Yes I know that the scientific name is Salvia rosmarinus. But I’ve always known and grown to love it under the “Rosmarinus” name and I think there are so many kinds of Salvias in the world they won’t miss this one in the family. Besides, to me it looks and smells nothing like salvia.
Anyway, however you name it, Rosmarinus is a quintessential Mediterranean native. It grows wild all over macchia and garrigue and has been cultivated and used for culinary or medicinal purposes since antiquity.
Rosmarinus is very drought-resistant and loves to grow in hot, sunny and dry locations in chalky, well-drained soil. Just like lavender you can kill it by watering it in summer because warmth and dampness can cause a deadly phytophtora fungal infection. Don’t feed it either – the richer the soil, the faster it grows and the shorter its lifespan will be. Rosmarinus can withstand some frost up to -12 °C in well-drained soil and has no problem with any pests.
Rosmarinus is an easy, fast and vigorous grower and will become a sizable shrub in a matter of a few years. Trim it regularly but not excessively after it’s through flowering to keep it bushy and compact. It will flower supposedly in spring and fall – mine flowers from November through April – some years more than others – and is a favorite with the bees in winter.
In my garden I have:
Rosmarinus officinalis
If I remember right I brought a small plant with me from Switzerland, it has grown tremendously since I planted it in 2022 and is soon reaching its potential of 150x150cm. Normal blue flowers spotted with purple.
Rosmarinus officinalis Vicomte de Noailles
Found at a plant sale in the Minervois in February 2024 this rosemary will eventually grow to about 60×80 cm. It blooms in pink spotted with purple.
Rosmarinus prostratus
Some large prostratus specimens grow in the back garden. They are about 40 x 125 cm in size. Another one was planted in the corner of the potager last year and is growing vigourously there.
Rosmarinus officinalis Boule
Bought from Olivier Filippi’s “Jardin sec” I planted it in 2023. The first flower (blue) appeared this spring, two years later. It’s one of the largest types of Rosmarinus prostratus and may ultimately spread 300cm wide by marcotting.
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