Can I Plant a Rosemary Tree?

Training A Rosemary Tree

• Look for a plant at your local nursery that already has a strong central stem. If you can't find one, take a multi-stemmed plant, choose the main shoot, and prune off all the side stems. Put a small bamboo stake in the pot and tie your young trunk to it with plastic ties or other stretchable material. Inelastic ties may bite into the bark as the tree grows. Prune off a few of the lower branches to give the impression of a tree trunk, then wait for the upper branches to grow wider. As they do, pinch of the ends or tip prune them into the shape of a conical tree.

Growing Rosemary Indoors

• Many varieties of rosemary are injured at temperatures below 30 degrees and growing them indoors or bringing them in for the winter will give you the widest selection of types to choose from. Give your plant as much light as you can and supplement with an artificial grow light if you lack a southern exposure. Water well, then allow the soil to dry out to a depth of at least 1/2 inch. Rosemary is drought-tolerant but dislikes constant moisture. Give your plant cool temperatures, 60 degrees or below, if possible.

Growing Rosemary Outdoors

• If you want to grow rosemary in your garden, look for a variety that is hardy in your area. Rosemary "Arp" will survive in USDA zone 6, but protect it with a covering of branches or plastic the first few winters to allow it to become established. Rosemary does well in sandy soil or regular garden loam but be sure the bed is well-drained. Give it full sun and regular water for the first year to allow it to put its roots down. Once established, rosemary is carefree and permanent, growing 5 to 6 feet tall, though creeping varieties are available.

Rosemary Varieties

• Varieties of rosemary can be found with pink, white or blue flowers, thin or thick leaves, upright or sprawling habit and different degrees of hardiness. Some of the most cold-tolerant are "Arp" and "Hill Hardy," also known as "Madelene Hill," but others include "Russian River," "Bendenen Blue" and "Goodwin Creek." "Majorca Pink" has both pink flowers and branches that arch downward as they get older rather than being stiffly upright like many types. "Nancy Howard" has almost white flowers, and "Pinkie" is a dwarf with a dense, compact habit. "Miss Jessopp's Upright" can grow to 6 feet or more. "Silver Spires" has leaves edged with white or pale yellow.