Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Herbs and aromatics
Exotic (Mediterranean) | Easy Care | Herbs and aromatics
Rosemary is one of the toughest and most useful plants in any coastal garden. It is an aromatic, evergreen shrub with narrow, needle-like, intensely fragrant leaves and small blue, pink or white flowers that attract bees.
BBQ rosemary is the classic upright culinary form. Green Ginger has a lighter, ginger-scented twist. The prostrate forms make excellent groundcovers and wall spillovers. All are completely at home in the hot, dry, windy, sandy conditions of St Francis Bay, and once established they need virtually no care. The leaves are used fresh or dried in cooking, and the plant itself is ornamental enough for a front-of-house border or a container by the front door.
60 cm to 1.5 m depending on variety. Upright forms grow taller; prostrate forms spread sideways.
Moderate.
Herb garden, border, hedge, container, pathway edging, wall spillover (prostrate forms), braai area. Both ornamental and useful.
Full sun. It needs hot, open conditions.
Well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil. It thrives in poor, lean, alkaline conditions and does not need rich soil. Avoid heavy, wet ground.
Very low once established. One of the most drought-tolerant herbs available. Water while settling in, then leave it alone.
None needed. Rich soil makes it soft and reduces the essential oil content in the leaves.
Harvest regularly for the kitchen, which is all the pruning it needs. Shape in spring if it gets untidy. Like lavender, do not cut back into old, bare wood; it does not resprout from there.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
