How to Grow Rosemary
This article is part of our “How to Grow Herbs” series. If you would like to learn more about how to work with this plant after you harvest it, please refer to our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here.
There are many varieties of rosemary available to grow, some hardier than others. Rosemary is not particularly cold-tolerant and is usually brought indoors for the winter in cooler areas. I have seen a few varieties that are hardy down to zone 5, but most seem to be hardy down to zone 7 or 8. Consider growing it in a large, mobile container - perhaps on wheels - if you have colder winters or if the variety you have chosen is not hardy where you live. In warmer zones with milder winters, you may be able to plant rosemary in the ground as a perennial.
Rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and has had its botanical name changed from Rosmarinus officinalis to Salvia rosmarinus. Its leathery, needle-like leaves are highly aromatic and are arranged oppositely on the plant’s square stems. Where it thrives, it can grow into a beautiful shrub several feet tall! In areas where it is grown as an annual or in smaller containers, the plants can stay quite compact.
Rosemary produces sweet little pink, blue, or white flowers (depending on the variety) that are edible. The plant flowers in late winter to very early spring, and it is usually one of the first plants I distill each year.
Soil and Water Requirements
Rosemary grows best in well-draining, nutrient-rich soil with consistent watering. Overwatering will kill it, but underwatering will dry it out, so it is best to keep an eye on your plants each day, especially if you are growing them in containers. Stick your finger down into the soil to see if it is still holding moisture from the last watering. When it begins to feel mostly dry, water the plant.
Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant, so it does well in areas where lavender and thyme grow well.
Growing from Seed or Cuttings
Rosemary can be propagated by cuttings or grown from seeds, though the seeds can be a little reluctant to germinate. I prefer to grow it from rooted cuttings or purchased plants. If you are able to find a more mature plant at a local nursery, you can get a head start on growing it and begin working with it much sooner.
To sow the seeds, scatter them evenly over soil in a tray or pot, press them into the soil, then gently water them in. Keep them in a warm area exposed to light (they require light to sprout) and keep the soil lightly moist until the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings have several sets of true leaves, you can transplant them to individual pots to grow out for a bit before you move them to the garden.
Cuttings are much less finicky than seeds when it comes to rosemary, so I like to work with those instead. Nurseries and garden centers often sell rooted cuttings, but you can also take cuttings from your own plants if you have any rosemary that is already established. My favorite time of year to do this is springtime when the plants are putting on fresh foliar growth. I take the cuttings much the same way I do lavender cuttings, using a pair of sanitized snips to remove the fresh growth and trim off the bottom sets of leaves to create spaces for the roots to emerge. Poke the cuttings into clean soil or perlite, water them in, and keep in a warm, humid place until you start to notice root development.
Learning More
If you would like to learn more about how to work with aromatic plants, I hope you will join me in our Herbal Aromatherapy Certification Program™ here at Floranella! In it, I teach students how to safely and effectively work with over 100 different herbs as well as their applicable essential oils and hydrosols from the garden to the still to the apothecary. I hope to see you in class one day!
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Erin! I am the main instructor here at Floranella. I am a clinical herbalist, aromatherapist, artisan distiller and organic gardener based in the Pacific Northwest. Here at Floranella, I teach people how to work with plants safely and effectively from the garden to the apothecary. Thanks for being here! I’m glad you stopped by.
