I love plants. I have a BSc. in Turf and Landscape Horticulture, an MSc. in Crop Production, and a Ph.D. in Crop Science, as well as over 20 years of experience in landscaping, gardening, horticulture, and agriculture. The central focus throughout my career, has been on caring for the soil, as healthy soil makes for healthy plants, and plants are integral to the sustainability of life. Favourite vegetables: basil, garlic, onions and leeks Favourite fruits: ripe figs, blueberries and dates
Rosemary is generally thought of as the simple culinary herb. What most people do not realise is that there are many surprisingly diverse cultivated varieties of this Mediterranean native.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a wonderfully aromatic herb in the plant family Lamiaceae. This is the same family that the other typical Mediterranean herbs, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and sage (Salvia officinalis), belong to. There are many types of rosemary available on the market, from upright to trailing growth forms, floral displays in blues, pinks, whites, or purples, as well as some that are more aromatic than others. Read on to find out the most popular varieties so that you can choose the right one for your garden.
Rosemary is an extremely versatile and popular herb. With its invigorating pine-like fragrance and lemon-pepper flavor, rosemary has become a staple in kitchens and gardens worldwide. But did you know there are actually dozens of different rosemary varieties to choose from?
In this guide, we’ll explore the many types of rosemary and help you select the right one for your needs. Whether you want to season savory dishes, create ornamental hedges, or attract pollinators to your garden, there’s a rosemary plant perfect for you.
An Overview of Rosemary Types
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. It’s an aromatic evergreen shrub that originates from the Mediterranean region. There are four main categories of rosemary varieties:
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Upright – Tall vertical rosemary that can grow over 5 feet. Has a columnar, tree-like shape.
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Spreading – Shorter rosemary, 1-3 feet tall, that expands 3 feet or more outward.
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Prostrate – Low-growing, creeping rosemary under 1 foot tall that spreads along the ground.
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Other species – Less common rosemary relatives like bog rosemary.
While most rosemary has light blue flowers, there are also white, pink, and purple blooming varieties The foliage ranges from light silver-green to very dark forest green. Leaf shapes also vary, with some plants having wider, rounded leaves.
Popular Upright Rosemary Varieties
Upright rosemary grows vertically, making attractive landscape anchors. These rosemary types also give abundant leaves for culinary use.
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Tuscan Blue – Hardy rosemary growing up to 6 feet with gray-green leaves and rich blue blooms. Robust flavor perfect for cooking.
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Arp – Cold tolerant variety reaching over 5 feet tall. Features light blue flowers and intense lemon fragrance.
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Hill Hardy – Can reach 5 feet with prolific light blue blooms. Good cold resistance.
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Salem – Fast growing with a tall columnar shape. Has a high oil content and intense scent.
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Madeline Hill – Extremely cold hardy found by the Texas gardener it’s named after. Very pungent rosemary flavor.
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Miss Jessup’s Upright – Drought resistant rosemary that can grow up to 6 feet tall with signature piney aroma.
Popular Spreading Rosemary Varieties
Spreading rosemary expands horizontally more than vertically. These make excellent rosemary groundcovers.
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Benenden Blue – Only reaches 2 feet tall but spreads 3-4 feet wide. Has gray-green leaves and pale blue spring blooms.
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Blue Lagoon – Quickly spreading rosemary that can reach 3-4 feet wide. Produces light to deep blue flower masses.
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Pink Rosemary – A 2 foot tall, 3-4 foot wide mound variety with unique rose-pink winter blooms.
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Rosea – Low spreading rosemary with light green leaves and abundant pink late winter flowers.
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Collingwood Ingram – Named after a British admiral. Spreads 3 feet wide with light blue winter blooms.
Popular Prostrate Rosemary Varieties
Prostrate rosemary forms dense, mat-like foliage that creeps along the ground. These make excellent groundcovers and container spillers.
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Huntington Carpet – One of the most popular prostrate kinds, it reaches just 10 inches tall but spreads several feet wide.
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Irene – A vigorous, low rosemary that spreads rapidly along the ground. Has refreshing scented light green leaves.
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Lockwood de Forest – Grows only 6 inches tall but spreads 3 feet wide. Has fine, dense deep green foliage.
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Santa Barbara – A quick spreading rosemary that can reach 3 feet long but only 1 foot tall. Bears masses of light blue blooms.
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Blue Spires – Grows just 1-2 feet tall but spreads 3 feet wide in a prostrate mat.
Other Unique Rosemary Species
Beyond the common Rosmarinus officinalis, there are some other interesting rosemary species:
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Bog rosemary – Andromeda polifolia is a low-growing shrub with white or pink blooms, not for culinary use.
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Canary Island rosemary – Rosmarinus eriocalyx is native to the Canary Islands with larger, bright green leaves.
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Moroccan rosemary – Rosmarinus tomentosus is an upright species that can grow into a small tree with furry leaves.
Choosing Rosemary Plants for Your Garden
With so many rosemary varieties, it can be difficult to pick the right one for your specific needs. Here are some tips:
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Select upright rosemary types for cooking since they have the highest oil content and strongest flavor. Tuscan Blue, Miss Jessup’s, and Spice Island are great culinary choices.
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Go with prostrate or spreading varieties like Huntington Carpet and Blue Lagoon for ornamental groundcovers. Their trailing shapes work beautifully.
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Choose cold hardy varieties like Arp and Madeline Hill if you live in an area with freezing winters. They can withstand lower temperatures.
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For topiaries and hedges, look for upright rosemary that can be sheared into formal shapes. Tuscan Blue is a classic topiary favorite.
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If you want unique flower colors, opt for pink blooming rosemary varieties like Rosea or Majorca Pink.
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For containers, prostrate and dwarf rosemary types like Blue Boy stay compact and are easy to grow.
Once you select the right rosemary plant for your climate and planting goals, it’s sure to thrive! With its aromatic pine-like fragrance and versatility, rosemary is a must for any herb or ornamental garden.
Upright-growing types of rosemary
When most people think of rosemary, they think of the classic upright-growth form. These small shrubs can reach up to 1.5m. Here are some of the best upright rosemary varieties:
- Salvia rosmarinus: the traditional common variety of rosemary found in garden centres can grow vigorously up to 1.2 m tall with dense green foliage, light blue flowers, and a strong aroma.
- ‘Albiflorus’: rosemary cultivar growing up to 1m in height and width. It shows beautiful white flowers and short dark green foliage.
- ‘Blue Tuscan’: with its vividly blue flowers and large, tender foliage, and reaching a height up to 1.5m, this variety makes a wonderful specimen in the garden. It is also excellent for using in the kitchen.
- ‘Gorizia’: growing up to 1.5m tall, it makes an excellent shrub in your garden. It has very pale violet-blue flowers and dark green foliage.
- ‘Heavenly Blue’: as a very compact grower, only reaching up to 0.5m tall, this variety is perfect for borders in your garden or for growing in a pot. It has pale blue flowers and lovely green foliage.
- ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’: with light blue flowers and a strong aroma, ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’ rosemary is a delight in the garden. It can grow very tall and sturdy into a well-shaped shrub with dense foliage.
- ‘Rex’: a very robust variety that can grow up to 1.2m tall. It has dark blue flowers set on dark green foliage.
- ‘Roseus’: this upright rosemary produces lovely pink coloured flowers that contrast nicely with its green foliage. It can grow into a small shrub up to 1m tall. It has wonderfully aromatic foliage for using in the kitchen.
- ‘Salem’: the variety makes an excellent hedge and can grow up to 1.2m tall. It has dark green foliage with pale but striking blue flowers. This variety needs protection from hard freezes as it is only moderately winter hardy.
