Rosemary--The Ultimate Guide

This is a rewrite of my original post on rosemary.  I have added a bunch of new information, as well as adding some graphics and more photos.  It is now a very long and extensive post that covers just about everything you would ever want to know about this wonderful plant. Now it really is "The Ultimate Guide to Rosemary"!

Rosemary Bush

This time for the herb journal, I will discuss ROSEMARY.  This is one of my personal favorite herbs.  I love its form, scent and flavor.  There are many amazing things you can do with rosemary and I will share some of them with you.

Rosmarinus officinalis, or rosemary, is a woody, perennial evergreen shrub with aromatic needle-like leaves that range from light green to almost black on top, depending on the cultivar variety.  All cultivars' leaves are white or gray underneath.  The leaves are about 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches long, and slightly hairy.  There is a prominent vein down the center of each leaf and the margins of them turn downward slightly. 

White Undersides of Rosemary Leaves

Rosemary flowers are white ('Albus'), pink ('Majorca pink'), purple ('officinalis'), pale blue ('Gray'), or deep blue ('Tuscan Blue').  The flowers are two-lipped and usually appear in spring or early summer, but in some cases, they will be visible from December until June. The flowers are generally about 1/2 inch long and edible.  They have 2 upper lobes and 3 lower ones, with 4 stamens.

Rosemary Flowers Extreme Close up

Rosemary Carpet--"Dew of the Sea"

It is said that all rosemary flowers were once white, but only turned blue when the Virgin Mary hung her cloak on a bush of it.  She did this as she was fleeing Herod's soldiers with the Christ child.   Another name for rosemary is "Dew of the Sea" because of the dew-like appearance of its flowers from a distance.  Rosemary branches have been strewn over courtroom floors to prevent "jail fever" (typhus).  It is also an emblem of fidelity for lovers and has been carried in funerals to symbolize that the dead person has not been forgotten. As a dye, rosemary produces shades of yellow-green on wool.

Woody Stem of Rosemary

Rosemary stems are squarish in shape and covered with a scaly bark.  The stems usually turn woody after about their second year.  Rosemary seeds are tan, oily, small and spherical.  Rosemary is a member of the mint family (Labiatae), which gives it its strong aroma and slightly minty/piny taste.  

Rosemary Seeds

One cultivar, called 'Sawyer's Selection', has mauve or pale blue flowers that can reach a height of 8 feet after only three years.  Typical height is usually around 4 feet, but it does grow very quickly. Another cultivar, 'Arp', was discovered in 1972, in Texas near the town of Arp, which lends its name to the plant.  This cultivar is purported to be the hardiest cultivar of rosemary available.  It has an open growing habit, with thick, gray-green, resinous leaves that are lemon-scented.  It attains a height of about 5 feet at maturity and is hardy in zones 7 - 10, to a temperature of -10 degrees F.  This cultivar has some of the strongest rosemary flavor available.  You can even use its woody stems as meat skewers and they will infuse the food with their flavor.

'Arp' Rosemary

Rosemary is easy to grow from cuttings or purchased plants, but difficult if you try to grow it from seed.  Packaged seeds don't do well at all.  I have had the best luck with growing rosemary from cuttings in water.  They take about 2 months to start any roots, but if you are patient, you will be pleasantly surprised.  

My Baby Rosemary

The photo above is taken of one of my "baby" rosemary plants.  This rosemary is one of the first sprigs I cut from a new plant that had some tall branches. I only clipped it to shape the new plant, but I couldn't bring myself to throw the little tips away.  I stuck them in a vase just to see what would happen.  That was back in early May.  It is now October.  The sprig didn't start any roots until around late June or early July, but as soon as the roots appeared, so did new growth on the top of the sprig.  I have already pinched the new growth off once.  New growth started again within a few days. If you look closely at the picture, just under the water line in the vase, there are new lower branches forming, too.  But that is 6 months worth of growing!  My basil and mint sprigs sent down roots after only two or three days in water.  No one will ever accuse rosemary of being a proliferate grower, that is certain!

