Rosmarinus officinalis

Other common names

rosemary, old man, rose of the sea, southernwood

Synonyms

Rosmarinus officinalis

Herbs - Culinary Shrubs

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A bushy, evergreen shrub, variable in habit from prostrate to upright, from 15cm to 2m tall. Aromatic, linear, dark green leaves 1.5-5cm long have pale, felty undersides. Flowers usually pale violet-blue and white, can also be pinkish or blue-purple, flowering in mid-spring to summer with occasional flowers in autumn. Many selections and cultivars are available

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Name Status: Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea: This genus has changed from Rosmarinus to Salvia
Plant Range: Mediterranean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil in sun, see rosmary cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring or by semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Rock garden
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Gravel garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 9; trim hedges after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to rosemary beetle, cuckoo spit, sage leafhopper, tortrix moth and scale insects

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots