| Rosemary | |
| Rosmarinus officinalis |
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“There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember...” -William Shakespeare. |
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About Rosemary 
Rosemary has always held more importance than most of the other herbs, put together. The name of the herb is derived from the Latin words ros and maris meaning “spray from the sea”. In ancient Greece and Rome rosemary was believed to strengthen the memory, which accounts for its being known as the herb of remembrance and fidelity.
Rosemary was an herb that followed you from cradle to grave. A sprig of rosemary was used to stir cups at christenings, while during the courting season its wood was made into lutes for lovers' madrigals, it was often placed in a bride's bouquet or worn at funerals, and those taking examinations would twine rosemary into their hair or massage rosemary oil into the forehead and temples. This herb has always been a symbol of friendship and one might find a fresh little sprig tucked into a letter from a kindred soul.
Rosemary is a perennial evergreen shrub in zones 8 through 10 with spiky, evergreen leaves which are dark and glossy on the upper side and gray-green and downy underneath. The small, blue nettle-shaped flowers appear in May to June and are a great attraction to bees. The shrub will grow to four to five feet and a few bushes planted together will make a compact, fragrant hedge.
Planning
Rosemary should be grown in full sun. It will tolerate soil that is somewhat dry, rocky and poor, but the soil should have good drainage. Rosemary enjoys a slightly alkaline soil, so add a handful of lime when planting if your soil pH is base.
Keeping rosemary pot-bound not only adds to the strength of its fragrance, but is said to encourage flowering as well. Rosemary requires a sheltered spot in which to grow - a south or west-facing wall is ideal - and light well-drained soil.
Preparation
Rosemary is rarely grown from seed. It is easier to simply buy a small plant at a nursery or get a friend to layer some for you. You can also root a soft stem cutting in wet sand. Seeds are difficult to germinate as well as very slow to grow and the best way to propagate rosemary is either by cuttings or from layering. A new plant can easily be produced from an old by firmly pegging down a small branch into the soil with a piece of wire or twig until the roots are established and then removing it carefully from the parent plant.
In warmer zones you can grow rosemary right in the ground and produce a marvelous hedge of rather large proportions. In borderline climates you may want to consider heavily mulching your rosemary if you hope to overwinter the plants and keep them as perrenials. For colder climates the best way to grow rosemary is in containers, bringing them outside in the spring and returning them indoors in the fall.
Care
Rosemary is very easy to care for. Well-drained soil is essential, to prevent root rot. Once established, rosemary needs very little water so be sure to allow the soil to dry between waterings. Feed once a month during the growing season with a diluted, all purpose fertilizer, and if needed prune lightly for shape. Rosemary can be used for topiary.
Pests / Disease
Thrips are the most likely culripts of problems for your rosemary plants. Thrips can be managed with an organic pesticide, but be careful to read the manufacturer's instructions and warnings before applying any sort of pesticide on anything bound for your table. Careless use of even the most benign organic pesticides can damage the natural ecology of your garden.
Harvesting
Fresh rosemary as well as dried rosemary are wonderful additions to any number of culinary dishes. Harvest rosemary on an as-needed basis.
Rosemary Varieties
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Rosemary Topiary This Rosemary Tree is delivered from the fine folks at Gardener's Supply Company and is both fragrant and attractive. 
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Common Rosemary Herb
The Rosemary plant, ‘Rosmarinus officinalis,’ is a wonderful herb with a piney flavor. This herb is a must for lamb, pork, poultry, carrots and peas. It is also an excellent container herb, and grown indoors will add a wonderful aroma. The leaves as well as the flowers are edible.
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Rosemary
Rosemary has a very aromatic fragrance. Any herb gardener will easily fall in love with this plant. It produces very narrow gray-green, needlelike leaves up to one inch in length. The seeds should be planted in the spring, but starting the plants indoors in recommended.
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Shop for Rosemary Needs
Rosemary Standard Topiary at Timeless Topiaries.
For the purchase of dried rosemary consider Spice of Life Gourmet Peppercorns.
Rosemary Links
Amazon.com offers many Rosemary
Recent Forum Entires About Rosemary
Garden Blog Entries about Rosemary
Articles and Recipes With Rosemary