Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is one of the oldest recorded herbs in history. One of it’s poetic names is “Dew of the Sea’, because from a distance the light blue flowers looked like dew in the early morning light. Steeped in legend and surrounded by symbolism, rosemary has been considered a sacred plant by many cultures.
Rosemary is native to the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, and like most of the plants of this region it thrives in full sunlight and slightly alkaline well-drained soil. I have found in my own experience gardening in North Florida that Rosemary can thrive in as little as four hours of good sunlight as long as it is in a well-drained location with good air circulation. This plant is a great candidate for containers or raised bed culture. Rosemary also likes lime, so if you mix a little ground limestone into your soil or place a small piece of limestone at the base of your plant you may find that it grows more vigorously. This is a wonderful landscape plant. Use as a focal point in the herb garden, as an evergreen anchor in the butterfly garden, as a hedge or to line a sunny pathway.
Rosemary is an evergreen shrub with short needle-like intensely aromatic leaves. It can grow up to five feet high and five or six feet in diameter under optimal conditions, but most of mine have grown to be two or three feet tall. There are upright and trailing or prostrate varieties and many named cultivars. Tiny hooded flowers appear throughout late winter and spring in my area. These may be blue, pink, or white depending on variety, and of course are very attractive to beneficial insects. Most rosemary is tolerant to some colder temperatures, but if we have the occasional really hard freeze here I may cover mine with a light blanket or old sheet. Rosemary is easily propagated by cuttings. This is a difficult plant to grow from seeds as germination is poor and growth is very slow.
Rosemary is the ultimate culinary herb. It pairs magnificently with chicken, fish, lamb, or pork. It is a flavorful ingredient in herbal vinegars, salad dressings, gourmet honey, soups and casseroles. Our favorite way to use rosemary is with roasted potatoes. Slice potatoes to one-quarter inch thickness. Next, coat with a generous amount of extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, and coarsely ground black pepper. Sprinkle liberally with chopped fresh rosemary. Be sure to remove the woody stem first. Bake in a 400-degree oven for about 45 minutes, or until potatoes are tender, golden, and savory. Delicious!
Rosemary has many medicinal uses as well. It can be used to relieve headaches, to improve memory, aid digestion, and to promote relaxation. Brewed into a strong tea it makes a good rinse for dark hair.
This plant can also be used in potpourri, flower arrangements, and herbal wreaths. With so many uses, if I had room for only one herb plant, rosemary would be my choice.
1 comment:
Growing your own herbs and vegetables is fulfilling and rewarding. Urban green should be a regular weekend project for every family, business and institution in Florida!
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