Salvia rosmarinus

Perennial shrub of the Lamiaceae family, native to the Mediterranean basin, where it colonizes scrublands, maquis, coastal cliffs, and dry rocky areas, from sea level up to about 1,500 meters in the most favorable areas.

Rosemary forms dense and branched bushes, generally between 50 and 150 cm in height depending on location and exposure, sometimes prostrate on wind-swept cliffs. The leaves are evergreen, linear, leathery, dark green and shiny on the upper side, whitish and tomentose underneath, very densely arranged on the stems — their crushing immediately releases the characteristic camphor and resinous aroma that makes the plant recognizable from a distance.

The flowers are bilabiate, pale lavender-blue to lilac-blue, with two long, very prominent arched stamens, grouped in axillary clusters along the branches. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from February to May, with sometimes an autumn resurgence. In cultivation under a temperate climate, it generally occurs from March to June.

A honey plant highly appreciated by bees, it has been cultivated since antiquity as a spice and medicinal plant. In rock gardens or dry flowerbeds, it requires well-drained soil, poor to moderately fertile, in full sun. Its hardiness is directly linked to the geographical origin of the plant — high-altitude sources from central Spain or the Apennines withstand significant frosts on perfectly drained soil, while forms of coastal or North African origin are much more sensitive; therefore, the choice of origin is crucial for cultivation in cold climates.