Rosemary is an excellent candidate for propagation by layering.  Layering is a method of propagation used on woody-stemmed herbs like upright thyme, lavender, sage, rosemary, winter savory, tarragon, and southernwoods.  Do this in the spring so that by the end of summer you have new plants to plant in the garden that will establish themselves during the fall and winter.  To layer a plant, take a healthy outside stem and bend it away from the parent plant.  Make sure soil is enriched.  "Wound" the stem by making a notch or rubbing the bark and under-bark off with a dull knife.  Anchor the stem in the ground with a piece of heavy wire that has been bent in half or use a clothespin.  Make sure you leave at least 6 inches of the branch exposed to the air.  Cover with soil and then place a brick or heavy stone on top.  After two or three months, the branch will have rooted, creating a new plant that can be cut from the parent and planted.

Another method of layering is known as stooling, mounding, or stool layering.  This type of layering is great for reviving unpruned lavender bushes, aging lavenders, or any other bushy, woody herb that has become leggy and rough-looking.  Mound up the soil around the center of the plant, burying the center branches.  If rain washes the soil away, replace it right away.  Leave it this way for about two or three months.  At the end of the time period, dig up the parent plant.  Roots will have formed all over the buried branches.  Any pieces with a few leaves and healthy roots can be cut off to be replanted into pots or directly into beds. 

Rosemary Sprouts

Whatever method of propagation you use for starting new rosemary plants, just remember that when you plant it in your garden, make sure you put it in its permanent spot.  It doesn't transplant well.  I know this from experience as I have killed several perfectly beautiful rosemary bushes by trying to move them to another spot in my own garden.

Rosemary by Fence

Rosemary is not bothered by heat or reflected heat, such as that radiated by sunny walls, so it is great on patios and terraces in planters or pots.  

Rosemary Farm Field

Harvesting of rosemary can be done at any time.  Like I said above, I bought the new plant and trimmed some of the tops to shape it.  Harvest only the top two or three inches from the plant and it will keep growing, unbothered by the mild pruning.  However, if you cut too much at one time, it can damage or kill the plant.  

Rosemary Sprigs

To dry the cut rosemary sprigs, weave them into a wreath.  Follow the directions HERE for how to make this lovely and aromatic decoration for your home.  Otherwise, simply bind the rosemary sprigs into bundles and hang them up to dry.  As they dry, them stems will drop their leaves, so you may want to tie small brown paper bags over them to catch all the leaves that fall as the bundle dries.

Hanging to Dry Rosemary

Rosemary is native to the hills along the Mediterranean, mostly in Portugal and Spain, and mainly on dry, rocky, warm cliffs and slopes, but today is widely grown due to its ease of cultivation.  Rosemary will grow just about anywhere, except where it gets very cold in the winter.  In the North, it is a tender perennial and must be taken in during the winter months. I love it because I live in the desert, and rosemary is one plant that will flourish in a desert setting or xeriscape garden.  It will withstand drought and has survived in my garden when all other plants around it have been burned to a crisp by the hot desert sun.  In formal herb gardens, rosemary also does very well, as long as the soil is alkaline, light, dry, and chalky, as well as a bit sandy and well-drained.  One of the fun properties of rosemary is that it is woody and so very sturdy, which allows it to be pruned into various topiary shapes in a formal garden setting.

Rosemary Topiary

Rosemary Tree

If your soil is acidic, apply lime to it to make it more alkaline.  Wood ashes, crushed eggshells, or crushed seashells added to the soil every two to three years will also increase the alkalinity of your soil.  Rosemary roots can easily develop root rot, so well-drained soil is essential.  Just be sure not to underwater rosemary, as it will dry out very easily, too.  This is especially true with potted rosemary plants.  With all rosemaries, mist the leaves regularly.  Most rosemary is best grown outdoors in the garden in zones 8 - 10.  In general, it prefers temperatures to not dip below +10 degrees F.

Very Tall Old Rosemary

The plants will live for decades and grow quite tall and large.  Average size is between 5 and 6 feet tall, if left to grow for many years.  Some have even grown to 10 feet tall in some instances.  They have pest-control properties for the plants around them due to the oils produced by their leaves.  The plants themselves are very pest-resistant.  The only insects, I have ever found on mine was spider mites.  I used an insect repellent spray and eliminated them.  The plant recovered beautifully.  Rosemary also is an effective deer-repellent, so it is good to grow if your garden is regularly visited by these critters.

