Today's plant of the day for Salvias is Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus).

This plant can be found in our Plant Database at:
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) .

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Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

I haven't grown Rosemary before, but maybe I might. I'd have to plant it in a container, as I don't really have a lot of space for it.

Check out the database link Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) and view a lot of photos of this plant. Beautiful flowers.

We've grown a few Rosemary cultivars here but several have been removed to comply with planting guidelines at that time. We still have S. Golden Rain and this one pictured here. It is very large. About six foot tall and over ten feet wide with annual trimming of two sides were it encroaches on walkways. The trimming exposes a tangle of woody branches for months as it grows back. Not an attractive look. Trimming should be done frequently to keep it contained and always attractive. Can be used for a topiary too. There are smaller cultivars too with flower colors from deep blues to white and pinks. These are really floriferous and the bloom starts in January here and great for the bees. I use the sprigs for cooking of course. There very very drought tolerant. Ours are in raised plots with very well draining sandy soil that is amended and mulched periodically.

Sounds like a lot of work (for myself); trimming and keeping it in check.

If I grow one of the Rosemary plants, I might have to look for one on the smaller side to grow.

Great photos. Looks like a fantastic bee plant.

the images are great and they make me long for summer. Rosemary is a great bee plant even though they tend to be more modest in size in my climate where they are not fully hardy. I use spruce to lightly cover mine in winter and I grow them in a raised bed with other Mediterranean herbs to reduce the risk of rot in our wet winters.

I have one rosemary growing in a pot. It is not very hardy here with oour cold wet winters and clay soil.
I use it in tea, infused oils and salves.
Very good for pain and hair.
I rarely cook with it but have made cookies that use fresh rosemary

I love to grow Rosemary here in NW Oregon. It has proven hearty although the tips will die back after a freeze.
I have propagated some starts and shared with friends as well as planted other plants around the property just in case a hard freeze takes my mother plant.
It has proven a little troublesome keeping it pruned enough so as not to get too Woody and gangly.
It has been interesting to watch the honey bees not only collect nectar and pollen but also mine something around the base of the Rosemary plant. They have worked dilegently only around the rosemary, I haven't seen them on the ground anywhere else. Fascinating.

Showing my ignorance but I didn't realize Rosemary was a Salvia. I always knew it as Rosemary officinalis. Guess that is another change.

I have grown it over the years. The regular one becomes a bit huge (woody) and then hollow in the lower branches and middle. I am currently growing a trailing rosemary. It keeps a lower profile and is more manageable.

This one is not prolific with blooms but yes, the bees are fond of them.

I use it for meats and roasted vegetables. My current favorite is sweet potatoes, cubed with onions, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper and finely chopped rosemary. Roasting all in the oven till browned. It is wonderful. And now I'm hungry again.

pod said:Showing my ignorance but I didn't realize Rosemary was a Salvia. I always knew it as Rosemary officinalis. Guess that is another change.

It came as a surprise to me a few weeks ago, but all of the rosemary plants are now part of the salvia family.

Thank you for clarifying that Marilyn. That was what I suspected.

Glad I caught your thread. Thank you...

@pod

I still surprised by it, but I'll get used to it. I'll probably get and grow my first Rosemary plant this year.

You will love it. If you want one that is more cold hardy, you might look at Arp.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus 'Arp')

Or perhaps one to keep in a container where you could move it in for the really cold nights.
I had two nights in a row here at 13 degrees. The trailing rosemary (in a raised bed) did not have a problem.

Just one more Salvia...

Kristi,

Thanks. I was planning on planting a rosemary plant in a container and if a get hardy one, it might overwinter outside, as some of the salvias I have in containers outdoors.

I have grown Rosemary in pots and in the ground. The Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus 'Arp') is my favorite because it is so hardy in my location. I use it for cooking and also in my bath. I also plant it just for the wonderful scent. I prefer to plant it in ground because it has a better survival rate for me. I can just plant it and forget it (as far as maintenance goes).

This plant is 5 or 6 years old and very woody but it still provides lots of rosemary leaves for cooking, etc... I usually cut stems to use whole in my cooking.

When I got a message that I had 'Rosemary' salvia in my Plant List and invited to post a comment to this thread, like Pod and Marilyn, I was initially confused. Then I looked in the database and noticed the synonyms and realized that it's been moved to the salvia genera.

I have grown 'Arp' outdoors for several years and it blooms faithfully each winter into spring. The tiny blue blooms are a treat to the eyes during the cold season. It's a good nectar plant and mine are usually still in bloom when the hummers arrive. It is fairly easy to propagate and I've shared cuttings/rooted plants with many of my gardening and culinary friends. It is delicious cooked with roasted meat and potatoes.

As mentioned above, it does get woody with age. Because both of mine where mangeled/
damaged when a large oak fell on them in the flower border during an ice storm a couple of years ago, I do need to think seriously about digging them out and replacing them. I'm going to root several cuttings to plant around my flower beds to deter rabbits and deer from dining on my plants.

I am going to root some of my rosemary plant so I can replace my old woody one this spring. I've just been too lazy to do this sooner.

Frenchy - love your avatar picture!

Rosemary can be pruned to stay bushy and avoid that woody gangly look, but it needs to be done carefully and a little at the time. Once they have grown huge it's difficult.
As they root easily, maybe they can be replanted in a deeper hole, like lavender or some types of heather? Does anyone know?

Good information everyone, thanks!

I've checked off the details of 'Arp', since it's been talked about and it's now in the lineup for salvia plant of the day and will be featured a few days from now.

Thank you @IrisLilli.

Frenchy, that is a pretty Rosemary plant you have. .

Odd but today I walked through the garden centers. They don't have a lot in yet but had a row of Arp rosemary plants. Makes me think spring is the time to get them established.

On my prostrate rosemary plant, I have been able to cover an attached branch with soil and get it to root. My problem is replanting the cutting. Not so much luck...