Rosemary herb and Herb recipes

Rosemary is a shrub that originated in the Mediterranean area and is now widely cultivated throughout the temperate regions. The ancient Latin name means sea-dew. This may come from its habit of growing close to the sea and the dew-like appearance of its blossom at a distance. It is steeped in myth, magic and folk medicinal use. One of my favorite stories about Rosemary comes from Spain. It relates that originally the blue flowers were white. When the Holy family fled into Egypt, the Virgin Mary had to hide from some soldiers, so she spread her cloak over a rosemary bush and knelt behind it. When the soldiers had gone by she stood up and removed her cloak and the blossoms turned blue in her honor. Also connected to the Christian faith is the story that rosemary will grow for 33 years, the length of Christ's life, and then die. In Elizabethan days, the wedding couple wore or carried a sprig of rosemary as a sign of fidelity. Also bunches of rosemary were tied with colored ribbon tipped with gold and given to guests at weddings to symbolize love and faithfulness. Rosemary was burnt in sick chambers to freshen and purify the air. Branches were strewn in courts of law as a protection from gaol fever. During the Plague people used to wear it in neck pouches to sniff as they traveled, and in Victorian times it was carried in the hollow handles of walking sticks for the same reasons.

Species

Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread lm (3ft). Pale blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes in early autumn. Needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic.

Rosmarinus officinalis var. albiflorus

White Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in).White flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes in early autumn. Needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic.

Rosmarinus officinalis angustissimus 'Corsican Blue'

Corsican Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in). Blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometime! again in early autumn. The needle shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic. It is much bushier than the standard Rosemary and has a very pungent scent. It is lovely to cook with.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Aureus'

Golden Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Hi 80cm (32in), spread (idem (24in). It hardly ever flowers but if it does they are pale blue. The thin needle leave-are green splashed with gold. If you did not know better you| would think the plant was suffering from a virus. It still looks very attractive.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Benenden Blue'

Benenden Blue Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in). Dart blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. Leaves are fine needles and fairly dense on the stem, good aroma.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Fota Blue'

Fota Blue Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in). Very attractive dark blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. Very well spaced narrow needle-like dark green leaves, the plant has fairly prostrate habit.

Rosemary officinalis 'Majorca Pink'

Majorcan Pink Rosemary

Evergreen half-hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in). Pink flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic. This is a slightly prostrate form of Rosemary.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Miss Jessopp's upright'

Miss Jessopp’s Upright Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread 2m (6ft). Very' pale blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. This Rosemary has a very upright habit, making it ideal for edges. The leaves are dark green  needles spaced closely together, making the plant very bushy.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Primley Blue'

Primley Blue Rosemary

(Not Frimley which it has been incorrectly called for a few years.) Evergreen hardy perennial. It and spread 80cm (32in). Blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic. This is a good hardy bushy variety.

Rosmarinus officinalis Prostratus Group

(Lavandulaceus repens)

Prostrate rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht30cm (12in), spread l m (3ft). Light blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic. This is a great plant for trailing on a wall or bank.

Rosmarinus officinalis

'Roseus'

Pink Rosemary

Evergreen half-hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in). Pink flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic.

Rosmarinus officinalis

'Severn Sea'

Severn seas rosemary

Evergreen half-hardy perennial. Ht and spread 80cm (32in). Mid-blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic. The whole plant has a slightly prostrate habit with arching branches.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Sissinghurst Blue'

Sissinghurst Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Hi 1.5m (4½ ft), spread lm (3ft). Light blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. The plant has an upright habit and grows very bushy. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Sudbury Blue'

Sudbury Blue Rosemary

Evergreen hardy perennial. Ht and spread l m (3ft). Mid-blue flowers in early spring to early summer and then sometimes again in early autumn. Good hardy plant. The needle-shaped dark green leaves are highly aromatic. I have some very old gardening books which make reference to silver variegated rosemary, as does the RHS Dictionary of hardening (1951) and I have even recently been asked if I grow it. I have yet to find it.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed

Rosemary officinalis can, with care, be grown from seed. It needs a bottom heat of 27-32°C (80-90°F) to be successful. Sow in the spring in prepared seed or plug trays, using the bark, peat, grit compost and cover with Perlite. Having got it to germinate is careful not to over-water the seedlings as they are prone to damping off. Harden the young plant off slowly in summer and pot up. Keep it in a pot for the first winter, and plant out the following spring into the required position at a distance of 60-90cm (2-3 ft) apart.

Cuttings

This is a more reliable method of propagation and ensures that you achieve the variety you require.

Softwood: Take these in spring off the new growth. Cut lengths of about 15cm (6in) long. Use the bark, grit, peat mix of compost.

