Rosemary
Location
Butterfly Garden
- Common Name: Rosemary
- Scientific Name: Salvia rosmarinus also known as Rosmarinus officinalis.
- Family Name: Lamiaceae
- Origin: Northern Africa, western Asia, southern Europe, Mediterranean regions.
- Height: 4’ -6’
- Width: 2’ – 4’
- Growth: Medium
- Zone: 7A – 10B
- Light Needs: Full sun
- Salt Tolerance: Low
- Soil/PH/Texture: Likes loam soil with good drainage, and neutral – alkaline conditions (pH 6.6 – 8.5).
- Soil Moisture: Dry to medium, does not like to be waterlogged.
- Drought Tolerance: Drought tolerant.
- Pests/Diseases: Considered pest resistant.
- Growing Conditions: Can grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zones and can live as long as 30 years!
- Characteristics: Evergreen, used as an herb, leaves are fragrant, shiny and glossy, needle-like in appearance. Flowers are showy, under 1”, lavender, pale blue, medium blue, white and pale pink, and it blooms repeatedly in warm climates.
- Propagation: From softwood, semi-hard and hardwood cuttings. Also, by simple layering, stooling or mound layering. It is difficult to grow from seed; they have a low germination rate and slow growth.
- Wildlife: Attracts butterflies, bees and birds.
- Facts: The name “rosemary” derives from Latin rosmarinus (“dew of the sea”) and indeed Rosemary thrives best grown by the sea. The first mention of the plant Rosemary was on stone tablets dating back to as early as 5000 BC. and Egyptians were known to use it in their burial rituals, and it was considered sacred to ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. It is also used as a symbol of “Remembrance” for the dead It is now widely used for medicinal and culinary purposes. It is planted in gardens for pest control effects and used as a flavor for many foods, such as roast, lamb, chicken, pork, turkey, and stuffing. Their leaves can also be used for tea. The rosemary oil is also used for fragrances such as perfumes, shampoos and cleaning products. It is also burnt as an incense. Rosemary is considered deer resistant.
- Designer Considerations: Can be grown and formed into hedges and formal topiary. It is easily grown in pots, makes a great groundcover and is suitable for xeriscaping.