Rosemary is more than just a fragrant herb—it’s a timeless garden staple. With its needle-like leaves, earthy scent, and resilience in various climates, rosemary adds beauty to your landscape while serving up serious culinary and medicinal value. Whether you’re looking to spice up your meals, create a pollinator-friendly border, or craft your own herbal remedies, this hardy perennial deserves a spot in your garden.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing rosemary—from seed to harvest and beyond.
Why Grow Rosemary?
Rosemary is prized for its intense aroma, culinary versatility, and low-maintenance nature. It’s a perennial in warmer regions and can be grown in pots or garden beds, making it easy to enjoy year after year. Traditionally used to support memory, focus, and digestion, rosemary also holds symbolic meaning—it was worn by ancient scholars for mental clarity and remembrance.
The Best Time and Place to Grow Rosemary
Rosemary loves sunshine and warmth. Choose a sunny location that gets at least 6–8 hours of direct light daily. In well-drained soil, rosemary will thrive, reaching up to 2–3 feet tall in ideal conditions. It works beautifully as a garden border, along walkways, or in raised beds and containers.
If you live in a region with freezing winters, plan to grow rosemary in pots so it can be moved indoors when temperatures dip below 30°F.
How to Grow Rosemary (3 Methods)
1. From Seed
Growing rosemary from seed takes patience—but it’s possible. Start seeds indoors about 3 months before your last expected frost. Soak seeds for 6+ hours before planting to improve germination, then sow in a warm, well-lit area. Keep the soil lightly moist and don’t be discouraged by slow progress—germination can take 2–3 weeks or more, and mature plants may take over a year to establish.
Tip: Expect a lower germination rate, so plant extra seeds and thin them as needed.
2. From Transplants
The quickest way to get a thriving rosemary plant is by starting with a nursery transplant. Choose healthy, vibrant plants with strong stems and no signs of disease. Gently acclimate them to your garden by hardening them off outdoors for a few days before planting. You can also pot transplants to bring them inside for winter protection.
3. From Cuttings
Propagating rosemary from cuttings is both efficient and cost-effective. In late spring or early summer, snip 3–4 inch stem cuttings from a healthy plant, just below a leaf node. Strip the lower leaves and place the cuttings in moist potting mix. Cover with a plastic dome or bag to retain humidity and keep in indirect sunlight. Roots typically form within 6–8 weeks, after which the new plants can be transferred outdoors.
Preparing the Soil for Rosemary
Rosemary prefers sandy or loamy soil with good drainage and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. If your soil holds too much water, consider adding sand or planting in raised beds or containers. Choose a permanent spot if you’re growing rosemary as a perennial—it doesn’t like being moved once established.
Spacing and Planting Tips
Give your rosemary room to breathe. For container-grown or annual rosemary, 1–2 feet of space between plants is enough. If you’re growing it as a long-term perennial, aim for 3–4 feet apart to allow full growth and airflow.
Bonus: The plant’s evergreen foliage adds year-round interest to your garden or patio.
Watering and Fertilizing
Rosemary is drought-tolerant once established, but young plants need consistent moisture during their first growing season. Let the soil dry out slightly between waterings to prevent root rot. Overwatering is one of the most common mistakes with rosemary!
Feed rosemary sparingly—too much fertilizer can make the plant leggy and reduce its aroma. A light application of compost or diluted fish emulsion in the spring is usually all it needs.
Companion Plants That Thrive With Rosemary
Rosemary makes an excellent companion for:
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Beans
- Sage
It’s known to deter certain pests like cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies, making it a valuable ally in your organic garden.
Common Pests and How to Prevent Them
While rosemary is fairly pest-resistant, it’s not immune. Keep an eye out for:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- Spider mites
You can control these naturally with neem oil, insecticidal soap, or a blast of water. Indoors, watch for powdery mildew, which can develop in overly humid or poorly ventilated conditions. Keep plants spaced apart and prune occasionally to improve airflow.
Harvesting and Using Rosemary
Once your rosemary is at least a year old and well-established, you can start harvesting regularly. Use sharp scissors to snip whole stems, ideally in the morning when the oils are strongest. Avoid cutting more than ⅓ of the plant at one time to ensure healthy regrowth.
To use:
- Strip leaves from the stem and use fresh in recipes
- Dry bunches upside down and store in glass jars
- Freeze whole sprigs in freezer-safe bags or ice cube trays with olive oil
How to Save Rosemary Seeds
Although rosemary is most commonly propagated through cuttings, you can save seeds too. Wait until the flower heads dry out in late summer. Harvest and let them fully dry in a shaded area. Then, gently crush and separate the seeds. Store them in a cool, dark place for up to two years.
Best Rosemary Varieties to Grow
Not sure which rosemary to plant? Here are some top picks:
- Tuscan Blue – Fast-growing with tall, upright branches
- Spice Islands – Rich aroma and culinary flavor
- Salem – Cold-hardy and excellent in containers
- Roman Beauty – Compact with deep green foliage
- Sissinghurst – Elegant and ideal for ornamental gardens
Choose based on your climate and how you plan to use the herb—some are better for cooking, while others shine as landscaping accents.
Quick Organic Gardening Tips for Rosemary
- Choose containers with good drainage if you’re short on garden space
- Mulch lightly to suppress weeds and retain moisture without trapping too much humidity
- Prune regularly to shape the plant and encourage new growth
- Bring rosemary indoors before the first hard frost if you’re in a cold zone
- Avoid crowding—it’s key for airflow and mildew prevention