How to Grow Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Rosemary is a sun-loving Mediterranean evergreen that needs excellent drainage, poor to moderately fertile soil, and shelter from cold, wet winter winds. Plant high on a slope, in raised beds, or in gritty containers; avoid waterlogged sites. Water to establish, then sparingly. Shear lightly after flowering to maintain a tight shape, but avoid cutting into old, leafless wood. In colder regions, choose hardy forms, position against a warm wall, or grow in pots you can shelter. Harvest sprigs year-round; strong flavour comes from sun-soaked growth.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Rarely needed. Grows best in poor to moderate soil. Excess feeding reduces essential oil concentration.
Watch For
- Rosemary beetle
- Root rot in wet/heavy soil
- Frost damage
Companions
Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Beans
Track your Rosemary care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeCare Requirements
☀️ Light
Full sun essential, south-facing wall ideal
Full sun is essential. A south-facing wall provides ideal warmth and shelter. Poor flowering and leggy growth result from too little sun.
💧 Watering
Very sparingly once established, drought-tolerant
Water sparingly once established — rosemary is drought-tolerant and wet roots shorten its lifespan. Only water in prolonged dry spells.
🌱 Fertilizing
Rarely needed, poor soil gives best flavour
Rarely needed. Grows best in poor to moderate soil. Excess feeding reduces essential oil concentration and flavour.
✂️ Pruning
Light trim after flowering, avoid bare wood
Trim lightly after flowering in spring to maintain shape. Avoid cutting into old bare wood as it will not regrow. Replace leggy plants from cuttings.
❄️ Overwintering
Shelter from wet cold, pot up in exposed areas
Hardy in sheltered spots. In cold or exposed areas, grow in a pot and move under cover in winter. Winter wet kills more rosemary than cold.
Growing Tips
Drainage first
Add grit and plant slightly raised, or use terracotta with a loam-based, gritty mix.
Annual shear
Lightly trim after bloom to keep plants dense—avoid cutting into bare wood.
Easy on water
Once established, water only in prolonged drought; wet roots shorten lifespan.
Winter shelter
In cold, wet winters, site by a south-facing wall or move pots to a bright, sheltered spot.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Rosemary Beetle
Identification: Metallic green-and-purple striped beetles and greyish slug-like larvae on shoot tips and flowers
- Hand-pick adults and larvae — shake branches over a sheet in cool mornings when beetles are sluggish
- Encourage ground beetles and parasitic wasps as natural predators
- Pyrethrin-based contact spray as a last resort, applied in the evening to protect pollinators
Pest Glasshouse Whitefly
Identification: Tiny white-winged insects on leaf undersides; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on foliage
- Introduce Encarsia formosa parasitic wasp under glass
- Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and reduce numbers
- Fatty acid or plant oil-based sprays approved for edible herbs
Pest Leafhoppers
Identification: Pale mottled speckling on upper leaf surfaces; tiny pale green insects jump away when disturbed
- Tolerate light infestations — damage is mostly cosmetic
- Encourage natural predators such as spiders and ladybirds
- Rarely warranted; pyrethrin spray if severe
Disease Root Rot Phytophthora spp.
Symptoms: Wilting despite moist soil, yellowing foliage, blackened mushy roots, plant collapse
Treatment: Remove and destroy affected plants. Improve drainage before replanting.
Prevention: Plant in very free-draining soil with added grit. Avoid overwatering. Use raised beds or containers with drainage holes.
Disease Powdery Mildew Erysiphe spp.
Symptoms: White powdery coating on leaves and stems, distorted new growth
Treatment: Prune out affected growth. Improve air circulation around the plant.
Prevention: Space plants well. Avoid overhead watering. Ensure good airflow.
Popular Varieties
Tuscan Blue
One of the most popular culinary rosemaries. Tall, columnar habit reaching 180 cm with deep blue-violet flowers and intensely aromatic dark green needles. Excellent for hedging.
Miss Jessopp's Upright
A classic tall, narrow, columnar variety with pale blue flowers. RHS AGM holder. Very upright habit makes it ideal for formal hedging and tight spaces.
Arp
The most cold-hardy rosemary, tolerating temperatures down to -20C. Bushy habit with grey-green leaves and pale blue flowers. Named after Arp, Texas where it was discovered.
Prostratus
Low-growing trailing form reaching only 15-30 cm tall but spreading to 120 cm wide. Pale blue flowers. Ideal for cascading over walls, ground cover, or hanging baskets.
Salem
Cold-hardy upright variety similar to Arp, with strong flavour and good disease resistance. Bushy habit with medium blue flowers. Reliable in cooler climates.
Gorizia
Notable for extra-large leaves roughly twice the size of typical rosemary. Vigorous upright grower to 150 cm with pale blue-white flowers. Excellent culinary variety.
Blue Spires
Upright variety with vivid blue flowers and strong aromatic foliage. Compact and tidy habit, good for containers and smaller gardens.
Spice Island
Compact upright variety prized by chefs for its intense flavour and high essential oil content. Grows 60-90 cm tall with dark green needles and blue flowers.
Log Rosemary in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
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