Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly known as rosemary, is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant,

evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean
region.[2]

It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs. The name "rosemary"
derives from the Latin for "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), or "dew of the sea".[3] The plant is also
sometimes called anthos, from the ancient Greek word ἄνθος, meaning "flower".[4] Rosemary has a
fibrous root system.[2]

Contents

1 Taxonomy

2 Description

3 Usage

3.1 Cultivation

3.1.1 Cultivars

3.2 Culinary use

3.3 Fragrance

3.4 Phytochemicals

3.5 Folklore and customs

4 See also

5 References

6 External links

Taxonomy

Rosmarinus officinalis is one of 2–4 species in the genus Rosmarinus.[5] The other species most often
recognized is the closely related, Rosmarinus eriocalyx, of the Maghreb of Africa and Iberia. The name of
ros marinus is the plant's ancient name in classical Latin. Elizabeth Kent noted in her Flora Domestica
(1823) that "The botanical name of this plant is compounded of two Latin words, signifying Sea-dew; and
indeed Rosemary thrives best by the sea."[6] The name of the genus was applied by the 18th-century
naturalist and founding taxonomist Carl Linnaeus.
Description

Rosmarinus officinalis prostratus

Illustration from Köhler's Medicinal Plants

Rosmarinus officinalis – MHNT

Rosemary illustration from an Italian herbal, circa 1500

Dried rosemary leaves

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil

Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen shrub with leaves similar to hemlock needles. It is native to the
Mediterranean and Asia, but is reasonably hardy in cool climates. It can withstand droughts, surviving a
severe lack of water for lengthy periods.[7] Forms range from upright to trailing; the upright forms can
reach 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, rarely 2 m (6 ft 7 in). The leaves are evergreen, 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long and 2–5
mm broad, green above, and white below, with dense, short, woolly hair. The plant flowers in spring and
summer in temperate climates, but the plants can be in constant bloom in warm climates; flowers are
white, pink, purple or deep blue.[2] Rosemary also has a tendency to flower outside its normal flowering
season; it has been known to flower as late as early December, and as early as mid-February (in the
northern hemisphere).[8] In some parts of the world, it is considered an invasive species.[2]

Usage

Upon cultivation, the leaves, twigs, and flowering apices are extracted for use.[9] Rosemary is used as a
decorative plant in gardens where it may have pest control effects. The leaves are used to flavor various
foods, such as stuffing and roast meats.
Cultivation

Since it is attractive and drought-tolerant, rosemary is used as an ornamental plant in gardens and for
xeriscape landscaping, especially in regions of Mediterranean climate.[2] It is considered easy to grow
and pest-resistant. Rosemary can grow quite large and retain attractiveness for many years, can be
pruned into formal shapes and low hedges, and has been used for topiary. It is easily grown in pots. The
groundcover cultivars spread widely, with a dense and durable texture.[2]

Rosemary grows on loam soil with good drainage in an open, sunny position. It will not withstand
waterlogging and some varieties are susceptible to frost. It grows best in neutral to alkaline conditions
(pH 7–7.8) with average fertility. It can be propagated from an existing plant by clipping a shoot (from a
soft new growth) 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, stripping a few leaves from the bottom, and planting it directly
into soil.

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use.

'Albus' – white flowers

'Arp' – leaves light green, lemon-scented and especially cold-hardy

'Aureus' – leaves speckled yellow

'Benenden Blue' – leaves narrow, dark green

'Blue Boy' – dwarf, small leaves

'Blue Rain' – pink flowers

'Golden Rain' – leaves green, with yellow streaks

'Gold Dust' -dark green leaves, with golden streaks but stronger than 'Golden Rain'

'Haifa' – low and small, white flowers

'Irene' – low and lax, trailing, intense blue flowers

'Lockwood de Forest' – procumbent selection from 'Tuscan Blue'

'Ken Taylor' – shrubby

'Majorica Pink' – pink flowers

'Miss Jessop's Upright' – distinctive tall fastigiate form, with wider leaves.

'Pinkie' – pink flowers

'Prostratus' – lower groundcover

'Pyramidalis' (or 'Erectus') – fastigate form, pale blue flowers

'Remembrance' (or 'Gallipoli') – taken from the Gallipoli Peninsula[10]

'Roseus' – pink flowers

'Salem' – pale blue flowers, cold-hardy similar to 'Arp'

'Severn Sea' – spreading, low-growing, with arching branches, flowers deep violet

'Sudbury Blue' – blue flowers

'Tuscan Blue' – traditional robust upright form

'Wilma's Gold' – yellow leaves

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

'Miss Jessop's upright'[11]

'Severn Sea'[12]