Semi-hardwood: Take these in summer from the non-flowering shoots, using the same compost as for softwood cuttings.

Layering Rosemary lends itself to layering especially as the branches of several varieties hang down. Layer established branches in summer.

Pests and Diseases

Being an aromatic plant, rosemary really does not suffer too much from pest and disease.

Maintenance

Spring: Trim after flowering. Sow seeds of Rosemary officinalis. Take softwood cuttings.

Summer: Feed container plants. Take semi-hardwood cuttings. Layer plants.

Autumn: Protect young tender plants.

Winter: Put mulch, or straw, or agricultural fleece around all plants.

Garden cultivation

Rosemary requires a well-drained soil in a sheltered sunny position. It is frost hardy but in cold areas it prefers to grow against a south or south-west facing wall. If the plant is young it is worth giving some added protection in winter. If trimming is necessary cut back only when the frosts are over; if possible leave it until after the spring flowering. Sometimes rosemary looks a bit scorched after frosts, in which case it is worth cutting the damaged plants to healthy wood in spring. Straggly old plants may also be cut back hard at the same time. Never cut back plants in the autumn or if there is any chance of frost, as the plant will be damaged or even killed. On average, despite the story about rosemary growing for 33 years, it is best to replace bushes every 5 to 6 years.

Harvest

As rosemary is evergreen, you can pick fresh leaves all year round as long as you are not greedy. If you need large quantities then harvest in summer and either dry the leaves or make an oil or vinegar.

Companion planting

If planted near carrot it repels carrot fly. It is also said to be generally beneficial to sage.

Container growing

Rosemary does well in pots and is the preferred way to grow it in cold districts. The prostrate and less hardy varieties look very attractive and benefit from the extra protection offered by a container. Use the bark, grit, peat mix and make sure the compost is very well drained. Do not over-water, and feed only after flowering.

Hedges

Rosemary certainly makes an effective hedge; it looks pretty in flower, smells marvelous and is evergreen. In fact it has everything going for it if you have the right soil conditions which, more importantly than ever, must be well drained and carry a bias towards lime. The best varieties for hedges are Primley Blue and Miss Jessopp's. Both are upright, hardy and bushy. Primley Blue has a darker blue-flower and I think is slightly prettier. Planting distance 45cm (18in) apart. Again, if you need eventually to trim the hedge, do it after the spring flowering.

Culinary

This is one of the most useful of culinary herbs, combining with meat, especially lamb, casseroles, tomato sauces, baked fish, rice, salads, egg dishes, apples, summer wine cups, cordials, vinegars and oils.

Vegetarian goulash

Serves 4

2 tablespoons rosemary olive oil

2 medium onions, sliced

1 dessertspoon whole meal flour

1 tablespoon paprika

275ml (l0ft oz) hot water mixed with 1 teaspoon tomato puree 400gm (14oz) tin Italian tomatoes

2sprigs 10cm (4in) long Rosemary

225g (8oz) cauliflower sprigs

225g (8oz) new carrots, washed and cut into chunks

250g (8oz) new potatoes washed and cut into halves ½ green capsium, de-seeded and chopped

150ml (5fl oz) soured cream or Greek yoghurt

Salt and freshly milled black-pepper

Heat the rosemary oil in flameproof casserole, fry the onion until soft, then stir in the} A of the paprika. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the water, tomatoes and sprigs of rosemary. Bring to the boil stirring all the time. Add all the vegetables and the seasonings. Cover and bake in the pre-heated oven (190°C, 375°F, Gas Mark 5) for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven, carefully lake out the rosemary sprigs and stir in the soured cream or yoghurt, plus the remaining paprika. Serve with fresh pasta and/or garlic bread.

Other uses

Put rosemary twigs on the barbecue; they give off a delicious aroma. If you have a wood burning stove, a few twigs thrown onto it makes the house smell lovely. Rosemary is used in many herbal shampoos and the plant has a long reputation as a hair tonic. Use an infusion in the final rinse of a hair wash, especially if you have dark hair, as it will make it shine. (Use chamomile for fair hair.)

Medicinal

Like many other essential oils, rosemary oil has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and it helps poor circulation if rubbed into the effected joints. The oil may be used externally as an insect repellent. It also makes an excellent remedy for headaches if applied directly to the head. Rosemary tea makes a good mouthwash for halitosis and is also a good antiseptic gargle. Drunk in small amounts it reduces flatulence and stimulates the smooth muscle of the digestive tract and gall bladder and increases the flow of bile. Put a teaspoon of chopped leaves into a cup and pour on boiling water; cover and leave it to stand for 5 minutes. An antiseptic solution of rosemary can be added to the bath to promote healthy skin. Boil a handful in 475ml (16fl oz) of water for 10 minutes.