Rosemary officinalis

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

It is an evergreen semi-shrub with stiff, linear, greyish-green leaves that are felted on the underside and smell strongly when touched. It grows up to 1 m tall and flowers from June to August with small light blue, violet-pink or even white flowers. Besides upright varieties there are also trailing ones (prostratus), which you will appreciate in hanging containers. The varieties also differ in their frost resistance.

Use

In the kitchen rosemary is indispensable for meat, roasts and poultry, and it is also used in herb oils. Tea can be made from it too.

How to grow

• It needs a bright position and tolerates sun and partial dryness well.
• During the growing season water and feed regularly, but carefully, as it does not tolerate waterlogging.
• At the end of summer gradually reduce watering so that the shoots become woody.
• Over winter it needs a dormant period in a bright, cool room.