- ‘Spice Island’: possibly the most aromatic rosemary, ‘Spice Island’ is sure to please. It has silver green foliage and grows up to 1m tall.
Tip: learn how to preserve your rosemary after harvesting it in our detailed article on storing, freezing & drying rosemary.
You want to know who’s behind Plantura?
I love plants. I have a BSc. in Turf and Landscape Horticulture, an MSc. in Crop Production, and a Ph.D. in Crop Science, as well as over 20 years of experience in landscaping, gardening, horticulture, and agriculture. The central focus throughout my career, has been on caring for the soil, as healthy soil makes for healthy plants, and plants are integral to the sustainability of life. Favourite vegetables: basil, garlic, onions and leeks Favourite fruits: ripe figs, blueberries and dates
Rosemary is generally thought of as the simple culinary herb. What most people do not realise is that there are many surprisingly diverse cultivated varieties of this Mediterranean native.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a wonderfully aromatic herb in the plant family Lamiaceae. This is the same family that the other typical Mediterranean herbs, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and sage (Salvia officinalis), belong to. There are many types of rosemary available on the market, from upright to trailing growth forms, floral displays in blues, pinks, whites, or purples, as well as some that are more aromatic than others. Read on to find out the most popular varieties so that you can choose the right one for your garden.
My 10 Favorite Rosemary Varieties
FAQ
Are there different types of rosemary?
Yes, there are many different types of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) with varying characteristics like growth habit, leaf shape, flower color, and aroma. Some are upright shrubs, while others are trailing or groundcover types.
What kind of rosemary is best for cooking?
While all rosemary varieties are technically edible and suitable for cooking, some are preferred for their enhanced flavor and aroma, particularly those with broader leaves.
Are there types of rosemary you can’t eat?
While all rosemary cultivars are edible, each produces its own unique oil. Some are higher in camphor, with fragrance similar to pine, making them less palatable, but perfectly fine for landscaping with.
Which variety of rosemary is best for hair?
Rosemary essential oil with cineole stimulates hair growth. One to two drops of rosemary EO with cineole mixed with a neutral oil (suitable for use on the skin) make a wonderful blend to massage your scalp.
What are the different types of Rosemary?
As you would figure, common rosemary is one of the most common types. It grows to 2–4 feet tall and needs dry soil with good drainage and direct sunlight exposure. Common rosemary is best for cooking purposes. 6. Majorca Pink Rosemary Majorca pink rosemary is one of the most unique varieties.
What do Rosemary flowers look like?
The flowers are usually white or pink, but some varieties, such as Officinalis, have purple flowers. Rosemary is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6 feet tall, but many varieties are smaller. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Fragrant, needle-like leaves are used mainly as a culinary herb for flavoring.
Is Rosemary a Mediterranean herb?
This is the same family that the other typical Mediterranean herbs, lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and sage (Salvia officinalis), belong to. There are many types of rosemary available on the market, from upright to trailing growth forms, floral displays in blues, pinks, whites, or purples, as well as some that are more aromatic than others.
Which Rosemary varieties are best for culinary purposes?
With all of the different types of rosemary you can grow, it’s important to know which varieties are best for culinary purposes. Common Rosemary, Tuscan Blue rosemary, and Barbecue rosemary are some of the more common culinary rosemary varieties grown in home gardens.
Is Rosemary a good ornamental plant?
Rosemary is a versatile and fragrant herb that comes in many different varieties. With its piney, lemon-like flavor, rosemary has become a staple in kitchens around the world. But beyond being a popular cooking ingredient, rosemary is also an attractive ornamental plant.
What are the best Upright Rosemary varieties?
Here are some of the best upright rosemary varieties: Salvia rosmarinus: the traditional common variety of rosemary found in garden centres can grow vigorously up to 1.2 m tall with dense green foliage, light blue flowers, and a strong aroma. ‘Albiflorus’: rosemary cultivar growing up to 1m in height and width.