Rosemary

Rosemary, Rosmarinus

Rosemary is a beautiful evergreen shrub that produces tiny flowers sporadically throughout the year. The needle-like leaves are used to flavor a wide variety of culinary dishes, including chicken, pork, lamb, rice, tomato and egg dishes.

Growing

Rosemary thrives in hot, full sun conditions. The soil should be well drained and of poor to average fertility.

Rosemary is one of the toughest and easiest to grow landscaping plants in Texas. Plants become small evergreen shrubs that can be harvested from year-round. You may need to provide winter protection in the more northern parts of the state.

Tips

Rosemary is often grown as a shrub in low-maintenance and low-water plantings in Texas. Low-growing, spreading varieties can be planted along the top of a retaining wall or in containers.

Recommended

R. officinalis is a dense, bushy, evergreen shrub with narrow, dark green leaves. The habit varies somewhat between cultivars from strongly upright to prostrate and spreading. Many cultivars are available. Flowers are usually in shades of blue, but pink-flowered cultivars are available.

Features: fragrant, evergreen foliage; bright blue or sometimes pink flowers throughout the year

Height: 8"–4'

Spread: 12"–4'

Hardiness: zones 8–10

Notes: Because rosemary can produce flowers during times of year when most other plants are not in bloom, it is a helpful food source for bees.