Rosemary - The Wonder Herb

Rosemary (Rosemary officinalis) is a perennial evergreen herb related to the mint (Labiatae) family. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rosemary is hardy in Zones 7a through 11a, however from personal experience it can be overwintered in the Treasure Valley if somewhat protected. A rosemary plant can live for more than 30 years.   Rosemary requires well draining, slightly acidic soil and prefers at least six hours of full sun, however it will tolerate partial shade. Rosemary seeds are slow to germinate but it propagates easily from stem cuttings, layering and division. While rosemary is fairly resistant to pests and diseases, root rot is the most common cause of death.

Rosemary’s culinary uses are well established. It is used to flavor meats, stews, teas, stuffing and many other gourmet feats ranging from savory to sweet. Rosemary can be used in breads, and also flavoring oils and butters. Sprigs of rosemary can be used as a graceful accent in presenting food such as a charcuterie board or in crafts like wreath making. 

Rosemary is an easy herb to grow in patio pots, vegetable gardens and as landscape shrubs.  Some cultivars can be grown as erect columns, rounded or irregular shrubs, and makes a fragrant topiary. It can also be used as ground cover, draping over a wall and in rock gardens. Outdoor pots can be brought indoors before first frost and kept as a fragrant house plant. Landscapers place rosemary in mountain gardens as it is resistant to damage by both deer and fire. The flowers are valued by butterflies and bees. Perfumes, hair care products, lotions, candles, potpourris, and sachets have long used rosemary oil. It takes over 100 pounds of raw rosemary to distill one pound of oil. 

Students in Roman times wore sprigs of rosemary thought to assist with memory; brides and grooms wore rosemary to encourage remembrance of wedding vows. Romans and Greeks considered rosemary a sacred plant that symbolizing both love and death. They threw sprigs into graves to signify their desire to remember the departed. In the West, rosemary has been associated for centuries with faithfulness and friendship as in Ophelia’s much quoted line in Hamlet:

“There’s rosemary; that’s for remembrance. Pray, Love, Remember”

How seeds saved me during the Pandemic...

Being a first-line healthcare provider during a worldwide virus pandemic, I self-quarantined, leaving me with spare time in the spring & summer of 2020. I enjoy flowers. I threw caution to the wind, mixed up my seeds, prepared my flower beds and got to sowing. What a successful experiment that resulted in colorful blooms. Seed-saving benefits include rapidly diversifying and enlarging flower beds while selecting from your favorite hearty blooms, at no cost! It delighted my soul during a very difficult time, so I had to know more

Click to learn more about Saving Seeds from your Garden 

What type of flower seeds are best?

Whatever you love! Whatever you have! Best choices are annuals and easy-to-grow perennials. Consider starting with marigolds, zinnias, snapdragons, lavender, etc. For consistent blooms, choose open pollinated flowers and not hybrids, which differ from the parent plant. Check the package label on your initial flower seeds for Heirloom, or OP (open pollinated). If it says hybrid, F1 or F2, don’t save these seeds.

When choosing blooms for seed collection:

• Use the largest and best blooms from healthy plants to ensure hearty genetics. 

• Don’t use diseased plants. 

• Leave the blooms on the plant until they have withered, turned brown and dried out. 

• If you collect seeds from flowers that have not dried out on the stem, the seeds may be immature and may not germinate.

• Be sure to label all seeds with the flower name, Latin name,

• location and collection date as you save them.

• Seed Saving is not just for flowers, click to learn about veggies too!

To collect, clip the dried flower heads from the stems. 

• Marigolds and zinnias break open and remove the seeds from the center. Marigolds have long narrow seeds (bottom right) and zinnia seeds are arrow-shaped (top right). Sort out the large chaff by hand and use a small fan or just blow on the smaller bits to remove, leaving just the seeds. 

• Snapdragons and lavender seeds will easily fall from the seed heads when shaken into a bowl. 

• Spread seeds on paper towels to dry in a dark cool area. Make sure they are completely dried before storing to avoid mold which can ruin the seeds. 

• Store in a labeled envelope or personalized seed packet. Mason jars, plastic baggies can be used if seeds are completely dried out. 

• Proper, air-tight storage will help the seeds retain their viability, so choose a dark, dry, cool place protected from pests.

Sit back and watch your garden explode with flowers! Oh yes, and Christmas came early since I packaged up my seeds to share as gifts for my family and friends. Truly a gift of time and love!