An aromatic evergreen with masses of blue flowers in spring, this herb is used for culinary, medicinal and cosmetic purposes worldwide. It flourishes in warm and sunny sites. 9x9cm pot (8cm depth)
Description
- Aromatic
- Loved by bees
- Popular culinary herb
- Evergreen
Native to coastal Mediterranean regions, rosemary has always been a popular aromatic plant for both medicinal and culinary purposes. A herb garden is not complete without this needle leaved fragrant herb at hand for roast potatoes, meat and vegetable dishes.
Plant care
- Height: 60-100cm
- Type: Hardy
- Aspect: Sun
- Soil: Well drained
- Flower colour: Blue
- Flowering period: April - May
This pungently scented herb grows best in full sun and certainly it requires the midday and afternoon sun to grow well. Grown In the ground, like other plants it needs watering until established and after that it can be left to get on with it. It does like to have a well-drained soil, especially in winter, but I grow it south facing, in a heavy clay soil and it copes just fine. Rosemary doesn’t want to be cut back into the old wood, but regular pruning of the tips keeps in nice and bushy.
Usage
Rosemary’s intense flavour has made it a valuable herb in the kitchen where it is used traditionally, fresh or dried with lamb and other meats, with roast potatoes, on pizza, in pasta sauces and bread, biscuits both savoury and sweet, cakes and desserts.
Medicinally it is used as a circulatory stimulants increasing blood to the brain, making it useful for memory and concentration. An infusion of the leaves rinsed through dark hair is said to leave it glossy and bright.
Rosemary has long been associated with remembrance and used to remember and honour loved ones.