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How to Grow Rosemary: Planting, Pruning, and Harvesting This Hardy Herb

green rosemary bush, many branches are randomly arranged. fresh seasoning
Image Credit:
Andrei Metelev
Botanical Name
Salvia rosmarinus (aka Rosmarinus officinalis)
Grown as
Tender Perennial
USDA Zones
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
Low
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Neutral
Alkaline
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Blue
Purple
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Cut Flower
Disease-Resistant
Erosion Control
Evergreen
Fragrant
Low Maintenance
Winter Interest
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Drought-Tolerant
Heat-Tolerant
Salt Tolerant
Plant Type
Herbs
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Looking to add some flavor to your garden and your dinner? Rosemary’s got you covered. This hardy herb is an overachiever of the plant world—aromatic, drought-tolerant, bee-friendly, and stylish enough to double as landscaping. 

Whether you’re planting it in pots or the ground, we’ll show you how to grow, prune, and harvest rosemary like a seasoned pro!

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a compact, small to medium-sized woody shrub; there’s also a trailing variety. This shrubby herb is a type of sage and grows well with other Mediterranean herbs, such as lavender and thyme. It has lovely blue flowers as well, attracting pollinators!

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Drought-tolerant, rosemary grows best in warm areas, similar to its native shores of the Mediterranean Sea. In these conditions, rosemary can grow into a shrub 5 to 10 feet in height. Rosemary grows so vigorously in ideal conditions that it needs yearly pruning to keep it bushy.

This herb can be grown in the ground or in a pot. If you live in Zones 7 and warmer, it grows easily as a perennial evergreen shrub that lives for many years. Rosemary is hardy down to 15° to 23°F (-10° to -5°C), so it may need winter protection. In colder areas, rosemary should be grown in a pot and brought indoors for the winter.

When growing rosemary as a culinary herb, it’s best to harvest it in the spring and summer when it’s actively putting on new growth. Rosemary is a compact woody shrub. While all the leaves are technically edible, we usually only eat the tender leaves that form at the tips of new branches.

Planting

Plant in full sun in fast-draining soil; rosemary won’t tolerate being constantly wet. Ideally, the soil should be relatively fertile (mix in compost prior to planting to increase nutrient levels).

When to Plant Rosemary

  • Plant rosemary in spring well after the frosts have passed, once the soil is starting to warm up (around 70ºF or 21°C). In warmer climates, plant in spring or fall.
  • Most gardeners start rosemary from young plants bought at a nursery. This plant does not germinate easily from seed and seedlings are slow to grow.
  • However, if you have access to an established rosemary plant, rosemary is very easily started from cuttings.
  • If you wish to grow from seed indoors, just be aware it will take several years to grow the plant large enough to start harvesting.
  • Start seeds or cuttings indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. (See your local frost dates.) 

How to Plant Rosemary

  • Rosemary grows well in the ground or in containers. However, it does not like wet roots, so if your soil is heavy or wet, plant it in a pot or a raised bed. Also, rosemary does not transplant well from ground to container, so start in a pot if you plan to bring it inside (especially in colder climates).
  • Before planting in the ground, mix in several inches of organic matter, such as compost, to create nutritious, fertile soil.
  • In a pot, use a container mix, as rosemary needs a lighter-weight soil mix.
  • Space starter plants 2 to 3 feet apart; rosemary does not like being crowded.
  • If starting seeds or cuttings indoors, keep the soil moist while seeds germinate and roots develop. Seeds can take a long time to germinate (2 to 3 weeks), so don’t give up right away! Plant outside once the plant is 4 inches tall.

Rosemary plant with purple flowers

Growing

  • Keep the soil uniformly moist, allowing it to dry out between waterings. Be consistent; be careful not to overwater.
  • Rosemary shrubs growing in the ground do not need fertilizer, but a potted plant will run out of nutrition more quickly, so feed with an all-purpose balanced fertilizer after flowering.
  • Mulch the shrubs to keep plants insulated in winter, but keep mulch away from the crown of the plant to avoid rotting.
  • Prune annually before new growth begins in the spring, and prune out dead wood. Don’t prune the rosemary too heavily.
  • If you leave rosemary unpruned, it can get very woody, leggy, and straggly. After about 5 years, it’s best to replace it.
  • Be sure to get cuttings or divide the plant for next season if it won’t survive winter in your area.
  • During the winter, bring potted rosemary plants inside. Learn how to overwinter rosemary indoors.

Rosemary plants

Harvesting

  • While rosemary is an evergreen that can be harvested at any time, it’s best to harvest young stems and leaves for the freshest taste. The plant puts on soft new tips in the spring and summer.
  • The leaves and stems get tougher and more woody as they age. The older tips are best for infusing things with flavor or scent, rather than eating. Try making rosemary vinegar!
  • Even the flowers are edible, with a slightly sweeter flavor. Add to salads or dishes as a garnish.
  • Snip off stems, while keeping an eye on maintaining an attractive shape to the plant. Don’t harvest more than a third of the rosemary at any one time.
  • To dry rosemary, hang it upside down in bunches in a dark, warm place. Once stems are dry, strip the leaves from them and store in a sealed jar.

