Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus,

Rosemary is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves native to the Mediterranean. It is a member of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. It is prized for its culinary uses and its ability to thrive in dry, rocky conditions. When grown indoors, it is often kept as a kitchen herb or shaped into decorative topiaries.

Care Guide

LIGHT

  • Requires full sun to thrive.
  • Needs at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily; a South-facing window is essential for indoor plants.
  • Insufficient light leads to weak, floppy stems and a loss of the aromatic oils in the leaves.

WATER

  • Highly drought-tolerant once established.
  • Allow the top half of the soil to dry out completely between waterings.
  • Indoors, they are sensitive to "wet feet"—never let the pot sit in standing water as it is very prone to root rot.

SOIL

  • Requires very sandy, gritty, and well-draining soil.
  • A mix of cactus soil or standard potting soil amended with 50% sand or fine gravel is ideal.

GROWTH HABIT

  • Ideal conditions: Intense light, low humidity, and excellent air circulation.
  • Growth rate & size: Slow to moderate growth. Can reach 4-5 feet as an outdoor shrub or be kept at 12-18 inches indoors.

PROPAGATING

  • Propagates easily from stem-tip cuttings taken in the spring or summer.
  • Root the cuttings in a mix of perlite and peat moss rather than water to prevent stem rot.

PRUNING

  • Regular pruning is essential to keep the plant from becoming overly woody and "leggy."
  • Harvest the top few inches of stems regularly to encourage bushier growth.
  • Never prune more than one-third of the plant at a time, and avoid cutting into the old, brown wood.

REPOTTING

  • Repot every 1-2 years in the spring.
  • Rosemary likes to have its roots somewhat confined but requires fresh, gritty soil to replenish minerals.

FERTILIZING

  • Very light feeders; too much fertilizer can actually reduce the flavor and scent of the leaves.
  • Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength once in the spring.

FLOWERING

  • Produces small, tubular blue, white, or pink flowers that are highly attractive to bees.
  • Flowering usually occurs in the spring and summer but is less common when grown strictly indoors.

TOXICITY

  • Rosemary is non-toxic to humans, cats, and dogs.

PRO TIPS

  • Air circulation is the "secret" to indoor success; use a small fan near the plant to prevent powdery mildew.
  • Terra cotta pots are the best choice for Rosemary as they allow the soil to breathe and dry out more evenly.

Variability in Care

Care varies primarily based on the growth habit of the cultivar.

Upright Varieties
Examples: 'Tuscan Blue', 'Blue Spires'

  • These grow vertically and are the best choice for culinary use.
  • Require more frequent "pinching" to maintain a bushy shape and prevent them from becoming a single tall stalk.

Prostrate (Creeping) Varieties
Examples: 'Prostratus', 'Huntington Carpet'

  • These trail downward and are ideal for hanging baskets or cascading over stone walls.
  • They are slightly more sensitive to cold and require even sharper drainage to prevent rot in the low-hanging stems.

Plants for Sale

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