Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis)

Lisa's Landscape & Design ♦ 07/27/2010 ♦ Leave a comment

Rosemary is a beautiful plant that probably needs no introduction. For those of you may not be familiar, Rosemary (botanical name Rosmarinus officinalis), also known as Garden Rosemary, is native to the Mediterranean area. A member of the mint family, it is an evergreen shrub also related to basil, marjoram, and oregano. It is usually found growing by the ocean, and its latin name equates to “dew of the sea.”

Rosemary here in Central Texas comes in a couple of forms, creeping and the garden variety that is usually around 3 feet and bushy. The small, gray-green leaves look similar to small pine needles and have a bittersweet, lemony, slightly piney flavor. Small flowers range from white to pale blue to dark blue, usually flowering in late spring. The flowers are also edible.

Usage of rosemary dates back to 500 b.c., when it was used as a culinary and medicinal herb by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It is still a popular medicinal herb today.

Rosemary can be used as an antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic and fungicidal.

It can lessen the effects of Alzheimer’s disease by promoting circulation to the brain and preventing the breakdown of the chemical which promoting memory. Rosemary also protects DNA from cancerous-causing chemicals that would normally bind to and mutate strands of DNA. It can also protect the body from certain carcinogens such as alfatoxin and help defuse carcinogens through the liver.

Rosemary increases the condition of the skin by promoting blood flow, and through its properties as an antibacterial. additionally, It has been proven to lessen patches of visible cancerous skin.

Not only does rosemary aid the circulatory system, but it aids the digestive system as well. It does this by causing the gallbladder to

Trailing Rosemary

produce greater quantities of bile and suppresses symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) such as flatulence, intestinal cramping and feelings of being bloated.

For those of you who suffer from yeast infections, they wont stand a chance against rosemary for several reasons. Rosemary (through its property of being a diuretic) flushes out any yeast-causing bacteria before the bacteria can cause any infections. It acts as a fungicidal by killing candida yeast and destroying any yeast-infected cells.

Most commercially-used, dried rosemary comes to us from Spain, France, and Morocco. However, it is easy to grow here in Texas and I suggest you try some in your landscape. Rosemary is Deer resistant because it is aromatic, requires little water once established, and it is evergreen and winter hardy in most cases.

Rosemary can be purchase at just about any nursery or big box store and as you have read the uses are endless.

Here is a recipe you might try:

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Quarter potatoes with the skin on and place in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary and toss in bowl until evenly coated. Transfer seasoned potatoes to a nonstick baking dish or a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.

Place in oven for about 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and tender.. then ENJOY! These potatoes are so easy and delicious!

Rosemary is also delicious with chicken, fish, lamb and even cookies and breads. Use sparingly though as this is a strong herb.

Now that you know what a great choice Rosemary is, you should try creating a Rosemary hedge, a specimen shrub in the garden or an evergreen backdrop to your herb garden, or any where in your landscape where the texture and aroma can be enjoyed. The other great thing about this plant is that there is plenty to share, so get your friends and family involved and see what kind of great recipes you can come up with 😉 I would love to hear them!

Happy Gardening!!

Lisa LaPaso

Lisa’s Landscape & Design ( “like” me on facebook)

“Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”