Reaching for the Sky

The rosemary plant produces several volatile oils in its leaves that are responsible for all the superstitions and medicinal claims that have been made about the plant over the last 2,000+ years.  It has not been until just recently, though, that many of the stories about the power of rosemary have actually been tested medically.

One of the properties of the oils in rosemary is that it gets blood flowing under the skin.  A bath of rosemary can stimulate a worn and sluggish body because of this property.  It has been reputed to improve circulation and warm cold arms and legs, as well as the appearance of hair and skin.  You can make a steam facial with the herb to perk up your face and to get rid of dark under eye circles and bags.  This herb has all-around energetic qualities of clarification, purification and rejuvenation.

Rosemary Oil

Quick Recipe:

If you are a brunette, rosemary will brighten your hair:  Infuse 1 ounce of both rosemary and sage in a pint of water for 24 hours.  Or, steep a sprig of rosemary in 1 cup of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes.  Either way, work the rinse into your hair after shampooing.

Old Herbal Book Plate of Rosemary

Rosemary has been used as a treatment for depression, headaches, and muscle spasms. When applied externally, it benefits sufferers of rheumatism, sores, eczema, bruises and wounds.  Rosemary has been reported to have antibacterial properties and during the Middle Ages, it was burned in homes to ward off the spread of the Plague.  It was somewhat effective in doing this, as well as lessening the strength and duration of the disease if someone came down with it.

Rosemary Tea

Traditionally, rosemary has been used to relieve pain, increase perspiration, stimulate the liver and gall bladder, relieve gout, improve digestion, and to control many pathogenic organisms.  It may even treat toxic shock syndrome, although more research is necessary to substantiate this claim.

The wood of the rosemary bush was used in historical times to make musical instruments. Twine or braid rosemary sprigs into your hair to improve your memory.  Ancient Greek students wore rosemary garlands around their heads while studying for exams.  Brides wore wreaths made from the branches to promote the success of their marriage, and because it is a traditional symbol of remembrance, friendship and love.  Ancient Egyptians used the herb in embalming the dead.  You can scatter rosemary stems on a barbecue to discourage insects as it is a natural mosquito repellent.  It is also said that if rosemary grows lush in a family's garden, it means a woman runs the household.  Maybe that's why I have so much success growing rosemary--because we are all girls here (even our pets are female)!

The people of the Victorian Era developed an entire language of flowers and plants in which they assigned various meanings and characteristics to those plants.  These meanings were based on lore and tradition. Through this language, they were able to develop a type of system where bouquets made up of many different flowers conveyed a message from the sender to the receiver.  The floral meanings were common knowledge, and so were easily understood by all parties.  Rosemary was a symbol of remembrance, fidelity and loyalty. Due to these meanings, it was carried in bridal bouquets to promote the success of the marriage.  It was also carried in funerals and used in funeral bouquets for the same reasons.  Rosemary was given to a new love to say, "your presence revives me."

In Wicca and Witchcraft, rosemary is used in love and lust spells and to promote restful sleep.  Magical workings for rosemary make use of its purifying properties, particularly for eliminating negative vibrations from a physical space or one's own person.  Burning rosemary before spell work is highly recommended to rid the home of negativity, as is using an infusion of rosemary in a ritual bath prior to any magical work.  Practitioners of magic may also simply wash their hands in a sacred water before magic or use rosemary water to purify and bless their ritual tools.  They may also combine the rosemary with juniper to create a smudge for healing and clearing out any residual energies of disease in a room where someone has been ill.

Rosemary Bunch with a Bow

Rosemary can be hung in a doorway or on the porch posts of a business or home to keep thieves away.  If you carry a sprig of rosemary with you, you will remain healthy.   Wearing a chaplet of rosemary will aid memory.  The leaves can be powdered, wrapped in a linen cloth, and then bound to the right arm to dispel depression and make emotions light and merry.  To receive knowledge, or have a question answered, burn rosemary on charcoal and smell the smoke.  

Halloween! Rosemary

Rosemary is said to attract elves and other good spirits, and it is a common belief that young fairies take the form of snakes and live amongst its branches.  Tapping your lover with a sprig of rosemary is said to ensure the constancy and fidelity of that lover.

