The Beneficial Plant

Rosemary- 

I cannot say enough about the laid back rosemary plant, so I will try hard to restrict myself to a one-page article.  

Here goes:

Rosemary, an upright evergreen shrub with a woody stem, is considered both a plant and an herb and is pleasing to the senses in many ways.

At first- before planting be sure to allow for rosemary to have lots of space. It can be made into just about any size or shape imaginable; Rosemary can grow large; several feet wide and tall. Super fun for landscaping. It will tolerate full sun but does best with some afternoon shade, I mean who doesn’t… am I right? Rosemary does best in well drained, loamy, slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-7.0. It also likes sheltered surroundings so does well in large pots and prefers standing in more dry than wet soil. (perfect for low country AZ). Mix soil with a bit of small gravel, pebbles to help with consistent draining.  In mild winter areas such as our Zone 9, rosemary is grown as a perennial.

Be sure to allow for daily watering for the first 6 weeks after planting. Once established, water infrequently through the cooler months and it goes without saying that the plant should have a good, long, hardy watering once a day or twice a day for shorter intervals during May–October.

A rosemary plant that survives the first year, will likely live for a good long while; 6-10 years.

Pruning:  When growing rosemary in the low desert of Arizona and you have a desire to prune, trim or shape,  you should do so sometime around September so that the clipped edges can recuperate before our cold season begins in late December.

Blooming: The more mature plant will flower beginning in the spring and will continue throughout the milder summers, however, I don’t give the flowering session much thought. I prefer no flowers on our plants, as I like the look of the healthy, blue-green freshness instead of the messy tiny white or baby blue flowers. So I tend to cut the plant back during the late spring, early summers. It is your preference.                                              

Litter: It does cause some slight litter when flowering and of course if too dry it will drop it’s tiny leaves.

Fertilizer? I haven’t seen a need for fertilizer. 

Pests: Occasionally, we will find spider webs in our larger rosemary plants and I spray them nice and hard with the hose. If I see pests such as aphids or white flies on the plants (which is seldom), I only use natural remedies or oil just in case I later decide to use the plant or its’ pieces in my home or on my skin, etc. 

The shrub is super easy to grow in Arizona with little effort! 

Beauty/Fragrance: We once had a full hedge, lining the 30-40 feet diameter of our front yard in Tempe, AZ.  It was 4 feet tall and dense by 2.5 feet. A beautiful blue green in color and when it rained or became windy you could smell it all through the house and down the street. Over the years, more than a dozen neighbors knocked at our door asking for clippings. One young mom told me she daily walked her baby daughter past our house, in the stroller, to enjoy the fragrance. 

Uses: Besides being beautiful and fairly easy to grow throughout the Phoenix area, (even through the summers), it is good in recipes, home remedies and for hot soaks in the tub. Boil sprigs for a fresh, herbal aroma in your home or place in a diffuser/steamer with warm water. Place a small sprig in your essential oils for use when cleaning; or crush and add the tiny needle-like leaves to oils or creams for the skin.  I also like to stick a few upright sprigs in my fresh floral arrangements for a whimsical look.  

Summary: Beneficial in so many ways! I’m sure I have only skimmed the surface, but I’m always open to any other benefits my readers would like to share. I have always had a rosemary plant since taking up residency in the valley, (34 years ago this month).  We currently have one at our Mexico summer home as well. I just love to rub my hands through it and smell its oil on my fingertips. It puts me in a calm mood. In fact, I cut pieces off our plant, then sit them on my writing table. The aroma energizes me; stimulating both my mind and my fingers for typing.

The folklore and Greek mythology runs deep on the subject of rosemary plant/herb;. And you can find plenty of poetry written about it as well.

 Fun Facts about rosemary

-Mosquito repellant –yay- who doesn’t like that?

- Likes coffee/coffee grounds ..(and I have plenty to provide my plants)

- Retains its’ fragrance even when dried

- Some initial studies show rosemary to be a memory aid… (I need all the help I can get)

- Often used in a variety of food recipes…yum!

Rosemary is one of the plants that can be found practically around the world. 

Opinion: Something this versatile and adaptable just has to be good for mind, body and senses.

 Advice: Plant a rosemary plant.