Botanical – What kind of plant is this?
Rosemary is a perennial, evergreen plant with edible leaves. From a distance, it appears almost like a conifer, due to its woody perennials. Crushing the leaves releases an intense scent reminiscent of resin, camphor, and pine.
The Mediterranean region is the natural home of the herb with the fine, green-blue, needle-shaped leaves.
Varieties – Which are recommended?
Rosemary 'Weihenstephan': mostly hardy, robust in cultivation
Rosemary 'Santa Barbara': beautiful flower shape, sensitive to cold, creeping growth
Pine rosemary: not winter hardy, nutty aroma, especially suitable for pot cultivation
Rosemary 'Rex': very robust, good growth, rich harvest
Interesting facts – What else is there to learn?
Although rosemary is most commonly associated with autumn dishes, it is most aromatic in spring, just before it blooms.
According to popular belief, rosemary was dedicated to Aphrodite, making it a symbol of love. A small bouquet of rosemary was often placed in the grave of the deceased to ensure a pleasant journey to the land of immortality. However, it is now believed that the true reason was more practical: to reduce the smell of decay. Rosemary is also said to help increase virility.
TEXT: Carina Naeve