Rosemary Covered with a Snowy Spider Web ( Kinda looks magical to me!)

Other magical uses for rosemary include protection, retaining youth, combating jealousy, and strengthening mental clarity and focus.  The wood should be smelled often to promote youthful vitality.  Magic practitioners recommend stuffing rosemary into poppets or sachets to draw new suitors or placing a fresh sprig of rosemary by your pillow to promote a solid night's sleep, which is a key component to retaining one's youthful vitality.  This is also said to drive away nightmares, demons, and evil spirits.  Laid under the bed, it protects the sleeper from all harm.

According to Medical News Today, many of the medicinal claims about rosemary have recently been taken to task by the medical and scientific communities.  So far, a lot of them have been proven to contain much truth.  Rosemary is a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6, as well as a valuable antioxidant that can improve brain performance and prevent brain aging.  It produces carnosic acid that prevents free radical damage to the mind and body.  This substance is one of the volatile oils the rosemary plant produces. Carnosic acid can reduce macular degeneration and significantly promotes eye health.  

Rosemary and Other Herbal Creations

Rosemary oil has also been proven effective as an anti-tumor agent and has anti-proliferative properties against human leukemia and in breast cancer patients.  This means that the oil can keep these particular, and most likely other types of cancer, from spreading throughout the body.  It has been shown to actively reduce cancer-causing agents that can develop during cooking and may also help to manage Type II Diabetes as effectively as many current medications.

In cooking is where rosemary may be most comfortable for you to experiment with.  Its flavor is both strong and subtle.  It is pungent, somewhat piny, mint-like, yet sweeter, with a slight ginger finale. 

Rosemary and Lemons

You can freeze fresh rosemary and use it as needed by taking out a sprig and sliding your thumb and forefinger down the stem to take off the amount of leaves that you need.  Just be wary and adjust your recipes as frozen rosemary is much stronger than fresh as its oils have been concentrated during the freezing process.  Dried rosemary is also much more potent than fresh.  As a general rule, use about 1/2 as much frozen or dried rosemary as you would for fresh.

Grinding Rosemary in a Mortar and Pestle

Culinary Quick Recipes:

1. 1. When baking bread, add rosemary to the bread dough, using 1 Tablespoon for each loaf.
   2. Create an herb butter by combining 2 teaspoons of rosemary with 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter.
   3. Enhance the sweetness of fruit salads without sugar by adding rosemary.
   4. For extra aromatics when grilling, add a handful of rosemary to the coals during the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking.
   5. Substitute rosemary for mint in a mint jelly recipe.  Use it with roast meats and poultry.

Rustic Loaf Rosemary Bread

As you can see, rosemary is quite versatile in its uses.  Many of the myths and lore regarding it are now being proven as scientifically true.  Not only that, but it smells fresh and clean, looks beautiful and striking in your garden, and tastes great, too!

Rosemary and Daisies

See my "Recipes" page for how to use rosemary in cooking.  There are several ideas for homemade cosmetics using rosemary under "DIY Herbal Cosmetics", and you will find several potpourri ideas for rosemary on the "Potpourri" page.  Under "Projects", follow the instructions to make a beautiful and aromatic wreath from fresh rosemary sprigs.

Rosemary Bouquet

Check back again soon for more information about other herbs.  Be sure to leave a comment below to let me know different ways you use rosemary in your home!  See you soon!

Peace and love always,

Pale Blue Butterfly on Rosemary

Sources:

Bremness, Leslie. RD Home Handbook: Herbs. Pleasantville: Reader's Digest Association, 1990. Print.

Brown, Deni. The Herb Society of America Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1995. Print.

Clevely, Andi, and Katherine Richmond. The Complete Book of Herbs. New York: Smithmark, 1994. Print.

Cunnningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1992. Print.

Ehrlich, Steven D. "Rosemary." University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland Medical Center, 6 July 2014. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

Gips, Kathleen. Flora's Dictionary: The Victorian Language of Herbs and Flowers . Chagrin Falls: TM Publications, 1995. Print.

Grieve, M. "Rosemary." Botanical.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

Kowalchik, Claire, and William H. Hylton, eds. Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs . Emmaus: Rodale, 1987. Print.

Kruger, Anna. An Illustrated Guide to Herbs. Stamford: Longmeadow, 1993. Print.

