Salvia rosmarinus
Previously known as:
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh rose-ma-REE-nus
- Description
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Rosemary is a perennial evergreen herb that is irregularly mounded and is valued for its fragrant, ornamental foliage and as an enhancement in cooking. It blooms from fall to spring. Key ID elements are the aromatic linear leaves which are green on top and whitish underneath, and also the axillary flowers. Flower color fades in hot weather to blend with foliage and is most pronounced in late winter. It is used in containers, as low hedges, and in places where it can cascade. Rosemary has a low tolerance for wet, humid environments and requires careful tending in an appropriate spot in North Carolina gardens. The plant has an arching or rounded form and, when mature, can reach 6 feet in height. Some cultivars are grown to be small enough to keep indoors. Note that the cultivar, 'Prostratus', has a form that is lower and creeping.
Rosemary plants are slow to germinate from seed and gardeners might find more success propagating from stem cuttings, layering, or division. Once established, rosemary is drought and salt spray tolerant and resists predation from deer. Rosemary does best in light, slightly acidic, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates drought, shade, salt, heavy pruning, and most soil types. It is easily transplanted and rooted. Rosemary does display pale to dark blue flowers and, once the bloom has passed, you can severely prune to encourage dense foliage growth or cut to specific shapes.
The genus name, Rosmarinus, comes from the Latin words ros (dew) and marinus (sea), or dew of the sea, in probable reference to the ability of this plant to thrive well in coastal areas (sea cliffs) and exposure to ocean mists.
Quick ID Hints:
- Linear leaves are green on top & whitish underneath
- Flowers are axillary, usually blue
- Foliage is evergreen, aromatic when bruised
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot, and poor air circulation, which can foster powdery mildew. Wet, poorly-drained soils in winter are usually fatal, and heavy clay soils and overwatering can stunt plant growth. Overly moist soils can cause phytophthora.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator and Culinary Garden Lake Wall Garden Border Landscape Pinewild County Club, Moore County Rock Herb Garden Bee Hive Garden, Wake Co
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Prostratus'
low, creeping variety - 'Tuscan Blue'
- 'Prostratus'
- 'Prostratus', 'Tuscan Blue'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Prostratus'
low, creeping variety - 'Tuscan Blue'
- 'Prostratus'
- 'Prostratus', 'Tuscan Blue'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- rosmarinus
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The intensely fragrant foliage of this shrub is commonly harvested for a variety of purposes including cooking and potpourri. Oil is commercially used in some perfumes, soaps, shampoos, lotions and other toiletries. Ancient Greeks and Romans threw sprigs of this plant into graves to signify their desire to remember the departed. This plant was also used in Ancient Greece to strengthen memory, and students wore sprigs in their hair when they studied.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa, Europe, Western Asia, Mediterranean
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies and bees.
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Highly salt and drought tolerant; resistant to damage by deer.
- Edibility:
- Teas; flavoring for vinegar, jam, bread, butter, stuffing, vegetables, stew, and meat dishes and, when mixed with other herbs and salt, as a flavoring for most dishes.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Columnar
- Erect
- Irregular
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are nutlets and are nonornamental.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny pale blue to white flowers bloom in clusters along the shoots of the prior year’s growth. Where grown outdoors in USDA Zones 8-10, flowers typically bloom from January to April. Flowers are sometimes but rarely white or pink. The corolla is 2-lipped, upper lip is concave and 2-lobed, lower lip is 3-lobed. There are 2 stamens that are strongly exerted. Inflorescence is a short, axillary raceme whorled around the stem.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Good Dried
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Needle-like leaves are closely spaced on the stems and are very aromatic with a strong flavor useful in cooking. They are opposite, simple, linear, narrow, entire, revolute, green above and white-tomentose beneath, strongly aromatic when bruised, and are less than an inch in size. Short, dense hairs present on the underside of the leaf and they are sessile, with no petiole.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- White
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Peeling in linear strips. Scaly, white bark.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Salt
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
