Dannette Hunnel
After living in the Southwest for nearly 40 years, rosemary has become one of my favorite plants. There is so much versatility to this plant!
It is a pretty, dark green evergreen shrub with little blue-violet flowers. And the aroma! Well, that alone is worth having a rosemary plant. Hardy and slow growing, rosemary can be a stand-alone plant in a pot or placed in the ground. It also blends well in both flower and vegetable gardens. We can expect this plant to live at least five years, growing up to five feet tall. It can be trimmed and shaped in a variety of ways. Rosemary takes full sun and well-draining soil. There is ground trailing varietal, which grows a bit faster and lower to the ground. This plant requires no special fertilizers, although a bit of all-purpose plant food three or four times a year wouldn’t hurt. Rosemary will require covering in the winter months with temps below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or, if in a pot, bring into the home for a short while and place in a sunny location. Not too many pests want to bother rosemary, so that’s always a plus.
Rosemary is also known as an herb. Foodwise, it is used as a tea; added to many soups, stews, and sauces; and placed in olive oil when dipping bread. Rosemary adds flavor, presentation, and aroma to stuffings, salad dressings, on roasting meats, and as a topping on fresh-baked bread.
Health benefits are many. This plant is high in manganese and is used as an antifungal, is soothing for stress, and is good for eye health, to name a few. Cut a few sprigs, crush, and place in hot baths or in body oils or lotions to decrease inflammation. The aroma is said to help with memory. The plant symbolism is remembrance. A few countries use rosemary for ceremonial events such Remembrance Day, funerals, and smudging in homes or hospitals.
Rosemary is also used in a variety of home decorations, such as wreaths, table decorations, floral designs, and in candles, and many use indoor rosemary plants as little Christmas trees. For a light fragrance throughout the house, place sprigs in a diffuser with a bit of water. No plant loving home should be without a rosemary plant!