Rosemary Plants
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a hardy, evergreen aromatic herb used for culinary,medicinal, and landscaping purposes. An essential for any garden pot or balcony, it remains harvestable year-round for roast lamb,cocktails, and home remedies. With three distinct growing habits, it works as ground cover, wall edges, or stunning pot displays. We even offer unique pink flowering and ginger-scented varieties.
Upright Varieties
Ideal for: Hedging Garden Borders, Privacy Screens, and Culinary Staples
If you are looking for the best rosemary plants for hedging, our upright varieties are the perfect choice. These plants grow into sturdy, vertical shrubs that create a fragrant, evergreen screen for your garden or pathway.
Semi-Prostrate or Arching Varieties
Ideal for: Balconies, Hanging Baskets, and Kitchen Windowsills
Spilling over the edge of containers and hanging baskets, its cascading habit makes it so easy to harvest. It is the plant to get if you want rosemary within easy reach for cocktails. Because it thrives in pots, it is easy to keep near the kitchen for rosemary to use for hair care and cosmetics, providing fresh leaves whenever you need to brew a quick scalp tonic or hair rinse.
Prostrate Varieties
Ideal for: Ground cover, Rockeries, Slopes, and Weed Suppression.
Prostrate rosemary is hardy and low-growing making it perfect for the edge of a wall where the stems will trail and hang over the edge. It hugs the ground as it grows and mounds up as it ages. We love it cascading in a terracotta pot and showing off when it is smothered in small blue flowers that attract bees. Fantastic for creating a garden that looks effortless and stays green year-round.
Rosemary at a Glance
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name |
Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) |
| Plant Type | Hardy, evergreen aromatic perennial shrub |
| Hardiness | Fully frost-hardy (UK Zone 6); down to -10°C |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun (minimum 6–8 hours daily) |
| Soil Preference | Well-drained, sandy/loamy soil; dislikes "wet feet" |
| Growth Habit | Upright (hedging), Prostrate (ground cover), or Arching |
| Pollinator Value |
Vital nectar source for bees from late winter to summer
|
| Best Uses | Roasts, cocktails, breads, hair tonics, and fragrant hedging |
Five Ways To Use Rosemary
For Drinks & Cocktails:
- Garnish: Add fresh sprigs to a G&T for an instant aromatic lift.
- Syrups: Infuse equal parts sugar and water with rosemary for botanical cocktails and mocktails.
- Edible Flowers: Use the milder-tasting flowers to decorate cakes or summer drinks.
For Cooking & BBQs:
- Skewers: Use long, woody stems (like Rosemary ‘Barbecue’) as skewers to infuse meat and veg with flavour on the grill.
- Aromatic Oils: Roast with potatoes or infuse into olive oils for a Mediterranean staple.
For Privacy & Landscaping:
- Hedges: Upright varieties create fragrant, dense screens (avoid pruning into old wood!).
- Ground Cover: Use Prostrate varieties like ‘Haifa’ for cascading pots or semi-prostrate ‘Foxtail’ for easy harvesting.
For Nature & Bees:
- Bees & Butterflies: A vital nectar source from late winter through summer when other food is scarce.
- Natural Pest Control: Attracts beneficial insects like ladybirds and hoverflies to keep aphids away.
For Hair Care & Wellbeing:
- Rosemary Water: Boil 3–4 sprigs in a pint of water for 20 minutes to create a hair-growth scalp spray.
- Health: Known as the "herb of remembrance," rosemary tea is used to boost mood, memory, and mental clarity.
Rosemary planting & care guide
Hardiness
Very tough and frost-hardy (UK Zone 6). It thrives in temperatures down to -10°C.
Sun & Soil
Requires a sunny spot with well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and handles coastal air well.
Pruning
Trim in late spring after flowering to prevent the plant from becoming woody. Tip: Never cut into hard stems- it will not grow back from old wood.
Harvesting
Pick leaves year-round for cooking lamb, focaccia, or tomato sauces. For the highest oil content, harvest in early summer.
Growth Habit
Depending on the variety, it can reach 10cm to 1.5m in height.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow rosemary indoors?
Yes, you can grow rosemary indoors on a bright, south-facing windowsill, but ultimately it would be limited by the pot size and it would really prefer to be outside and productive. Indoor plants need lots of light and must not be overwatered. You will need to ensure your pot has excellent drainage to prevent the roots from rotting.
Is rosemary hardy enough to stay outside in winter?
Our rosemary plants are fully frost-hardy and most options can handle temperatures down to -15°C. However, if you live in a wet area, ensure the soil has added grit, as although rosemary is tough, it doesn't like "wet feet" during the winter.
What is the growth habit of Rosemary?
Rosemary has three main habits: Upright (best for hedging), Prostrate (perfect for flowering ground cover), and Arching or semi-prostrate (ideal for cascading over stone walls or hanging balcony containers).
Is this plant suitable for coastal or dry gardens?
Yes. Rosemary is naturally drought-tolerant and thrives in coastal or maritime environments. It loves a sunny position and is very resistant to salt spray and dry summer spells once established.
How often should I prune my rosemary plant?
Prune rosemary once a year in late spring after the flowers fade. This stops the plant from getting leggy and woody. Do not cut into the wood, as it is highly unlikely to regrow. A light pruning of the bendy stems will retain its shape and encourage bushy growth.
What is the best rosemary plant for hedging?
Choose an upright variety for hedging, because they grow tall and sturdy. They create a fragrant, evergreen screen that stays green all year, providing privacy while being much easier to maintain than traditional hedge plants. You can select one of our Rosemary hedge packs to ensure a great value hedge. Or select options like 'Miss Jessopp's Upright’, or ‘Upright Blue’ for more specific choice. These grow straight and tall, making them easy to trim into a neat, fragrant border.
Can I buy rosemary for both cocktails and cooking?
Absolutely. You can buy potted rosemary for cocktails here to get the freshest aromatic sprigs. Use them to garnish a Gin & Tonic or infuse syrups.
For cooking, these leaves are one of our kitchen staples for roast lamb, tomato sauces, and homemade focaccia.
All our rosemary varieties are edible, including the flowers, making them perfect for any meal or beverage. We recommend the arching or upright types for frequent harvesting as they produce long, attractive sprigs that look beautiful as a garnish.
Is rosemary an evergreen aromatic herbs for pollinators?
Yes, Rosemary is one of the top evergreen aromatic herbs for pollinators. It flowers from late winter through summer and provides a vital source of nectar for bees and butterflies when other garden flowers are still dormant.
How do I make rosemary water for hair care?
It's incredibly simple. Just boil 3-4 fresh rosemary sprigs in a pint of water for 20 minutes, let it cool, and strain it into a spray bottle. This is a great option for a natural hair care routine, which helps soothe the scalp and improve hair thickness and add shine to hair.
Looking for something specific?
Discover aromatic varieties perfect for gin, whisky, and botanical drinks, or browse nectar-rich plants that support bees and butterflies
Further Reading
Explore our archive to master the art of growing and using this versatile herb in your own garden.
Kitchen Garden Guide to Rosemary
For more in-depth advice, see our original guide to growing rosemary, covering soil preparation and winter protection, as well as traditional uses and how to take rosemary cuttings.
Propagating by Cuttings
Ready to grow your own Rosemary collection? Follow our step-by-step guide on how to take rosemary cuttings, so that you can propagate your favourite varieties for free.