Rozemarijn

Salvia rosmarinus

Engels: Rosemary

herbLamiaceaeWintergroenEetbaar

Rozemarijn (Salvia rosmarinus) is a evergreen, edible herb from the Lamiaceae family that grows up to 120cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun and requires low maintenance. Blooms in spring and early summer with blue, purple flowers and attracts bees.

Hoogte

40–120 cm

Breedte

40–80 cm

Zonligging

full sun

Waterbehoefte

low water needs

Grondsoort

sandy soil, loam, chalky soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

spring, early summer

Bloemkleuren

blue, purple

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
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Care tips

Planting

Rosemary thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for sunny borders, gravel gardens, or large containers. It tolerates sandy, loamy, and chalky soils but will not survive in heavy clay or waterlogged ground. If your soil is heavy, dig in plenty of horticultural grit or sharp sand before planting, or grow rosemary in a raised bed or pot filled with a gritty, soil-based compost. Plant rosemary in April, May, or September when the soil is workable and temperatures are mild. Avoid planting during frosty periods or when the ground is saturated. Space plants 56 cm apart to allow for their mature spread of 40–80 cm. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, ensuring the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil surface. Backfill with the excavated soil mixed with a handful of grit if drainage is less than perfect. Water thoroughly immediately after planting to settle the roots, but thereafter rosemary needs very little water. It is drought-tolerant once established and prefers to stay on the dry side. Mulching is generally unnecessary and can trap moisture around the base, which rosemary dislikes. If you're planting in a container, use terracotta pots with drainage holes and a free-draining compost mix. Position the pot in the sunniest spot available, ideally against a south-facing wall where the plant will benefit from reflected warmth and shelter. Avoid planting rosemary in shaded or damp corners, as it will become leggy and prone to fungal problems.

Pruning

Rosemary benefits from regular pruning to maintain a compact, bushy shape and prevent it becoming woody and bare at the base. Prune in April or May, after the risk of hard frost has passed but before the main flush of new growth. Pruning too late in summer or autumn can stimulate soft growth that won't harden off before winter, leaving the plant vulnerable to frost damage. Use clean, sharp secateurs or garden shears for the job. Start by removing any dead, damaged, or frost-blackened shoots, cutting back to healthy green wood. Then trim back the previous year's growth by about one-third to one-half, cutting just above a leaf node or side shoot. This encourages dense, bushy regrowth and prevents the plant from becoming leggy. Avoid cutting into old, thick, brown stems, as rosemary is reluctant to regenerate from very old wood. If your plant has become very woody and bare, it's often better to replace it rather than attempt severe renovation pruning. Light trimming throughout the growing season—especially when harvesting sprigs for the kitchen—also helps maintain shape and vigour. After the main flowering period in late spring or early summer, you can give the plant a light trim to tidy it up and remove spent flower spikes. If you live in a colder part of zone 7, be cautious with autumn pruning; it's safer to wait until spring when you can see which shoots have survived the winter.

Maintenance

Rosemary is a low-maintenance herb once established, requiring little intervention beyond occasional watering during prolonged dry spells in summer. Even then, it tolerates drought well and prefers to be under-watered rather than over-watered. In winter, avoid watering altogether unless the plant is in a container and the compost has dried out completely. Overwatering, especially in heavy or poorly drained soil, is the most common cause of rosemary failure in temperate climates. Feeding is not necessary. Rosemary originates from the Mediterranean and thrives in poor, lean soils. Excessive fertility encourages soft, sappy growth that is more susceptible to frost and pests, and dilutes the aromatic oils in the foliage. If your plant looks pale or weak, the problem is more likely poor drainage or insufficient light rather than lack of nutrients. Rosemary is hardy in zones 7a–10b, but in colder or exposed gardens it benefits from a sheltered position against a south- or west-facing wall. In zone 7, a severe winter can damage or kill plants, especially if they sit in wet soil. Mulching around the base is not recommended, as it can trap moisture and encourage root rot. Container-grown rosemary can be moved under cover during the coldest months if space allows. Pests are rarely a problem, though rosemary beetle—a distinctive striped beetle—can defoliate plants in late summer and autumn. Pick off adults and larvae by hand or spray with an organic insecticide if the infestation is severe. Powdery mildew may appear in humid conditions or on overcrowded plants; improve air circulation by thinning growth and avoid overhead watering.