Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen shrub that has leaves similar to hemlock needles. The leaves are used as a flavoring in foods such as stuffings and roast lamb, pork, chicken and turkey. It is native to the Mediterranean and Asia, but is reasonably hardy in cool climates. It can withstand droughts, surviving a severe lack of water for lengthy periods Forms range from upright to trailing; the upright forms can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, rarely 2 m (6 ft 7 in). The leaves are evergreen, 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long and 2–5 mm broad, green above, and white below, with dense, short, woolly hair
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The plant flowers in spring and summer in temperate climates, but the plants can be in constant bloom in warm climates; flowers are white, pink, purple or deep blue.Rosemary also has a tendency to flower outside its normal flowering season; it has been known to flower as late as early December, and as early as mid-February

Usage

Rosemary is used as a decorative plant in gardens where it may have pest control effects. The leaves are used to flavor various foods, such as stuffings and roast meats.
Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use. The following are frequently sold:

• 'Albus' – white flowers
• 'Arp' – leaves light green, lemon-scented
• 'Aureus' – leaves speckled yellow
• 'Benenden Blue' – leaves narrow, dark green
• 'Blue Boy' – dwarf, small leaves
• 'Golden Rain' – leaves green, with yellow streaks
• 'Gold Dust' -dark green leaves, with golden streaks but stronger than 'Golden Rain'
• 'Irene' – low and lax, trailing, intense blue flowers
• 'Lockwood de Forest' – procumbent selection from 'Tuscan Blue'
• 'Ken Taylor' – shrubby
• 'Majorica Pink' – pink flowers
• 'Miss Jessop's Upright' – distinctive tall fastigiate form, with wider leaves.
• 'Pinkie' – pink flowers
• 'Prostratus' – lower groundcover
• 'Pyramidalis' (or 'Erectus') – fastigate form, pale blue flowers
• 'Remembrance' (or 'Gallipoli') – taken from the Gallipoli Peninsula
• 'Roseus' – pink flowers
• 'Salem' – pale blue flowers, cold-hardy similar to 'Arp'
• 'Severn Sea' – spreading, low-growing, with arching branches, flowers deep violet
• 'Tuscan Blue' – traditional robust upright form
• 'Wilma's Gold' – yellow leaves