Rosemary

Rosemary is a fragrant evergreen shrub, perfect for potatoes, meats, marinades, breads, sauces, and Mediterranean cuisine.

Format

Hardiness Not hardy

Difficulty level Easy

Family Lamiaceae

Rosemary is an aromatic plant highly valued for its evergreen, narrow, and fragrant foliage, with a resinous, warm, and slightly peppery taste. Indispensable in Mediterranean cuisine, it wonderfully flavors grilled meats, potatoes, roasted vegetables, marinades, sauces, breads, flavored oils, fish, and stews. Its elegant habit and dark green foliage also add a beautiful decorative touch to patio pots, herb gardens, rockeries, and sunny arrangements.

Easy to grow during the warm season, rosemary prefers a sunny, warm, and well-ventilated location, in light, poor to moderately fertile, and very well-drained soil. It tolerates heat and drier conditions well once established but does not tolerate excessive water and heavy soils. In pots, it is important to let the potting mix dry out slightly between waterings and to choose a well-drained container. As it is not very hardy in our climate, it is often grown as an annual or brought indoors before the cold, in a very bright location.

Both aromatic, decorative, and useful for pollinators when it flowers, rosemary is an essential plant for creating a gourmet garden with a Mediterranean style. Its stems can be harvested as needed and used fresh or dried, with a concentrated flavor that often requires little quantity. It is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a fragrant, heat-resistant herb perfect for containers, patios, and sunny vegetable gardens.