FoodFood InformationHerbs&Spice
ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis)
There are several varieties of Rosmarinus officinalis that grow between2 and 6 feet high (depending on variety) and can be used for ground coversand hedges. The leaves of all varieties are narrow and needle' like (similarto pine needles) and are glossy green on the top and a lighter, gray greenunderneath. Their aroma is resinous and pine like. Small clusters of lightlavender' blue flowers 1/2 inch wide cover the foliage in summer and spring,although you nearly always will find a few flowers throughout the rest ofthe year. With age, the stems be come woody and gnarled, giving plants arugged appearance.
Rosemary has several associations with the Virgin Mary. The flowers aresaid to have received their color when she placed her sky blue cloak overa rosemary bush to dry after washing it. It is also thought that she soughtcover behind a bush of rosemary while fleeing to Egypt. Boughs of rosemaryhave had many uses in the past. They were carried at weddings and placedon coffins at funerals. Because the fragrance was thought to be disinfectant,rosemary branches were strewn on the floors of prisons and courts of justiceto counteract the diseases that prisoners carried. The ancient Greeks andRomans burned the leaves as incense. Rosemary also was used to prevent baldingand to condition hair. The leaves were sometimes placed under pillows toprevent nightmares. Rosemary is also the herb of memory, and the leaveswere supposed to quicken the mind and prevent forgetfulness.
Where winters are mild enough, rosemary is an outstanding shrubby perennialfor permanent landscape use. Where it would winter kill outdoors, grow itin containers and bring plants inside during the cold months. The variety'Prostratus' is the lowest growing-to about 2 feet-and makes an excellentground cover or low hedge. Its branches twist and curve and will gracefullyspill over a wall or creep around rocks. Rigid, upright branches and darkerblue flowers are typical of 'Tuscan Blue'. The varieties 'Collingwood Ingram'and 'Lock' wood de Forest' both have bluer flowers than the species andare lower growing. Rosemary will endure poor soil, as long as it is welldrained, and hot sun. Except in very hot climates, it requires little wateronce it is established. It responds well to container culture and can begrown indoors.
Use the leaves fresh or dried with chicken, meats (especially lamb), stews,and vegetables. A tea can also be brewed from them. Use a branch of rosemaryas a brush for applying barbecue sauce to chicken and burn sprigs in thecoals just before the chicken is done-the smoke will impart rosemary's characteristicflavor to the meat.