Yes, rosemary is an evergreen plant.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a popular herb known for its fragrant, needle-like leaves and woody stems. A key characteristic of rosemary is that it retains its leaves throughout the year, which is the defining trait of an evergreen.
What Does it Mean for Rosemary to be Evergreen?
Being evergreen means rosemary does not shed all of its leaves seasonally like deciduous plants do. This allows it to maintain foliage and continue growing, albeit sometimes slower in colder months, year-round.
Reference Highlight: The reference explicitly states, "Rosemary is evergreen".
Benefits of Evergreen Rosemary
The evergreen nature of rosemary offers several practical advantages:
- Year-Round Harvest: As the reference points out, because rosemary is evergreen, it "can be harvested all year round". This means you can enjoy fresh rosemary leaves in your cooking any time you need them.
- Consistent Garden Structure: Evergreen plants provide continuous visual interest and structure in the garden landscape throughout the seasons.
- Availability of Leaves: Unlike many other herbs that die back in winter, rosemary provides a constant supply of aromatic leaves.
Harvesting and Using Your Evergreen Rosemary
Harvesting rosemary is simple and can be done throughout the year.
- How to Harvest: "Snip off shoots as required," suggests the reference. It's best to use clean pruners or scissors.
- Best Flavor: While you can harvest anytime, the reference notes that "the soft new growth in summer has the best flavour."
- Plant Shape: When harvesting, it's a good idea to "aiming to keep an attractive shape to the plant," promoting bushier growth.
- Using the Leaves: "The leaves can be used fresh or dried for later use."
Drying Rosemary Sprigs
If you have an abundance of rosemary or want to store it for future use, drying is an excellent option:
- Gather sprigs that are free from moisture.
- Tie small bundles of sprigs together.
- "To dry rosemary, hang up sprigs in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place."
- Once completely dry (leaves should be brittle), strip the leaves from the stems and store them in an airtight container away from light and heat.
Summary Table: Rosemary Characteristics
| Characteristic | Description | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Evergreen | Retains leaves throughout the year. | Available year-round for harvesting. |
| Harvesting | Snip shoots as needed; best flavor in new summer growth. | Continuous supply for cooking. |
| Usage | Can be used fresh or dried. | Versatile culinary ingredient. |
| Drying | Hang sprigs in warm, dark, well-ventilated area. | Easy method for preservation. |
Understanding that rosemary is evergreen helps gardeners and cooks appreciate its continuous availability and plan for year-round use and harvesting.
