Growing Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Rosemary in Australia - tropical regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Plant cuttings . Best planted at soil temperatures between 15°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 100 - 150 cm apart
  • Harvest in approximately 1 years. In warmer areas, harvest time might be shorter.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beans, Carrots, Cabbages, Sage
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes
  • Prostrate Rosemary

Rosemary will grow from seeds but this is not recommended as the success rate is very low. Small cuttings are easy to grow. Put in light, sandy soil where you want your plant to grow or start in small pots and plant out when established.

Rosemary comes from warm Mediterranean areas but adapts well to colder climates. In areas of heavy frost, a cutting potted up and kept in a sheltered spot will insure against total loss of your plant over winter.

Dryness suits rosemary, so well-drained soil and sunshine will be best.

Once established rosemary can be harvested all year round.

Rosemary grows well in patio pots or tubs.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Rosemary

Leaves sprinkled on roast potatoes, meat and barbeque food make them extra tasty.

Rosemary can also be used to add flavour to vinegars and oils.

Your comments and tips

12 May 20, Bradley Swan (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the best time to prune a Rosemary bush in Australia.
13 May 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably anytime of the year but more so when it is in a growing stage. The gardens I go to, it is a hedge so it is trimmed often.
10 Mar 19, Ann (Australia - tropical climate)
Rosemary - I cut some small new growth into jars about 10 cm long with the bottom couple of centimetres removed and put about a centimetre of water in the jar. Within 2 weeks they have roots ready to plant out.
10 Mar 19, Mike Logan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Even a piece of harder stem growth will shoot.
24 Jun 18, ... (Australia - temperate climate)
need to grow a herb outside in sydney winter - can I grow rosemary
26 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)
Go to Rosemary and read up all about it.
26 Jun 18, Mark (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, rosemary will go well in Sydney. I have grown rosemary in every location I have lived. western Sydney, western NSW, S/E QLD and now in the snowy mountains.
17 Jul 15, Peter (Australia - tropical climate)
I have been a couple of rosemary bush,s for several years but recently they have been looking very jaded
18 Apr 15, Peter (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am originally from NJ, USA. I now live in Costa Rica. When I lived in NJ Rosemary loved the summer months in that partially shady area I kept it, but once I brought inside before frost, it almost always got the powdery white on it as you describe. It is called powdery mildew and it can be easily controlled by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda in a pint of water...once dissolved, spray it on the plant every few days until the problem goes away. Mildew loves acid environments and the bicarb makes it alkaline, killing the mildew but not harming the Rosemary.
02 Oct 14, Deborah (Australia - arid climate)
Hello... I wanted to do a mass planting of lavender and rosemary with 5 or so kangeroo paws in a corner. I was hoping that because both lavender and rosemary were from the Mediterranean area, this would work. Do I follow the 'rules' for planting rosemary, for lavender. Do you happen to know if the kangaroo paw would be okay amongst them?
Showing 1 - 10 of 20 comments

I am originally from NJ, USA. I now live in Costa Rica. When I lived in NJ Rosemary loved the summer months in that partially shady area I kept it, but once I brought inside before frost, it almost always got the powdery white on it as you describe. It is called powdery mildew and it can be easily controlled by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda in a pint of water...once dissolved, spray it on the plant every few days until the problem goes away. Mildew loves acid environments and the bicarb makes it alkaline, killing the mildew but not harming the Rosemary.

- Peter

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.