Top Reasons Why Rosemary Should Be In Your Garden
Rosemary: Dew of the Sea
Ahh, the peppery, earthy, and slightly sweet scent of the beloved Rosemary plant. Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs, and I can’t get enough of it! So, let’s dive right and learn why I think this magical herb should be in everyone’s garden.
History of Rosemary Herb – with a folklore twist
The plant of love, joy, friendship, and remembrance. Rosemary represents the circle of life if you will. The beginning and end of all things. The cycle that all living things follow. Rosemary’s origin starts on the rocky, sea-salted dry coasts of the Mediterranean.
In Latin, when looking at the genus name: Rosmarinus, it beautifully translates to “dew of the sea.” If we look back, we will find that the Greeks and the Romans widely used Rosemary. One of the more well-known tales has to do with the flowering buds of the Rosemary plant. It was said that times before, the flowers bloomed into a beautiful, pure White.
But one night, as Mary was making her voyage to Egypt, she laid her cloak over a Rosemary shrub. As she woke, she saw now this cloak was a beautiful blue color, and ever since that night, the flowering blooms of the Rosemary plant are now the same blue as her cloak. Since this is the herb of love, Rosemary is also associated with Aphrodite.
Then we bring it back to beginnings and ends, it is also used in wreaths or crowns worn by brides, and when life comes to an end on this plain, it is given at funerals for guests to throw into the earth along with the body. Also, used to spread good tidings during Yule with a gift of Rosemary, Holly, Orange, and clove on New Year’s Day.
Benefits of Rosemary Herb
( I am not a medical expert, so please consult your doctor if you have health concerns about ingesting Rosemary)
Are you having trouble remembering things here and there or trying to recall things of the past? Then try turning to Rosemary. Why do we look at Rosemary as a remembrance plant? Well, science! The antioxidants found in Rosemary can help to slow the breakdown of acetylcholine, which has to do with the part of the brain that manages memory and logic.
Feeling a little tickle in your throat? Try chewing on a few sprigs. The eucalyptol contained within can help loosen the congestion. This magical plant also has anti-inflammatory properties, which also help to alleviate a sore throat. You can also make Rosemary water.
Simply mix with some lemon, add a spring of Rosemary, and chill. It will last about one week with the lemon; otherwise, just add the lemon as you make each drink, and you should be able to get about two weeks out of it. This is a great and easy way to get the daily benefits of the plant.
Create your own burning bundle. Cleansing the energy in your space with Rosemary helps to heighten your creativity. The aroma can clear the mind and help open up blockages within, thus allowing for a more attuned and direct connection to receive the universal lessons the energies around us are trying to give. Burning Rosemary also helps to ward off the evil eye and negative energies. I have even read that Rosemary oil can help enhance hair growth. There are just so many benefits of this hardy plant. Isn’t nature AWESOME?
How to Dry Rosemary
Trim your plant into an ideal hanging length; some say around 2 – 4 inches. I also like to burn my Rosemary, so I try to shoot for about 6 inches when creating burn bundles, cutting at the top part of the plant, leaving the thicker branches to continue and grow. If you’re looking to make your own bottled herb for cooking, place it in the oven on the lowest setting for about 2-4 hours, you’ll know when it has thoroughly dried once the needles easily fall off of the branch or springs.
My favorite way is simply letting them hang dry. Quick and easy, first wash and dry. Bind together with a twine or rubber band at the bulk end and hang in a place with healthy ventilation. There are also other options out there, such as freezing and dehydrating. No matter what method you use, just make sure your Rosemary is nice and clean.
How to Plant and What to Plant with Rosemary Herb (companion plants)
If you’re like me, there may be times when you inadvertently forget to water your plant babies. Well, no need to fret with Rosemary since this plant prefers dry and hot conditions. Here in the Midwest, my potted Rosemary does fine in a sunny window location during the winter.
Then during the dog days of summer, I let her enjoy the heat outside. My Rosemary I have only ever started from seeds, but you can also take about a 4- 8-inch clipping from another plant and place it in a potted planter. Make sure to remove the lower leaves between 1-2 inches.
Once removed, insert it into the dirt so the first leaf is just sitting above the soil and let her do her thing. Rosemary likes well-drained soil, so keep that in mind when choosing your dirt and/if you add stones to the bottom to help with drainage, newspaper will do the trick too.
Starting from seed will take a bit longer to see results and plant more seeds than you think since germination of Rosemary seeds is not consistent, so most likely, some will not produce anything. Cover with plastic wrap and put in a sunny place to help create some excellent heat for the seed. Once you see little babies arriving, remember to keep it in a nice sunny spot.
If you live in a warmer climate and can grow outside year-round, planting next to Sage is said to help enhance the Sage flavor. Another great herb to plant with Rosemary is Thyme. Rosemary is also good to plant with vegetables since the aroma of Rosemary repels certain pests that may hinder some vegetable plants’ growth.
Now, in climates where Rosemary can grow year-round, it will produce bright blue blooms. Sadly, I haven’t seen this happen before, but I hope maybe one year, my indoor one will decide to surprise me, though! So, if you get to see this up and close, send me a picture; I would love to see it
Now, here in the Midwest
I can’t benefit from a year-round outside garden, so I have started to experiment with potting my favorites that I just can’t wait 6 + months to have back in my life. I have found that Rosemary does very well potted. This one here is about two years old, and it came from the dollar bin at Target!
