Rosemary

• Type: Perennial in zones 8 to 10
• Planting time: Spring, fall
• Features: Tiny, strongly aromatic and flavorful leaves, blue blooms
• Light: Full sun
• Soil: Well drained, on the dry side, pH 6 to 7
• Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches
• Plant size: 24 to 36 inches tall
• Garden use: Herb garden, flower border, containers, low clipped hedge
• Culinary use: Italian and Mediterranean dishes, vinegars and oils, breads

A native of the Mediterranean region and member of the mint family, rosemary is a lovely, easy-to-grow plant with great culinary and ornamental value. A striking, upright evergreen shrub that is winter-hardy in zones 8 to 10, it fills the air with its fragrance as soon as you brush your hand across the leaves. The key to growing rosemary is a well-drained soil that stays evenly moist at first; as the plant takes root it becomes increasingly drought tolerant. It is also excellent for containers, which lets gardeners in colder climates to bring it indoors in the winter. Unlike most herbs, rosemary has a stronger flavor when fresh than when dried. Cut sprigs anytime for fresh use. Trim it regularly to encourage tender new stems or the plant will get woody.

It’s hard to have too much rosemary. The plant has so many uses that it will be enjoyed all the time. Just a few cut stems will fill a room with fragrance.

Some Bonnie Plants® varieties may not be available in your local area, due to different variables in certain regions. Also, if any variety is a limited, regional variety it will be noted on the pertinent variety page.