Choosing the Right Rosemary: Varieties for Every Garden Need

Rosmarinus officinalis seems straightforward: an evergreen Mediterranean shrub with dark green, needlelike, resinous leaves and blue flowers from late winter through spring. Two basic forms exist—upright shrubs and prostrate types that cascade over walls and slopes. Care is simple: once established, occasional deep watering, light pruning, and minimal feeding suffice. It tolerates drought, heat, wind, and salt spray; aromatic oils repel insects, deer, and rabbits.

Two weaknesses: most varieties suffer damage below the teens (Fahrenheit), and root rot can occur in poorly drained, overwatered soil.

The challenge: distinguishing among the many varieties, which look similar in nursery pots and often share multiple names (e.g., 'Collingwood Ingram', 'Ingramii', and 'Benenden Blue' are identical). We consulted expert growers for their top recommendations.

Proven Winners for Western Gardens

Upright Shrubs (Tallest to Shortest)

• 'Tuscan Blue': 6-7 ft. Wider, highly aromatic leaves; dark blue flowers. "The workhorse of the industry," says David Fross of Native Sons Nursery.
• 'Blue Spires': 5-6 ft. tall, 4-6 ft. wide. Strong vertical habit; clear blue flowers. "Like a miniature Italian cypress—best for formal looks," notes designer Christine Mulligan.
• 'Miss Jessup's Upright': 4-6 ft. tall, half as wide. Slender branches; pale blue flowers. Ideal for formal herb gardens or tight spaces.
• 'Gorizia': 4-5 ft. tall and wide. Stiffly upright, open form. Larger, longer, brighter green leaves; pale blue flowers. "Very architectural," says Jeff Rosendale of Sierra Azul Nursery.
• 'Golden Rain' ('Joyce DeBaggio'): 2-3 ft. tall and wide. Yellow-gold leaves; dark blue flowers. Striking contrast against darker foliage.

Semi-Upright Shrubs

• 'Boule': 3 ft. tall and wide. New from Native Sons; forms a neat dome (boule = "ball" in French).
• 'Collingwood Ingram' ('Ingramii' or 'Benenden Blue'): 2-2½ ft. tall, 4+ ft. wide. Constant side growth hides woody trunks. Excellent for slopes; mixes well with ceanothus and rockrose.
• 'Ken Taylor': Similar to 'Collingwood Ingram' but shorter and more trailing. Showy dark blue flowers. Best on slopes; sensitive to root rot.

Ground Covers

• 'Prostratus': 2 ft. tall, 4-8 ft. wide. Pale blue flowers. Most common for cascading walls. Fairly frost-tender.
• 'Irene': 1½ ft. tall; spreads 2-3 ft./year. More hummocky than 'Prostratus' or 'Huntington Carpet'. Showy violet-blue flowers. Good for slopes/walls. Hardier (to 15°F) than most trailing types.
• 'Huntington Carpet' ('Huntington Blue'): Half the size of 'Prostratus'. Denser appearance from closer leaf nodes. Pale blue flowers. Excellent for slopes and walls.

Best for Cold or Wet Climates

• 'Arp': 4 ft. tall and wide. Open habit, denser with pruning. Gray-green leaves; bright blue flowers. Hardy to -10°F.
• 'Hill Hardy' ('Madalene Hill'): 3-5 ft. tall and wide. Denser, brighter green foliage than 'Arp'. Hardy to 0°F.
• 'Salem': 2 ft. tall and wide. Tolerates wet soil; popular in the Pacific Northwest.

Best Culinary Varieties

Any R. officinalis works for cooking, but upright types with broader leaves contain more aromatic oil. 'Tuscan Blue' is a chef favorite; 'Blue Spires', 'Miss Jessup's Upright', and 'Spice Island' (typically sold in herb sections, grows to 4-5 ft.) are also excellent.

Sources

Garden centers can often special-order from wholesalers. Mail-order suppliers:

• Forestfarm: www.forestfarm.com or (541) 846-7269. Sells 'Arp', 'Blue Spires', 'Golden Rain', 'Spice Island', 'Tuscan Blue'.
• Goodwin Creek Gardens: www.goodwincreekgardens.com or (800) 846-7359. Sells 'Arp', 'Blue Spires', 'Collingwood Ingram', 'Golden Rain', 'Gorizia', 'Hill Hardy', 'Miss Jessup's Upright', 'Prostratus', 'Tuscan Blue'.
• Mountain Valley Growers: www.mountainvalleygrowers.com or (559) 338-2775. Sells 'Arp', 'Golden Rain', 'Hill Hardy', 'Spice Island'.
• Territorial Seed Company: www.territorialseed.com or (541) 942-9547. Sells 'Arp' and 'Salem'.