Angelic ( I do name my plants when one comes to me) has been re-potted only once, and that was only this spring. I noticed that some of her leaves were starting to turn a bit yellow, so after a bit of research and listening to her (yes, I talk to my plants), I knew she was ready for a larger pot. Within a few weeks, she returned to her normal rich green color. YAY!
Gardening is what I call my happy place. Something about playing in the dirt soothes my soul. If you’re looking to create your own little herb garden, Rosemary should be top on the list. Even novice gardeners will find ease in caring for Rosemary. What are some of your go-to must-have plants? Let me know in the comments below, and stay tuned for more herbal goodness Don’t forget your free download cheat – sheet on lovely Rosemary.
Wishing you love, light and inner peace babes
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41 Comments
Megan
I definitely get “mom brain” sometimes, so I’ll give this a try to see if this helps! Plus, I love the smell of rosemary so that’s a great bonus.
Debbie
I’m trying Rosemary in a pot this year. I think mine needs more sun tho. May have to move my pot!!
Love that you name your plants
Elaina
I have only ever grown in a pot. I would make sure it’s somewhere that gets sun almost all day. They love the heat!
Holly B
I love rosemary in my garden, I love cooking and baking with it!
Suz | TravelsWithSuz.com
Rosemary is one of my all-time favorite plants, and since its one of the few things that grow so well in New Mexico, I always have some.
I’ve told my kids that I want to smell fresh rosemary while I lay dying. The best scent ever.
Linda Egeler
I love gardening! I have huge perennial beds and a vegetable garden. How is it that I have never tried growing Rosemary? I do buy it occasionally at the store, but I know I’ll use it a lot more if I grow it myself. This summer for sure!
Tiffany
I had no idea you could grow it from cuttings…how cool!
Alice
I didn’t know rosemary did all that. I will have to get some.
Sabrina
Thanks for the history, benefits, and how to grow and care for Rosemary. It is adding to my herb knowledge as I am planning on starting a herb garden. This was great information for me. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa Manderino
Great information about rosemary. So many helpful tips!
Cindy
I love having rosemary in the garden.
Melissa Jones
Great info! I had no idea!
Marianne
We don’t use a lot of rosemary, which is why we don'[t have it in our garden. Might be something I add if it will help with ‘Mom Brain’ LOL!
Stephanie
I love the idea of the rosemary and lemon water! I also loved reading the history of the herb. Thank you.
Barbara
I love roasted rosemary on potatoes, veggies, roasts, etc. SO great and fragrant! I grow it freseh in my raised bed herb garden.
Kristin
I think Rosemary is my favorite herb scent! Good to know that they don’t need much water as I’m pretty bad at rfemembering to water my plant babies!!
Suzan
I have cuttings from last years plant ready to go as soon as the weather cooperates!
Sabrina DeWalt
I have struggled with growing rosemary in the past. Someone once told me it was because I was growing it in a pot and the roots couldn’t get deep enough. This year I have one growing in a pot and one growing in the ground to see which works better. You obviously are successful with growing rosemary in a pot. I have just learned about companion planting, and think my problem may have been what was in the pot with my rosemary in the past. My potted plant this year is growing with thyme. Wish me luck!
Elaina
Good luck! Hopefully it will grow tall and strong this year.
Danielle Ardizzone
I love the aroma of rosemary!
Elaina
Me too! If I ever feel stressed a quick whiff of it relaxes me a bit.
Suzan
Herbs call to me & rosemary is one of my favorites
Elaina
Yes, one of my favorites as well. It seems so good to me.
Maya
Had no idea it had so many benefits. Great info!
Carolyn
I got myself a little rosemary “Christmas tree” in November. It was adorable, and I had all these ideas on how to use my rosemary. I managed to kill it in about a week and a half. Now that I’ve read your post, I’m kind of hankering to try growing it again!
Alexis Farmer
I, too, live in the Midwest and am at the mercy of the four seasons for gardening. Good to know that Rosemary does well in a pot! Loved reading about its benefits and history too.
Terra Booth
I fully agree that rosemary is a magical plant! I will try drying it as typically I have only frozen it in the past after reading this!! Thank you for the tips!
Suz | TravelsWithSuz.com
Quick note – I trimmed my big rosemary bush and stuck the stems in water to root them. The woody stems did not develop roots, but the smaller tender twigs did, in about 3 weeks.
Elaina
That’s so good to know.
Chelsea
Rosemary has always been in my yard. I love that it attracts the bees, has a fabulous smell, and I have it on hand at all times for cooking!
Sydney Delong-Eat Simply Sweet
I love rosemary, but didn’t know there were great health benefits to it! Thanks for sharing!
Darby
I had no idea rosemary offered as many benefits as it does!! I have actually been forgetting little things here + there lately, so I will look into adding more rosemary into my diet!
Emily
I love gardening and planting herbs. I have never planted rosemary before. Thanks for sharing!
danielle nieman
So many helpful tips!! Thank you!
Amanda
Rosemary is such a great herb to have around. Pretty and useful, too!
Elizabeth
I love rosemary! It’s in my garden now, keeps pests away and smells amazing. I love baking it in bread and using it in potpourris too!
Elaina
Yes! I have been wanting to try making bread with it.
Kendra
I love this! We always have rosemary and thyme in our garden.
Christina Furnival
We love rosemary! Great to learn more about it!
Angela
I love having herbs in the garden and the rosemary bush is very pretty and attracts pollinators!
Cindy Moore
I love rosemary! It’s one of my favorite herbs. I grow mine in containers and move them indoors during the winter.