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Hardiness zones 8 – 10
Soil Ph 6.5-7.0
Prefers light, sandy, well-drained soil 
Full sun

Rosemary does best when grow from cuttings. Starting from seed takes a long time and the plants are less vigorous. Cut a twig off a mature plant and strip off the leaves 2/3 from the bottom. Place the cutting in some water until the roots grow to be 1/3 of an inch. Plant the rooted twig in well, drained, sandy soil.
 
Once all chance of frost has passed, plant the rosemary in your garden. Each plant should be spaced between 2 to 3 feet apart. In the Square Foot Garden, I have spaced mine four feet apart. This provides plenty of space for much growth over the years. 
 
Rosemary grows well in the South and is considered an evergreen. If temps don't dip much below 30 degrees F, rosemary does fine. I did loose some of my well-established rosemary bushes during our infamous Texas "Snowmageddon" February 2021. But not all were damaged. 

In the North, rosemary is considered a tender perineal. Grow rosemary in pots and bring them inside if weather drops below freezing.  
 
Harvest rosemary often when leaves are lush. For the best flavor, harvest just before the plants bloom. This is when the leaves' oil content is at its highest. 

Use fresh leaves in cooking, or dry and use in tea, seasoning, or medicinal products. 

 

There is a rich history, full of folklore and legends, regarding the use of rosemary that goes as far back as ancient times. In ancient Greece, it was believed that wearing a garland of rosemary on the head improved memory. Many students were remembered for there head dress of rosemary while studying for their exams. It is said that rosemary was laid in the manger with the baby Jesus. Ever since, rosemary sprigs decorate Christmas gift as a sign of remembrance.

During the Middle Ages, rosemary was a symbol of love. Tap someone on the shoulder with a sprig of rosemary, and they will instantly fall in love.  If planted outside the house, it told everyone that the woman ruled the roost. Placed under a pillow, rosemary was thought to chase away demons and bad dreams. To keep out the Black Death, rosemary branches were burned in homes during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
          
In 1235, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary was supposedly cured of paralysis by a concoction of rosemary and wine. Know for centuries as Queen of Hungary’s Water, this tonic, when applied externally, was said to heal gout, baldness, and skin problems.
         
The French hung rosemary in hospitals as a healing incense, known as incesier. During World War II, nurses used rosemary leaves as an antiseptic.

Today we still have many uses for this wonderful aromatic herb.