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Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Rosemary blooms from March through May.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Rosemary
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 7–10. Expect it to reach about 3.3 ft tall and 2.6 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Rosemary
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Rosemary into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from March to May.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 8 in March.
Good to know about Rosemary
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Worth knowing
The same aromatic oils that flavor rosemary are what deter deer and drive its antioxidant power: flavor, deer resistance and the plant's own defense are one chemistry. per NC State and Penn State
Cold-hardiness depends on cultivar
The plain species is reliably hardy only to about zone 8. Named cold-hardy cultivars like 'Arp' or 'Hill Hardy' reach zone 7, and 6b with winter protection. per Wisconsin and Penn State
Overwatering is the top killer
Rosemary rots in wet, heavy clay. Give it lean, sharply drained, sandy or gravelly soil, let it dry between waterings, and when unsure, water less. per NC State
Never cut the bare wood
Shape it lightly, best after flowering, but keep your cuts in the leafy zone. Rosemary does not reliably resprout from the leafless old woody stems. per NC State
Overwinter it indoors up north
Where it is not hardy, grow it in a pot. Bring it in before frost to a cool, very bright, humid spot, and do not overwater. per Penn State
Safe to eat and grow
The leaves are edible for cooking and teas, and ASPCA lists rosemary as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. per ASPCA and NC State
What pairs well with Rosemary
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Gazania
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; lower at 10 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Ice Plant
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; low at 4 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Creeping Sedum
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; low at 4 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
Butterfly Weed
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; lower at 2 ft, for the front of the border.
Lantana
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; lower at 1.6 ft, for the front of the border.
Thyme
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into midsummer; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants.
Oregano
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early summer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; lower at 1.3 ft, for the front of the border.
Sweet Alyssum
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; low at 5 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants.
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Design a garden with this
Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.