Nordqvist, Joseph. "Rosemary: Health Benefits, Precautions, Drug Interactions." Http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/. Medical News Today, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

"Rosemary." Web MD. Ed. Therapeutic Research Faculty. Therapeutic Research Faculty, 2009. Web. 2 Oct. 2016.

Shaudys, Phyllis. The Pleasure of Herbs. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1986. Print.

Shaudys, Phyllis V. Herbal Treasures. Pownal: Storey Communications, 1990. Print.

Photo Credits:

Rosemary Carpet:   Photo credit: johnlichtenstein via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary in a Tan Pot:   Photo credit: cathyse97 via Visual hunt / CC BY-ND

Rosemary Oil:  http://healthybeautiful.com/rosemary-oil-uses-health-benefits-hair-growth-skin-acne-safety-where-to-buy-rosemary-oil/

Rosemary Wreath:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Rosemary Sprigs:  Photo Credit:  ginsnob via VisualHunt.com/CC BY-SA

Rosemary Topiary:   Photo credit: elixir b via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary Tip with Words:   Photo credit: Muffet via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary Bush:   Photo credit: intheburg via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary for Graphic:   Photo credit: StephenMitchell via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

White Undersides of Rosemary:   Photo credit: craigles75 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary Flower Extreme Close up:   Photo credit: fturmog via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Carpet:   Photo credit: johnlichtenstein via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Woody Stem of Rosemary:   Photo credit: strangejourney via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary Seeds:  http://www.projectpurityseeds.com/store/p36/Heirloom_Rosemary.html

Arp Rosemary:  https://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/rosoffarp.htm

"Baby" Rosemary:  Photo Credit:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Layering Drawings:  Angela Fox-Thompson

Rosemary Sprouts:   Photo credit: ccharmon via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-ND

Rosemary by Fence:   Photo credit: NatalieMaynor via VisualHunt / CC BY

Rosemary Field:   Photo credit: rmburnes via Visual hunt / CC BY

Rosemary Sprigs:  Photo Credit:  ginsnob via VisualHunt.com/CC BY-SA

Hanging to Dry Rosemary:   Photo credit: Nefi via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Topiary:   Photo credit: elixir b via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary Tree:   Photo credit: holycalamity via Visual Hunt / CC BY-SA

Very Tall Old Rosemary:   Photo credit: azmichelle via VisualHunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Reaching for the Sky:   Photo credit: jeremytarling via VisualHunt / CC BY-SA

Rosemary Oil:  http://healthybeautiful.com/rosemary-oil-uses-health-benefits-hair-growth-skin-acne-safety-where-to-buy-rosemary-oil/

Old Herbal Book Plate of Rosemary:   Photo credit: Internet Archive Book Images via Visualhunt.com / No known copyright restrictions

Rosemary Tea:  http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/health-benefits-of-rosemary-tea/

Rosemary in a Square Pot:  Photo credit: Nefi via Visualhunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Bunch with a Bow:   Photo credit: jamieanne via Visualhunt / CC BY-ND

Halloween Rosemary:   Photo credit: Hella Delicious via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary Covered with Snowy Spiderweb:   Photo credit: Mark A. Bryant via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary and Other Herbal Creations:   Photo credit: naiaraback1 via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary Sprig:   Photo credit: HealthGauge via Visual hunt / CC BY

Roast Chicken with Rosemary:   Photo credit: jules:stonesoup via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Herb Butter with Bread:   Photo credit: Cascadian Farm via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC

Rosemary Roast Beef and Vegetables:   Photo credit: jeffreyw via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Rosemary Tart:   Photo credit: jules:stonesoup via VisualHunt.com / CC BY

Rosemary and Lemons:   Photo credit: beckycaudill via VisualHunt.com / CC BY-NC-ND

Rosemary with Mortar and Pestle:  Photo via VisualHunt

Rustic Loaf Rosemary Bread:   Photo credit: Terry.Tyson via Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA

Rosemary and Daisies:   Photo via Visualhunt

Rosemary Bouquet:  Photo credit: 3liz4 via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND

Pale Blue Butterfly on Rosemary:   Photo credit: j_arlecchino via Visualhunt.com / CC BY-NC