Varieties:Â Prostrate growing varieties are available, as well as various flower colours.
Appearance:Â A dense shrub with masses of fragrant, thin, dark green leaves, usually with small blue flowers, but pink-and white-flowered varieties are also available.
Growing conditions:Â Likes well-drained soil, grows well in full sun or semi-shade and tolerates dry periods well.
Size/spacing: Can reach between 60cm and 1.5m high, usually pruned shorter; space plants 1m apart, closer together if growing as a hedge.
Getting started:Â Can be grown from seed sown in spring, summer and early autumn, but it also grows extremely easily from cuttings. Seedlings are readily available for many months.
Fertilising: Use a slow-release fertiliser, and don’t over-feed.
Watering:Â Drought-resistant so copes without a lot of water. Harvesting: Pick as required. Maintenance: Regular harvesting and/or pruning will keep it bushy.
goes with…
- Lamb, pork, chicken, fish
- Vinegar, lemons
- Potatoes, onions
- Olive oil, garlic, bread
quick ideas…
- Use rosemary stems stripped of leaves as skewers when barbecuing seafood or meat.
- Scatter rosemary leaves on potatoes before roasting.
Don’s tips
Rosemary is a hardy perennial that copes well with drought and poor soils, but it prefers slightly alkaline soils. It can be pruned to shape, makes a great hedge, and its leaves are beautifully fragrant. It’s an easy-care garden plant in full sun. Rosemary is also easy to grow from cuttings (taken in late summer). If a friend has a beaut rosemary bush, take a few cuttings and you’re on your way! Team rosemary with lemon and olive oil for a superb barbecue marinade.