Salvia rosmarinus aka Rosemary

Taxonomy

Salvia rosmarinus, commonly known as rosemary, is a fragrant and evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and blue, white, pink, or purple flowers. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes many other culinary and medicinal herbs. Its name comes from the Latin words ros marinus, which means "dew of the sea," and it is native to the Mediterranean region. Rosemary has a fibrous root system and is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine for its taste and fragrance. It is also known for its health benefits, such as improving blood circulation and cognitive abilities. Rosemary is a popular houseplant that needs regular watering and direct light to thrive, ideally less than 1 foot from a window.

Common names

Rosemary, Anthos, Garden Rosemary

How to care for Rosemary

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Rosemary is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

Rosemary should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Rosemary loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

Rosemary requires abundant, bright, and direct light to thrive. The best placement for this plant is within one foot of a window to ensure it receives enough light. If you live in an area with more extreme weather, such as hot summers or cold winters, you may need to adjust the placement of the plant accordingly. During hot summer months, it is important to place the plant away from full sun, as this can cause the leaves to yellow or burn. During cold winter months, it is best to move the plant closer to the window to take advantage of the extra light that can help it survive. By keeping an eye on the current weather in your area, you can make sure your Anthos is always in the right place to thrive.

Dormancy

During the cold period, it is common for Rosemary to go dormant, resulting in a slowdown of growth. To accommodate this, waterings should be spaced out more.

Cat approves this plant

Toxicity

Rosemary is not known to cause harm to humans or pets.

Humidity

The Rosemary does not need extra humidity. Plants primarily absorb water through their root system, making soil watering the best way to provide humidity to your plants.

Fertilizer

The Rosemary should be repotted when it has doubled in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing fresh potting soil with all the essential nutrients each year ensures the plant's well-being, eliminating the need for fertilizer. Remember, plants derive their energy from the sun and not fertilizer.

Growth-pattern

New growth will sprout from the top of the Rosemary as it grows vertically.

Region of origin

Rosemary’s native range is Worldwide.

Flower

Yes, if you provide your Rosemary with adequate sunlight and water, you can expect it to bloom.


More info:
Wikipedia