Rosemary
A fragrant Mediterranean shrub with needle-like leaves, used as a flavoring and symbol of remembrance.
The plant has been associated with remembrance and fidelity since ancient times.[1] The leaves of rosemary are described as resembling pine needles.[2] According to one source, rosemary's native range includes the Mediterranean region, Portugal, and northwestern Spain.[1]
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Salvia
- Species
- rosmarinus
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Carl Linnaeus first described the species as Rosmarinus officinalis in 1753.[3] In 2017, molecular evidence led to its reclassification into the genus Salvia as Salvia rosmarinus.[3] The Latin name combines words meaning "sea-dew," and Elizabeth Kent noted in 1823 that rosemary thrives best by the sea.[4] Cuttings were sent to Queen Philippa of England in 1338 and planted at the palace of Westminster.[5]
In temperate climates, rosemary flowers during spring and summer, producing blooms that can be white, pink, purple, or deep blue.[6] Upright-growing forms of rosemary can attain a height of 4 to 6 feet.[7] Rosemary has a potential lifespan of up to 35 years.[6] Certain cultivars, such as 'Arp', are capable of surviving winter temperatures as low as approximately −20 °C.[8]
What the cited sources add
Susan Mahr's extension article notes that rosemary is winter hardy only to zone 8a and is generally grown as a potted plant in Wisconsin.[1] The same source states that seed propagation is not recommended because germination is very irregular and slow.[1] Rosemary can be grown as a topiary.[1] The Garden Action guide reports that rosemary is a perennial lasting twenty years or more with minimal pruning.[2]
That guide also states the ideal time to plant rosemary is April.[2] Neill's extension article notes that some varieties are hardy to -10 degrees F if they harden off in fall.[9]
References
- Susan Mahr, "Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis", Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension. facts only, no text reused. hort.extension.wisc.edu
- "How to Grow Rosemary", Garden Action. facts only, no text reused. gardenaction.co.uk
- Wikipedia, "Rosemary" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; Drew, "Salvia united: The greatest good for the greatest number", Taxon, 2017, p. 133–145; "Pharmacovigilance for Herbal and Traditional Medicines Advances, Challenges and International Perspectives", Springer Nature Switzerland, 11 August 2022, p. 158: Box 8.5 Why 'Rosemary' Came to be Renamed (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Rosemary" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Kent, "Flora Domestica, or the Portable Flower-Garden", Taylor and Hessey, 1823, p. 330; Room, "A Dictionary of True Etymologies", Taylor & Francis, 1988, p. 150; Wedgwood, "On False Etymologies", Transactions of the Philological Society, 1855, p. 66; Liddell, "rosmarinus", Liddell, Scott, Jones Ancient Greek Lexicon, 1940; Columella, "Res Rustica, Books V-IX", London & Cambridge. Tufts University. William Heinemann & Harvard University 1954. perseus.tufts.edu. (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Rosemary" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Vale, "Philippa [Philippa of Hainault] (1310x15?–1369), queen of England, consort of Edward III", 2004; Keiser, "A Middle English Rosemary Treatise in Verse and Prose", ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 2005, p. 9–18 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Rosemary" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)", Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, 3 January 2018; Susan Mahr, "Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis", Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension; McCoy, "The good graces of rosemary", The Gardenist, 27 June 2012; Federal Register. Volume 52, Issues 13-20 - Page 2228 . Retrieved on 6 Oct. 2023. "Mature rosemary approaches senescence at an age of 30-35 years…it releases to (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Rosemary" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)", Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, 3 January 2018; Susan Mahr, "Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis", Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension; "Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)", Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, 3 January 2018 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Rosemary" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tucker, "The essential oils of some rosemary cultivars", Flavour and Fragrance Journal, September 1986, p. 137–142; "How to Grow Rosemary", Garden Action (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Neill, "Rosemary Provides Landscape Variety, Culinary Delight - Extension Gardener NC State Extension", Extension Gardener, 2020-08-09. facts only, no text reused. extensiongardener.ces.ncsu.edu
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Rosemary (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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