harvest green non-woody shoots, which we use either fresh or dried at a maximum temperature of 35°C. Harvested rosemary dries very slowly. Dried parts can be crushed and stored in well-sealed dark containers that protect them from light and moisture.

Rosemary has wide use especially in the kitchen. It has a slightly bitter taste reminiscent of camphor. Add rosemary mixture to finished dishes before completion so its essential oils don't evaporate. We can add it to soups, vegetables, salads, sauces and meat. We use it for preparing lamb, mutton, rabbit, venison and deer meat, giving them a characteristic taste when sprinkled during cooking. When grilling meat, we can add a sprig of rosemary to the fire, and the meat will take on rosemary aroma.

Rosemary repels ticks, mosquitoes and stinging insects!!

It is a component of many herbal butters. The taste and aroma of rosemary are multiplied when mixed with onion, garlic, or lavender. Rosemary is a characteristic spice of Italian and French cuisine.

Rosemary wine can also be made by first finely chopping its leaves. Fill one quarter of a container with rosemary and top up the rest with red wine. Leave this prepared wine to stand for 3 weeks, shaking the container occasionally, then strain.

Very Characteristic Effects

Rosemary is one of the few plants that increases blood pressure. It has a calming effect on the nervous system, improves blood circulation (removes the feeling of coldness in the extremities), helps with bile secretion, with rheumatism, asthma and cough, insomnia and migraine. Its regular use is recommended for treating gallbladder inflammation, painful menstruation, general weakness and swelling.

It can also be used as a disinfectant mouthwash and helps relieve nasal congestion during colds. A strong decoction can be used as compresses for various eczemas, for skin cleansing and for wounds. It refreshes and revives limbs after a stroke when we add a few rosemary leaves to a bath. Tea prepared from rosemary has diuretic effects and causes perspiration. We can use a maximum of 4-8 fresh leaves daily, usually in the morning on an empty stomach or in the form of rosemary wine.

The rosemary plant contains terpenes, borneol, cineole, tannins, bitters, resin and saponins.

We also place dried rosemary among clothes in wardrobes to prevent moisture, mold and moth infestation. Its extract helps remove cigarette smoke odor from rooms and also repels flies. Oil obtained from rosemary has a repellent effect. Its essence is used in the production of soaps, ointments, perfumes and liqueurs.

Rosemary is a very aromatic evergreen shrub that is a suitable plant for indoor cultivation, but will also scent your balcony or garden. Grow it from seeds in a sunny location in calcium-rich soil. Plant pre-grown rosemary plants in the garden bed only during May-June. The plant's leaves contain essential oils, tannins, bitters, flavonoids, triterpene acids and alkaloids. We collect rosemary tops, which we later dry. We use it as both a spice and medicine. A mixture of rosemary can flavor meat, especially game and mutton.

It is part of various spice blends. Rosemary is used as a remedy for rheumatic diseases, digestive problems, gallbladder and stomach disorders, and to stimulate blood circulation. In natural medicine, it is especially used for so-called women's diseases. Fresh rosemary sprigs are still used today to freshen the air in rooms.