Rosemary Care: How To Grow This Aromatic Powerhouse Indoors or Out

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) is an evergreen herb that brings both form and function to your garden or kitchen. With its pine-like aroma, needle-shaped leaves, and woody stems, rosemary is prized for its culinary uses, drought tolerance, and ornamental value.

Native to the Mediterranean, rosemary thrives in full sun and dry soil — making it a favorite in rock gardens, containers, herb beds, and coastal landscapes. Whether you’re growing it for roasted potatoes or pollinator appeal, rosemary rewards minimal effort with maximum output.

Why Grow Rosemary?

Rosemary is a perennial evergreen in zones 7–10 and can be grown as an annual or container plant in colder climates.

It’s a staple in savory cooking, offering bold flavor to soups, stews, vegetables, and bread.

Medicinally, it has been used for centuries to boost memory, circulation, and mood.

Beyond its uses in the kitchen, rosemary also:

• Repels certain pests (like mosquitoes)

• Attracts bees with its blue-purple flowers

• Adds vertical structure to edible landscapes

• Retains its foliage and fragrance year-round in warm zones

Its blend of beauty, resilience, and utility makes it a top-tier herb for gardeners at any level.

Light Requirements: Sun, and Plenty of It

Rosemary requires full sun to thrive.

• Outdoors: Give it at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

• Indoors: Place near a south-facing window or use a high-output grow light for 14+ hours per day.

• Inadequate light results in spindly stems and weak growth.

If your rosemary becomes leggy or pale, it’s likely craving more sun exposure.

Watering: Less Is More

Rosemary is drought-tolerant and prefers its soil on the dry side.

• Water only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.

• Deep, infrequent watering encourages stronger root development.

• Never allow rosemary to sit in soggy soil — root rot is a common killer, especially indoors.

In containers, ensure excellent drainage and avoid saucers that trap standing water.

Soil: Sandy, Alkaline, and Well-Draining

Rosemary needs well-drained, slightly alkaline soil to mimic its native Mediterranean habitat.

• Mix potting soil with sand, perlite, or fine gravel to improve drainage.

• Ideal pH: 6.5–7.5

• Avoid compost-heavy or moisture-retentive soils — these increase the risk of fungal disease.

In raised beds, amend native soil with sand or cactus mix for best results.

Fertilizer: Minimal and Diluted

Rosemary is a light feeder and doesn’t need rich soil or frequent fertilizing.

• Use a balanced 10-10-10 (like this one) or 20-20-20 (like this one) liquid fertilizer, diluted to ¼ strength.

• Feed once every 6–8 weeks during spring and summer.

• Skip fertilizing in winter or when plant growth slows.

Too much fertilizer encourages soft, weak growth with diminished aroma.

Temperature and Hardiness

Rosemary thrives in warm, dry climates and can live for years in the right zone.

• Hardy in USDA zones 7–10; semi-hardy in zone 6 with protection.

• Prefers temperatures between 60–80°F (15–27°C).

• In colder zones, overwinter in containers indoors or in a greenhouse.

• Avoid wet winter soil, which can be more harmful than frost.

In cold-winter regions, choose upright varieties and grow in pots that can be moved inside during freezing weather.

Pruning and Harvesting: Frequent Trims Encourage Fullness

Rosemary is a woody shrub and needs regular pruning to stay bushy and productive.

• Begin trimming when plants are 6–8 inches tall.

• Snip sprigs just above a leaf node to stimulate new branching.

• Avoid cutting into old, woody stems with no green growth — they rarely regrow.

• After flowering, prune to shape and thin out interior branches for airflow.

Regular pruning improves flavor, structure, and disease resistance.

Propagation: Cuttings Yield the Best Results

Rosemary can be grown from seed, but germination is slow and unreliable. Propagation by cuttings is far more effective.

From Cuttings:

• Take 4–6 inch softwood cuttings in spring or early summer.

• Strip the lower leaves and dip in rooting hormone if desired.

• Root in moist soil or water and transplant after 3–4 weeks.

By Division:

• Older plants can be divided in spring, but this method is harder on the roots.

From Seed:

• Start indoors 10–12 weeks before last frost.

• Keep warm and moist — germination can take up to 3 weeks.

Cuttings preserve the parent plant’s aroma and structure more reliably than seeds.

Outdoor Care Tips for Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most popular herbs for outdoor herb gardens and edible landscaping.

• Site selection: Choose a sunny, well-drained location, ideally with sandy or gravelly soil. Avoid low-lying areas that collect water.

• Spacing: Plant 18–24 inches apart for upright varieties; creeping types can spread more widely.

• Watering: Once established, rosemary only needs watering during prolonged drought.

• Winter care: In zones 6 and below, grow in containers and bring inside before hard frost. In warmer zones, mulch lightly around the base for winter protection.

• Maintenance: Prune annually to keep shape and remove dead wood. Rosemary is slow to recover from aggressive cutting into woody stems.

Rosemary also thrives in raised beds, terracotta pots, and xeriscape designs, making it a flexible addition to any outdoor space.

Popular Rosemary Varieties

Rosemary cultivars differ in size, shape, aroma, and cold tolerance.

Here are the most widely grown:

• ‘Arp’ – Extremely cold hardy (to zone 6); upright habit and excellent flavor.

• ‘Tuscan Blue’ – Tall, upright variety with broad leaves and strong aroma; great for hedging.

• ‘Prostratus’ (Creeping Rosemary) – Low-growing, ideal for cascading over walls or containers.

• ‘Hill Hardy’ – Cold-tolerant with dense foliage and good culinary quality.

• ‘Salem’ – Semi-upright with pale blue flowers and strong oil content; popular for cooking.

Choose based on your climate and whether you need culinary performance, ornamental impact, or both.

Final Word

Rosemary is a resilient and rewarding herb that thrives in tough conditions where other plants might struggle.

With its evergreen foliage, powerful aroma, and minimal care needs, it stands as one of the most versatile herbs for indoor and outdoor cultivation alike.

Whether you’re clipping sprigs for roasted vegetables, training it into a fragrant hedge, or letting it spill from a container on your patio, rosemary always delivers.

Just give it sun, drainage, and the occasional trim — and it will reward you for years to come.