Garnish Rosemary

Garnish Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Garnish') is a strongly upright, deep green rosemary grown for flavour, reaching 1 to 1.5m high and about 1m wide. Its fine foliage carries a deep, woody scent, the stems are long and straight, and the very pale blue flowers are abundant. It fills a pot by the kitchen door as readily as it clips into a formal hedge.

Why you'll love it

• Made for cooks. A strong, deep woody flavour that stands up to lamb, game, garlic and rich tomato sauces.
• Long, straight stems. The tall stems are handy as aromatic skewers for the barbecue.
• Plenty of flowers. Very pale blue blooms cover the plant and give pollinators a feed.
• Upright habit. It stands tall and narrow enough to clip into a formal hedge.
• Tough and coastal. It tolerates coastal planting and moderate drought once established.

Where it works best

Formal hedges. Plant 70cm apart in a single row and clip after flowering. The upright stems close into a dense, scented hedge about 1.5m high.

Seaside and cottage gardens. Salt air and dry soil suit it, and its height gives structure behind lower plants.

Pots at the kitchen door. A big pot of free-draining mix keeps flavour within reach of the stove, and rosemary is not toxic to cats or dogs, so the pot can sit where pets wander.

Growing Garnish Rosemary in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun with free air movement. It flourishes in Mediterranean, arid and cool temperate gardens, and in humid subtropical gardens needs the best-drained, breeziest position. Hardy to about -6C once established.

Soil. Light, sandy or gravelly soil suits it best. In clay, plant on a mound and add coarse grit, because wet winter roots are the usual cause of losses.

Water and feed. Mulch and keep the water up until it is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that it tolerates moderate drought, and feeding is rarely needed.

Pruning. Prune as needed after flowering to maintain a compact shape, and clip a hedge lightly rather than hard. Harvesting stems for the kitchen is good light pruning.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Garnish Rosemary as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once it is in the ground. A tube plant is small and upright when it arrives. Plant it into well-drained soil and expect steady growth through warm weather.

The tube is supplied by our grower, so stock comes and goes. If it shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment: press the notify button on the page and we email you the day it returns.

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
• Hedging and screening plants
• Edible plants and bush tucker
• Creating and keeping a great hedge

Common questions

Can I really use the stems as skewers?

Yes. The long, straight stems suit threading meat or vegetables. Strip the lower leaves, thread the food on and cook over the barbecue.

How tall does it grow?

One to 1.5m high and about 1m wide, noticeably more upright than the low, wide rosemary forms.

How do I keep it as a hedge?

Clip lightly after flowering and again to hold the line. Rosemary reshoots poorly from bare wood, so avoid cutting into leafless stems.