Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needles that are used in cooking. Forms range from upright to trailing. Flowers are usually pink, purple, or blue. Its fresh and dried leaves are used frequently in traditional Mediterrean cuisine as spice.
Classification: Rosemary is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae.
The name rosemary has nothing to do with the rose or Mary, but derives from the latin name rosmarinus, which is presumed to mean "dew of the sea", though some think it too may be derived from an earlier name.
Since it is attractive and tolerates some degree of drought, it is also used in landscaping, especially in areas having a mediterranean-type of climate. It in fact can die in over-watered soil, but is otherwise quite easy to grow for beginner gardeners. It is very pest-resistant.
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2 Miscellaneous 3 Other names 4 External links |
Cultivars
The most common prostrate (creeping) cultivar in North American during the 20th century was rosemary 'Lockwood de Forest'), discovered in the garden of an elderly couple: the landscape architect Lockwood de Forest and his wife Elizabeth in Santa Barbara in 1920s. It has been unofficially known as Rosmarinus lockwoodi, R. Foresti, or R. foresteri. Lockwood rosemary is derived from rosemary 'Prostrata') from Mediterrean Europe.
Since the late 1990s, a darker prostrate cultivar, 'Irene' (Trailing Rosemary), has gained popularity. It was discovered by a garden designer, Philip Johnson, in his client's garden. It is named after his black Labrador Retriever. It is U.S. Plant Patent No. 9,124 'Renzels' (another petname of the dog). Its flowe are purple, whereas the Lockwood cultivar is paler blue.
Other cultivars include:
- 'Albus': White, least commercially due to unpopularity among most gardners' disinterest in its appearance
- 'Majorica Pink': Pink
- 'Ken Taylor': shrubby
- 'Tuscan Blue': upright
Miscellaneous
Rosemary has a very old reputation for improving memory, and has been used as a symbol for remembrance (as in worn during weddings and funerals) in Europe, probably as a result of this reputation.Rosemary can be added as an unusual extra flavoring in lemonade.
Rosemary is easily pruned into shapes and has been used for topiary. When grown in pots, it is best kept trimmed back anyway o avoid getting too straggly and unsightly, though when grown in a garden, rosemary can grow quite large and still be attractive.