Pests and Problems

  • Aerial blight
  • Bacterial leaf spots
  • Several types of root rot

Wit and Wisdom

  • In the garden, plant rosemary near beans, cabbage, carrots, and sage. Learn more about companion planting with herbs.
  • Rosemary tea is said to enhance one’s memory. Wear a sprig of rosemary in your hair to improve your memory.
  • In the language of flowers, rosemary symbolizes remembrance.
  • A sprig of lavender or rosemary under your ironing board cover will release its fragrance with the heat.

The Many Uses of Rosemary

Enjoy this video showing the rosemary plant—and its many uses as a helper in the garden, kitchen, and healing home!

Herbs

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening, so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 05/04/2015 - 16:48

It sounds like the work of spittlebugs. Just hose off the white stuff. The bugs are a nuisance but won't cause much harm to your rosemary.

 <span>Meloneydp</span> Sat, 03/07/2015 - 00:54
I have grown rosemary bush once before and it grew quite well except the leaves didn't seem "plump" but dry. They were still green however. I live in Dallas Texas and it had full sun. I used Miracle Grow soil. It eventually died. I decided to give it another try so went to a very reputable greenhouse this time. I bought the lanky type and they suggested to use cactus potting soil and if I wanted to put in a hanging basket to use a wire hanging basket lined with coconut fiber. Will see how it goes but has anyone heard of using cactus potting soil?
<span>Nelda Pearson</span> Thu, 04/09/2015 - 14:50
I also live in Dallas, Texas and have had relative success in growing rosemary bushes. I just stick them in our horrible clay soil and water occasionally, and they grow tall and full. However, when I made the mistake of pruning one that was about 4'X4', it balked and died.One of our better nurseries told me that rosemary does not like to be deadheaded nor does it like to be moved.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 03/09/2015 - 14:18

Rosemary plants prefer a coarse, well-drained soil that is about one-third sand. Many growers use cactus soil mixes as they are well-draining and not heavy.

 

 <span>Angela In Ontario</span> Thu, 02/05/2015 - 15:20
Hi, I have a rosemary plant I grow inside in a sunny south window all year round. The stems are very brown and dried out close to the ground but the green leaves still grow fine at the ends of my plant. Should I prune a lot just to get a "better looking" plant? I'm just wondering if the leaves will grow back where they are already brown... Thank you!
<span>Monica Wertzler</span> Tue, 11/25/2014 - 12:35
My daughter-in-law received a very dry and woody Rosemary Plant from a flower delivery service for her birthday in November. She lives in the Wash DC area. Can this plant be moved outside and replanted? Will it have a chance of living through the winter> I seems like it was cut out of a very large plant by the vendor. Will Rosemary bushes survive outdoors in winter in Southern Virginia - or Central Kentucky? We live in Lexington, KY - and I will take this plant to KY to nurture it if the prospects seems good for it to live. We LOVE Rosemary! I am researchning MORE edible perenial plants! Thank you! - Arlington Va and Lexington KY
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 11/26/2014 - 10:18

Hi Monica,

Rosemary plants can survive winters outdoors in USDA zones 6 and 7 with some mulch and protection. There are a couple of very hardy rosemary varieties, Arp and Hardy Hill, that will do very well in zones 6 and 7. It may be a little late to plant it outside now with the cold weather approching. We would recommend that you plant it in a bigger container and place it in a cool room in a south-facing window. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.

 <span>Tern</span> Mon, 11/17/2014 - 12:40
"After the plant flowers, remember to trim the plant." After the pant flowered ends or once it started to flower? What is this purpose?
<span>P.a.khan</span> Sat, 07/26/2014 - 10:45
Hi can i grow Rosemary in southern india with temp 30-40 degc in summer n 20 c deg in winter. is this plant a medicinal? would like to grow in 2-3 hectors can I do? what type of lands, n type of fertlisers, age of the plant? where can I get the seeds will any one help this retired 66 years senior man who has passion in cultivation please please a good guide for me please regards/chennai india
<span>Isolda Mondragon</span> Fri, 08/01/2014 - 14:42
I know that rosemary grows well in Florida and East Texas in the United States, which have similar warm climates to your region. I would give it a try if I were you. Rosemary is a tough plant and quite drought resistant. It likes well drained soil and full sunlight. My mother has a rosemary plant growing in her garden in East Texas, and she never fertilizes it. It seems to do just fine without, but I suppose it depends on the soil. Rosemary is one of the healthiest spices you can eat. It enhances memory and concentration and protects against brain aging. It also has been shown to help protect the body from inflammation, cancer and macular degeneration. Since rosemary is a staple in European style cooking, it is widely available in the Americas and Europe. I'm not sure about India, but if you can't find a plant nursery that carries it locally, seeds should be easy to find online.