Rosemary

Photo Courtesy of James Barker

Years grown at UBC Farm/LFSOG: not available

Latin name: Family name Lamiacae and Genus Rosmarinus

Varieties

Rosmarinus officinalis

Pale blue flowers in early spring to early summer/early fall.

Rosmarinus officinalis var. Albiflorus

White flowers in early spring to early summer/early fall.

Rosmarinus officinalis angustissimus

Corsican Rosemary: Blue flowers in early spring to early summer/early fall. It is bushier than the standard rosemary and has a very strong scent.

Rosmarinus officinalis Aureus

Golden Rosemary: pale blue flowers rarely develop; thin needle leaves are green with hints of gold.

Rosmarinus officinalis var. Angustissiumus

Benenden Blue Rosemary: dark blue flowers in early spring to early summer/early fall. Leaves are fine needles with pleasant aroma.

Rosmarinus officinalis “Fota Blue”

Attractive dark blue flowers in early spring to early summer/early fall with well spaced, narrow, needle-like, dark green leaves.

Rosemary officinalis Majorca Pink

Pink flowers in early spring to early summer/early fall with highly aromatic needle-shaped dark green leaves.

Growing conditions

Cultivation

Rosemary is frost hardy but it helps to grow it against a south-or southwest-facing wall in cold areas.

Using cuttings for propagation is a good idea because you have control over the variety you desire. Cuttings include softwood, semi-hardwood, and layering

Softwood: cut approximately 6 inches from new growth in spring
Semi-hardwood: taken from non-flowering shoots in the summer
Layering: layer established rosemary branches in the summer

Growing Conditions

Rosemary prefers light and well-drained, relatively dry soil with lime. Wet soil has been known to inhibit growth. The desirable soil pH and growing temperature are 6.0-7.5 and 2-35°C, respectively. Rosemary can be grown from seeds. Plant seeds in spring at most 13mm deep and expect to see seedlings within 16-26 days. Once it germinates, careful not to overwater the seedlings. Keep seedlings in a pot for the first winter and then transplant thereafter.

Container Growing

In cold areas, rosemary does well in fitted pots. It does best when the roots are crowded. Use bark-peat-grit mix and make sure potting soil is well drained. Don’t overwater, and feed only after flowering.

Harvesting

Rosemary leaves can be picked year round. Following harvesting, dry the leaves as soon as possible to prevent extensive loss of natural essential oil. When dried carefully, in trays or by artificial heat not exceeding 40°C in well-ventilated, dark locations, leaves should retain both their green color and fresh, bittersweet flavour. Flavour is best before blooming.

Storage

Harvested stems and leaves can be placed on a screen to dry in a dark, well-ventilated area. Then, store them in airtight container.

Companion Planting (put in growing conditions)

If planted near carrots, it repels carrot fly. It is also said to be generally beneficial to sage.

Maintenance

Spring: Trim after flowering; take softwood cuttings
Summer: Take semi-hardwood cuttings; layer plants
Fall: Protect young tender plants.
Winter: Put mulch, straw, or frost fabric around all plants

Note: If trimming is necessary, do so when the frost season is over or better yet wait until after spring flowering.

Seasonality

Rosemary, evergreen perennial shrub, is also known as compass plant, compass weed, and polar plant. It can grow up to 2m tall. In its native climate, rosemary produces pale blue or bluish-lilac flowers during late winter-spring but it is possible that it may not flower in northern North America.

Nutritional Information

Nutrition Facts/Valeur Nutritive
Serving Size: 15 mL (1.7g)
Amount Per Serving	%Daily Value*
Calories 2
Total Fat 0.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 0.1g
Vitamine A	0%
Vitamine C	0%
Calcium	0%
Iron	0%
* % Daily value based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutrient data from the Canadian Nutrient File

Recipes

Crushing rosemary leaves usually cause flavour loss. Rosemary is used in preparing many dishes; such as, lamb, casseroles, tomato sauces, vinegars, and oils.

Additional usage inventory

Other uses

Make your house smell lovely by putting a few twigs of rosemary on a wood-burning stove. Rosemary is used in many herbal shampoos and has a reputation as a hair tonic. It apparently gives dark hair a natural shine when used in the final rinse.

Medicinal Uses

In traditional folk medicine, rosemary oil was used as cardiac and circulatory stimulant in addition to treating conditions like asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, cancer, chills, colds, cough, dandruff, fever, headache, hysteria, insomnia, nervous tension, and rheumatism.

Similar to other essential oils, rosemary oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, and is known to help with circulation if applied topically to affected joints. In addition, the oil may be used externally as an insect repellent.

Rosemary tea: put a teaspoon of chopped leaves into a cup and pour boiling water over them; cover and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Rosemary tea can be used as mouthwash. If consumed in small amounts, rosemary tea helps with reducing flatulence and stimulating smooth muscle of the digestive tract as well as increasing bile flow.

Antiseptic solution: boil a handful in 2 cups of water for 10 mins. This solution can be added to the bath to promote healthy skin.

Current research looks at rosemary’s acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and their potential therapeutic effects on Alzheimers’s. If proven to be therapeutic, rosemary shampoo may be beneficial since chemicals can cross the blood/brain barrier through dermal absorption.

Caution: Large doses of the leaf are toxic and can lead to convulsions and/or death. Rosemary is contraindicated for pregnant women due to its abortive effects if used in excess.

Academic connections

Information not available

References

Biggs, M., McVicar, J., & Flowerdew, B. (2006). Vegetables, herbs, and fruit: An illustrated encyclopedia. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books

Health Canada. (2008). Canadian Nutrient File (CNF). Retrieved from http://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/cnf-fce/index-eng.jsp

Small, E. (1997). Culinary Herbs. Ottawa, ON: National Resource Council of Canada

Additional notes

Origin(s): southern Europe, Morocco and Tunisia situated among rocks and on dry, chalky hills

Rosemary, evergreen perennial shrub, is also known as compass plant, compass weed, and polar plant. It can grow up to 2m tall. In its native climate, rosemary produces pale blue or bluish-lilac flowers during late winter-spring but it is possible that it may not flower in northern North America.

History

Rosemary was cultivated by classic Greeks back in ancient Greek and Roman times and had been prevalently used in the Middle Ages as condiment for salted meat. Under Charlemagne’s reign, rosemary was cultivated on royal farms in central Europe but it is now widely cultivated throughout temperate regions.

The ancient Latin name for rosemary stands for sea-dew possibly attributed to its habit of growing close to the sea and its blossom’s dew-like appearance at a distance.

Connection to Christian faith

There is a myth that blue rosemary flowers were originally white but because Virgin Mary hid behind a rosemary bush and covered it with her cloak to hide from soldiers when the Holy family fled to Egypt, the blossoms turned blue in her honour. Another connection to the Christian faith is the fact that rosemary will grow for the duration of Christ’s life, 33 years and then die.

During Medieval times, rosemary was believed to grow only in the gardens of righteous and it was used as a magic charm for protection from witchcraft, particularly the evil eye.

In Elizabethan days, a sprig of rosemary worn on a wedding couple symbolized fidelity. Bunches of rosemary tied with gold tipped ribbons given to guests was used to symbolize love and faithfulness.

In the olden days, rosemary was burned to freshen and purify sick chambers. During the plague, people wore it around their neck in pouches and sniffed it regularly.

Rosemary was used as a funeral flower because it symbolized the memories of loved ones. It was also used to embalm the dead.

Did you know that ancient Greek students used to braid rosemary wreaths in their hair for examinations as rosemary was thought to fortify the brain and refresh their memory?