Catherine Love~ Ramblings from my Heart and Home

Herb of the Week- Rosemary

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is a much-loved perennial herb.   It is easy to grow provided you give it plenty of sun, air circulation (as it is somewhat sensitve to mildew), make sure it is in well-drained soil, and do not let it dry out.  

 Rosemary will need to be brought indoors for the winter in most climates.  In my area of Texas, a well-developed Rosemary planted in the garden will do fine outside during the winter; but when the temperature drops below freezing,  I always bring  potted Rosemary inside just to be safe.  Rosemary will do well inside through the winter if you have a sunny south facing window so it can bask in the winter sunshine.   It will be a nice addition to a kitchen windowsill, or make a pretty potted Christmas tree, too.   

Rosemary grows very slowly from seed, so I recommend purchasing small pots from a nursery or garden center.  You can also propagate cuttings fairly easily. Take  cuttings  of semiwoody stems that are about 4 inches long, strip the lower leaves off, dip in rooting hormone powder, and place in damp vermiculite.  You should have rooted plants in a few weeks.  This is a nice way to share your garden with friends and family, and these little plants will make welcome gifts. 

There are two types of Rosemary- upright and prostrate.  The upright variety will grow to about 3 to 4 feet tall in the south.  Tuscan Blue is one variety that has grown well for me.  Prostrate Rosemary grows by trailing and is quite pretty in a hanging basket or draping over the top of a window box or wall.  Lockwood de Forest is a nice  trailing variety. 

Rosemary has blue, white or pink flowers; the most common color seems to be blue.  In Texas, Rosemary usually blooms in January and February, though I did have a Lockwood de Forest that bloomed almost year around!  Unfortunately, when we moved to the apartment, a lack of sunshine and too much humidity followed by mildew did it in.  Majorca is a pink-blooming variety that I've had good luck with, too. 

Rosemary is a very fragrant herb, useful both in the kitchen and for medicinal uses.  Tomorrow I'll post a few ways I use Rosemary in the kitchen, and Friday I'll post some home remedies using Rosemary. 

"Rosemary, that's for remembrance"  Shakespeare 

Don't forget to to check back soon for more on this wonderful herb!

Catherine

Untitled Comment

7:52 PM, Wednesday, July 5, 2006 .. Posted by jenig

i'm looking forward to hearing about the remedies!