Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, rosemary is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing rosemary.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Rosemary Belong To?
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, also known as the mint family.
Some of its relatives include basil, lavender, and sage.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Rosemary?
The minimum container size recommended for rosemary is 10 inches deep by 12 inches wide.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Rosemary?
Some of rosemary's best companions are as follows:
- Aloe vera and other succulents
- Cauliflower, broccoli, and other Brassicas
- Beans like green beans
- Peppers, especially hot peppers like habanero
- Sage
- Marigold
- Chives
- Carrot
- Horehound
- Lavender
- Poppy
- Gaillardia
- Toothache plant
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Rosemary?
Rosemary is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with rosemary are as follows:
- Potato
- Basil
- Squash
- Watercress
- Marshmallow
What Soil Conditions Does Rosemary Need?
Rosemary prefers light, well-draining, sandy to loamy soil. It prefers a pH of 6.0 to 7.0, but it tolerates a range of 5.5 to 8.
How Long Does Rosemary Take to Germinate?
Rosemary takes 2-3 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 60-80°F.
How Much Sun Does Rosemary Need?
Rosemary prefers full sun.
In mild-summer areas like the Pacific Northwest and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, it should only be planted in full sun. It will not tolerate shade in these areas.
In hotter regions, it still prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade such as dappled shade or part shade.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and rosemary grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Rosemary Need?
Rosemary needs 0.5 inch (half an inch) of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Rosemary ?
Rosemary grows fastest in temperatures of 55-80°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some rosemary varieties are bred for longer harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Rosemary Get?
The average height of rosemary is 3-6 feet.
Is Rosemary Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Rosemary is a perennial herb, meaning that it lives for longer than a couple years.
More specifically, it can live for up to 30 years in optimal conditions.
How Does Rosemary Reproduce?
Rosemary reproduces by seed.
It can also be propagated from cuttings.
How Much Rosemary is Produced Per Plant?
For rosemary, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type of rosemary, the variety, and the size of the plant.
Most mature rosemary plants produce at least 50 leaves per stalk each year.
Can Rosemary Be Ingested?
Rosemary leaves and stems are edible.
Rosemary leaves have antimicrobial, nervine, and anti-inflammatory properties. They can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea (infusion) and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a rosemary leaf tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting rosemary leaves or stems.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of rosemary rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for rosemary here!
Rosemary is featured in these Plant to Plate articles:
- Simple Uses for Rosemary
- What is a Plant Family?
- Gardening in Full Sun
- Gardening in Dappled Shade
- Gardening in Part Shade