Overview

Rosemary is a fragrant culinary herb, used to season foods as well as to make cosmetics, soaps and some herbal medicines. The rosemary plant makes an attractive ornamental landscape bush or addition to the garden. The plant has small, dark, sharply pointed leaves and tiny delicate flowers in white, pink or blue. It is a drought-tolerant plant and grows well in the desert, requiring minimal care. The rosemary likes sunshine, does well in poor soil and typically requires no fertilization.

Step 1

Choose a well-draining location for the rosemary plant. For container planting, use a pot with a drain hole; when planting in the garden, select an area where water does not puddle.

Step 2

Plant the rosemary bush in a container using regular potting soil if you are in a region with severe winters (typically USDA zones 7 or lower). Bring the container indoors to a sunny room in the winter season. In warmer climes, you can plant rosemary directly in the ground in a sunny location.

Step 3

Water rosemary every three to five days (in the morning) during the first growing season in warm weather. If over-irrigated rosemary plants will become woody. Water container-grown rosemary when the soil dries out or if the plant is just beginning to show signs of wilting.

Step 4

Once the plant is established, estimate the watering needs of in-ground plants based on observation. Determine when the plant begins to show signs of wilting, and plan your watering schedule to prevent this.