Rosemary was Herb of the Year in 2000.

“There is rosemary, that’s for remembrance, pray, love, remember.”
Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Rosemary is one of the most well known, versatile, easy-to-grow herbs that we offer. Here in the Southeast, it is an evergreen shrubby perennial that will tolerate the hot sun and bouts of drought once it is established. If you have trouble growing rosemary, it probably isn’t getting enough sun, or you are giving it too much water. To be happy and healthy, Rosemary needs at least 5–6 hours of sun a day, and well drained soil. It absolutely will not tolerate sitting in water! In addition to Rosemary’s many culinary attributes, it is also known for its homeopathic qualities, its reputation for aiding memory and stimulating the brain, as well as being a favored herb for use in landscape design, fresh and dried flower arrangements, wreaths, topiaries, potpourri, bath salts and essential oils. What more can you ask for in a plant?

In the past, rosemary was carried by mourners at funerals as a symbol of remembrance, and by brides at their weddings, as a symbol of fidelity. Greek scholars wore garlands of rosemary when they were taking examinations to improve their memories and concentration. Rosemary was also touted by Pliny as a cure for bad eyesight, jaundice, and miscellaneous wounds.

In the culinary realm, most everyone has heard of rosemary potatoes, but those who don’t venture beyond this simple dish will be missing out an some great flavor sensations! Try it finely chopped and sprinkled over lamb chops and other roasted meats, pizza, or bruschetta. Add a small amount to the dough when you are making bread, rolls, or focaccia. Any tomato-based sauce will be enhanced by rosemary, especially when added with garlic! Try mixing some in with softened butter or cream cheese to use as a topping for vegetables or bread. Use branches (stripped of leaves) as skewers for seafood on the grill! Tie a bundle with kitchen twine, and immerse in soups and stews to add a wonderful flavor, as the French do with bouquet garni. The possibilities are endless! One thing to keep in mind for the rosemary novice however, a little goes a long way! Rosemary’s flavor can be overwhelming if you use too much, so start small—you can always add more.

There are many different species of this wonderful shrub. At Pete’s, we grow several different varieties that we have found to do well in this climate, i.e., are very heat and humidity tolerant. In general, rosemary needs an alkaline soil in a sunny, well drained spot. A raised bed or a large pot is ideal for rosemary, ensuring the roots won’t be sitting in water. You can grow rosemary indoors, though it does best outside. In either scenario, make sure it gets at least 5–6 hours of direct sun each day, and, especially for the indoor gardener, be sure not to over water. When given the proper condition, stand back, because rosemary thrives in our climate, and certain types can reach up to 5 feet!

Salem Rosemary is a good upright variety of rosemary, with narrow dark green leaves and pale blue flowers. It is one of the most reliable growers in our climate, and can even be grown as a hedge. When planted in the ground, Salem can reach up to 5 feet in height, and get to be about 4 feet across, so make sure to give it plenty of room. Pinch the tips back periodically to keep the growth fresh and the bottom of the plant from becoming too woody. Salem is a wonderful variety for culinary use, not too piney or resinous. The branches work wonderfully as skewers, imparting a light rosemary flavor to whatever you are grilling, or use a branch as a “brush” to apply marinades.

Tuscan Blue is an upright rosemary that has strong vertical growth, thick, fleshy, dark green leaves, and beautiful blue-violet flowers. Tuscan Blue makes an excellent container plant, or can provide a strong vertical accent in your perennial border—just make sure it has good drainage, and plenty of air circulation.

Pink Majorca has a semi-upright to trailing growth habit, and showy pink flowers. Its unique shape makes it a great candidate for container gardening, especially when combined with lower growing herbs, or blooming annuals.

Sissinghurst Blue is a cultivar selected from Sissinghurst Castle. It is a semi-upright variety with narrow, needle-like leaves and beautiful, bright blue flowers.

Santa Barbara is a narrow-leafed, semi-upright variety with light blue flowers.

Huntington Carpet is a prostrate (trailing) variety of rosemary. It has glossy dark green, narrow leaves, blooms a multitude of sky-blue flowers in the cooler months, and can reach about 2 feet in height, by 3–4 feet in width. Its trailing branches make it an excellent candidate for container gardening, or for use as a ground cover.

Blue Boy is a dwarf, prostrate variety, excellent for growing in containers or pots because of its trailing habit. Eventually, it can reach about 2 feet high.