Chef's Choice Rosemary

Chef's Choice Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Chef's Choice') is a rosemary selected for the kitchen, with strong fragrance and flavour in a compact shrub about 80cm high and wide. It forms a wide, low, bushy mound of aromatic needle-like leaves, topped in spring with pale blue flowers that pollinators love. It is hardy, easy and small enough for a pot by the back door.

Why you'll love it

• Bred for cooking. Selected for high fragrance and flavour, so the sprigs work harder in a roast, a stew or a marinade.
• Kitchen-door size. At 80cm by 80cm it is compact enough for a large pot or a small herb bed.
• Pretty as well as useful. Pale blue spring flowers make it worth growing even if you rarely cook.
• Good for pollinators. Bees and other pollinators visit the spring flowers.
• Tough. It tolerates coastal planting and moderate drought, and rosemary generally shrugs off frosts to about -6C once established.

Where it works best

Pots near the kitchen. A large pot of free-draining mix by the door puts fresh sprigs one step away.

Herb gardens and edging. Plant 60cm apart for a low, fragrant edge along a path or vegetable bed. The wide, low habit fills gaps quickly.

Dry, sunny and coastal beds. It tolerates coastal planting, so it suits seaside kitchen gardens as well as inland herb beds.

Growing Chef's Choice Rosemary in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, ideally all day. It loves the dry summers of Mediterranean and arid climates and does well in cool temperate gardens too. In humid subtropical gardens give it the sunniest, airiest, best-drained spot you have.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. Sandy or gravelly soil suits it, and on clay you should plant on a mound or in a raised bed. Average soil keeps the growth firm and aromatic.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well until established, usually around 12 weeks. After that it tolerates moderate drought and needs a deep soak only in the longest dry spells. It rarely needs feeding.

Pruning. Prune as needed after flowering and to keep the growth compact. Picking sprigs through the year doubles as light pruning, but avoid cutting hard into bare, leafless wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Chef's Choice Rosemary as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and also in 140mm pots in packs of 10, 200mm pots in packs of 6 and 300mm pots sold singly. A tube plant is small but quick to settle in warm weather, and the larger pots give you an established herb for the kitchen straight away.

Our grower supplies the tube stock, and it is not always on hand. A sold out tube simply means the grower has none today, and the notify button on this page sends you an email the day it is available again.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Rosemary care guide
• Edible plants and bush tucker
• Plants for pots
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants

Common questions

How do I harvest it without harming the plant?

Snip from the tips and spread the cuts around the plant, so it stays bushy and compact. Avoid cutting into bare wood, which is slow to reshoot.

Will it grow in a pot?

Yes. It stays compact, so a large pot with drainage holes and a gritty mix suits it. Water when the top of the mix has dried.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Rosemary is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a comfortable choice for a pet-friendly herb garden.