Can Rosemary Grow in Shade?

Identification

• Native to the coastal Mediterranean area, rosemary is adapted to dry, arid conditions. It is so used to low moisture levels that it is capable of drawing some of its water supply from the air. It typically grows 4 to 6 feet in height and 2 to 4 feet in width and produces blue to white flowers in early summer. An herbaceous perennial, rosemary is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, though it may grow better in the slightly cooler climates of zones 8 to 10 and as a potted plant outside in areas this range.

Light Requirements

• Rosemary grows best in full sun. You may also grow it in light shade, but it prefers full-sun conditions and performs best when it has them. If growing rosemary in a container indoors, place the plant near a south- or west-facing window where it receives as much light as possible. Although rosemary's wintertime preferences include increased moisture and decreased temperatures, it still likes consistent amounts of bright, long-lasting light.

Culture

• Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean, where hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters are the norm. Successfully growing it means reproducing, as closely as possible, its native conditions. Therefore, in summertime, rosemary should be watered sparingly to keep the soil relatively, but not bone, dry. In winter, the plant prefers cooler temperatures and increased moisture but not so much water that the roots begin to rot; still wait for the soil to dry out almost completely before adding water. Although rosemary tolerates many soil types, heavy clays often spell death.

Garden Uses

• Rosemary is primarily grown as an addition to the kitchen garden. A staple herb, you can use it to flavor meats, soups, stews, desserts, jams, vinegars and veggies. Its height and showy flowers also make it suitable as an ornamental. It does well in borders or foundation plantings and can be grown as a screen or hedge where it is winter hardy. Rosemary also attracts bees to the garden during its June and July blooming season, and when planted next to vegetable gardens, it encourages bees to pollinate veggies.