Aging Rosemary: Woody, Flowering, and Ready for Replacement

Rosemary typically lives 5 years before becoming woody, rangy, and prone to dieback after flowering. At 5 years, your plant has reached its prime.

Options

• Cut out dead wood; if remaining shape is attractive, keep it another year.
• Take cuttings now to start replacements.
• Replace with a new plant this fall or spring.

Regular light pruning after flowering extends life, but woody bases don’t rejuvenate well.

Five-year-old rosemary showing woody base and dieback.