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• Rosemary

Rosemary - growing

Rosemary

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to Mediterranean hillsides but will also grow well throughout most of the UK if planted in a sheltered, sunny spot with well drained soil. A fantastic plant for the dry garden or Mediterranean border, rosemary is hardy down to -10°C but is intolerant of excessive winter rain.

Upright forms may need tying on to stakes or walls, while trailing forms are best planted where they can tumble over steps or walls.

Pruning is best done after flowering has finished; this will help maintain a compact shrub. Rosmarinus officinalis can grow to 2m and will flower from late spring through the summer. There are many cultivars, which have a variety of flower colours including white, pink, purple, or blue. Propagation is best done from softwood or semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Clip a shoot 10-15 cm long, stripping a few leaves from the bottom, and plant it directly into soil.