Leaf
David J. Stang, Wikimedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.
Family: Lamiaceae
0.5 to 1.5 m tall
Mediterranean garrigue, widely cultivated
Flowering: All year round, mainly February – May
Full sun
Not very hardy, to -10°C only
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Needle-like foliage with a powerful, characteristic scent, recognisable at the first crushing.
🍃 Leaves
Evergreen, narrow and needle-like, dark green above, white beneath, very aromatic
🌸 Flowers
Small, blue-mauve, in short racemes in the leaf axils
🍎 Fruits
Minute achenes
🪵 Bark
Greyish woody stems, much branched
🗺️ Distribution
Mediterranean; common in the garrigue of southern France, widely cultivated elsewhere.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Early, extended flowering, very rich in nectar, an important resource for bees from the end of winter.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted in low hedges, beds or aromatic borders, drought-resistant.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No toxicity at usual culinary doses; the concentrated essential oil, rich in camphor, is not recommended for internal use or for people with epilepsy.
🌿 Other Lamiaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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