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rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.

Family: Lamiaceae · Genus: Salvia

Placenta II Low No biomass production 🪓 Coppices after cutting
Miguel Angel Masegosa Martínez · CC BY · Wikimedia Commons

Perennial Mediterranean shrub (0.8–1.5 m), aromatic, narrow resinous leaves. Extreme drought tolerance; prefers well-drained slightly alkaline soil. In Brazilian syntropic systems thrives in herb gardens, bed edges, and as a permanent full-sun ground cover.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Placenta II
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
Low
Strata
Low, Ground cover
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
6–8
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy
Hardiness zones
7–11
Frost tolerance
-10.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height
0.8–1.5 m
Recommended spacing
0.6–1 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
10–30 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Rosemary takes the Low stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium Low · ≈2 m Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

A woody Mediterranean shrub, extremely drought tolerant once established; needs well-drained sandy-to-loamy soil at pH ~6–8. Intolerant of waterlogging, especially in wet winters when it may rot. Full sun essential. Hardy to about -10 °C. Propagates readily from semi-ripe cuttings.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Tolerates formative pruning and frequent shoot harvest well; prune after flowering to keep a compact habit. Avoid cutting into old leafless wood, from which regrowth is weak.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: June, July, August, September, October

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for rosemary?

The recommended spacing for rosemary is 0.6–1 m.

How tall does rosemary grow?

At maturity, rosemary reaches 0.8–1.5 m tall.

When does rosemary flower?

Flowering of rosemary occurs in June, July, August, September, October.

What stage and stratum does rosemary occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, rosemary belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

Aromatic Medicinal 🍯 Melliferous 🐝 Attracts pollinators Pest repellent Ornamental

Propagation

Cutting, Seed, Air layering

Citations

  1. Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Rosmarinus officinalis (height_max_m, soil_texture_preference, light_need, water_need, drought_tolerance, propagation, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, frost_tolerance_c, waterlogging_tolerance)
  2. POWO / Kew — Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (scientific_author, synonyms)

External references

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