Rosmarinus Officinalis

Rosemary

Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Mediterranean region
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

Perfect for Adelaide and broader South Australian gardens, rosemary thrives in coastal breezes, heat and low-rainfall summers. Its neat, upright habit and aromatic foliage bring form and fragrance to paths, courtyards and kitchen plots year-round. Small blue-lilac flowers appear mainly in late winter–spring, feeding bees when few other plants are in bloom.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1–2 m H x 1–1.5 m W
• Growth Rate: 20-40 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Aromatic, evergreen needle-like leaves; deep to grey-green with silvery undersides; occasional bronze tints in cold or wind
• Flowers: Blue to lilac (sometimes white/pink) mainly late winter–spring, with spot autumn flushes
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round structure; peak flowering late winter–spring
• Wildlife Value: Excellent nectar for bees and other pollinators
• Tolerance: Sun-loving; Heat-Tolerant; Drought-Tolerant once established; Light Frost Hardy; Wind-Tolerant; Coastal-Tolerant in free-draining sites; avoid waterlogging (improved soils can make it more Clay-Tolerant)
• Planting Density: Shrub borders: 1 plant per metre (dense) or 1 per 1.5 m for a looser effect
• Pet Friendly: Non-toxic (culinary herb)

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay loam
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8-12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10-14 days in summer; monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; light prune after flowering and through warm months to keep bushy (avoid cutting into old wood); fertilise lightly in early spring
• Lifespan: 15-25 years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Neutral to alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Edible low hedge along paths and driveways for scent-on-brush
• Coastal and waterwise plantings with lavender, westringia and olives
• Spillover on retaining walls or in large pots near the kitchen door

Why You Will Love It

Tough, fragrant and beautiful—rosemary delivers year-round structure, bee-friendly blooms and fresh sprigs for the kitchen. It’s a perfect match for Adelaide’s Mediterranean climate, needing little more than sun and drainage to thrive. Low-maintenance performance with high sensory payoff.