Growing Guide

Ideal Environment

Rosemary can grow in a variety of soils, sandy loam preferred because good drainage is important and lots of sun.  Rosemary can also grow in containers outside or in a sunny window.

How to Plant

Rosemary can be grown from seeds, cover lightly with soil and keep slightly moist until they are established with a few sets of leaves.  To speed up the process you can soak the seeds overnight and germinate them in a small greenhouse or covering the container with plastic.

Companion Planting

Rosemary goes well with other herbs and is a great addition to any garden because it can draw bees year around (in warmer climates). In particular it is said to go well with sage, thyme, beans, carrots and cabbages.

How to Propagate

Rosemary is easy to propagate from an existing plant, clip a 10 to 12 cm piece from soft new growth, strip the leaves from the bottom, use with or without rooting hormone and put them straight into the soil or in water until roots have developed and they can be transplanted.

Key Constituents

Antioxidants, Volatile oil (borneol, camphene, camphor, cineole, limonene, linalool, isobutyl acetate, 3-octanone, terpineol, verbenol, etc.), flavonoids (apigenin, diosmin, diosmin, etc.), rosmarininc acid and other phenolic acids, terpenoids (carnasol, oleanolic & ursolic acid). (3)

Key Actions

Nervous system relaxant, sedative, anti-depressant, mild analgesic (topically), antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, diaphoretic, rubefacient,  capillary tonic, circulatory stimulant, cardiotonic, carminative, choleretic, hepatoprotector, emmenagogue, diuretic, antispasmodic. (3)

Parts Used

The green needle-like leaves are used.

Preparations

Rosemary preparations include tinctures (about 5ml dose per day), infusions (a teaspoon per cup), ointments and oils.