🌿 Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
🌿 Common Name: Rosemary
🌿 Ideal for: Herb gardens, containers, Mediterranean borders, edible landscaping
🌿 Hardiness: Hardy in most parts of the UK

Introduction to Rosemary

Rosemary is a classic Mediterranean herb that’s just as popular for its culinary uses as it is for its ornamental and pollinator-friendly qualities. With its fragrant, needle-like evergreen foliage and pale blue spring flowers, rosemary adds both structure and scent to UK gardens.

Perfect for herb gardens, gravel borders, or patio containers, rosemary thrives in sunny, well-drained positions and is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant once established.

🌿 Ready to add it to your garden? Shop Rosemary at Web Garden Centre.

Best Growing Conditions for Rosemary

Light Requirements

☀️ Needs full sun – aim for 6+ hours per day
☀️ Ideal for south- or west-facing spots

Soil Requirements

🌱 Prefers free-draining, light soils – loam, chalk or sandy types are best
🌱 Avoid heavy or poorly drained ground, especially in winter
🌱 Neutral to alkaline pH is ideal

📌 Container tip: Use gritty, loam-based compost and raise pots on feet to ensure drainage.

Planting Rosemary

1️⃣ Choose a sunny, sheltered spot or large pot
2️⃣ Mix grit or horticultural sand into the planting hole or compost
3️⃣ Plant at the same depth as in the pot and water in well
4️⃣ Mulch lightly with gravel to suppress weeds and keep stems dry

📌 Rosemary thrives in poor soils – don’t over-amend or overfeed.

Watering & Feeding

Watering Tips

💧 Water regularly in the first year, especially in dry spells
💧 Established plants are very drought-tolerant
💧 Avoid watering overhead to reduce fungal risk

Feeding Tips

🌿 Minimal feeding required – a light feed in spring with organic fertiliser is enough
🌿 Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which cause leggy growth

Pruning & Maintenance

✂️ Lightly trim after flowering to maintain shape and encourage bushy growth
✂️ Avoid cutting into old wood – rosemary doesn’t regenerate from woody stems
✂️ Rejuvenate leggy plants gradually by trimming little and often

📌 Harvest fresh sprigs as needed – it keeps the plant tidy and productive.

Winter Care in the UK

❄️ Hardy in much of the UK, especially in well-drained soils
❄️ In cold or wet areas, grow in pots and move under cover in winter
❄️ Avoid heavy clay or exposed, soggy sites

FAQs About Rosemary

1. Is rosemary hardy in the UK?

Yes – most varieties are hardy to -5°C or lower in well-drained, sheltered sites.

2. Can I grow rosemary in a pot?

Absolutely – it's perfect for pots. Use loam-based compost and ensure excellent drainage.

3. How tall does rosemary grow?

It can reach 1.5–2m tall, but it’s easily kept compact with pruning.

4. How often should I prune rosemary?

Trim lightly after flowering or in late spring. Avoid hard pruning into old wood.

5. Does rosemary need full sun?

Yes – it loves warmth and thrives in full sun. Lack of light leads to leggy growth.

6. Is rosemary drought tolerant?

Yes – once established, it rarely needs watering and hates soggy soil.

7. Can I eat all types of rosemary?

Yes – all Rosmarinus officinalis varieties are edible.

8. What causes yellow leaves on rosemary?

Usually overwatering or poor drainage. Check pot holes or soil conditions.

9. How do I propagate rosemary?

Take softwood cuttings in summer and root in gritty compost.

10. Where can I buy rosemary online in the UK?

Right here – Shop Rosemary at Web Garden Centre.