ROSEMARY
(Rosmarinus officinalis – Labiatae)
Delicate flowers and strongly aromatic leaves are the ornamental attractions of rosemary, an evergreen shrub long valued in cooking, herbal cosmetics and remedies.
| type | Evergreen shrub, hardy except in very cold areas |
| flowers | Depending on species and variety, small white, blue or pink flowers in spring and early summer, sometimes in autumn |
| height | Available in dwarf, prostrate and tall-growing forms up to 2.4m (8ft) |
| spread | Up to 1.5–1.8m (5–6ft) |
| planting | Plant outdoors in spring or autumn. Select strong-growing cuttings in autumn and pot up for kitchen use in winter |
| position | Full sun in sheltered site |
| soil | Well-drained loam |
| care | Needs winter protection in exposed sites, or grow in containers and bring into a frost-free greenhouse. Prune to keep shape if leggy. Do not overwater |
| propagation | Take cuttings in spring or summer to plant out the following autumn. Layer stems in summer or sow seed uncovered in spring, but germination is uneven and requires a temperature of 21°C (70°F) |
| species and varieties | Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’ has white flowers and can be grown as a hedge. R.o. ‘Majorcan Pink’ is half-hardy and has pink flowers. R.o. lavandulaceus is tender with thin leaves and blue flowers. R.o. ‘Sudbury Blue’ has delicate deep blue flowers |
| harvest | Pick leaves through the year as needed. For drying in bulk, pick leaves in late summer. Dry whole stems and sprigs |
| herbal value | Use rosemary flowers and leaves in salads. Use leaves with meat dishes, especially lamb, and in herb butter, jams, jellies and summer drinks as well as to flavour sugar for desserts |
WINTER SAVORY
(Satureja montana – Labiatae)
Winter savory provides a spicy, aromatic flavour to salads and cooked dishes. It is often used as an informal edging plant.
| type | Hardy, evergreen, shrubby perennial |
| flowers | Small pink to white flowers in late summer to autumn |
| leaves | Small, pointed light green leaves |
| height | Up to 40cm (16in) |
| spread | Up to 45cm (18in) |
| planting | Plant out in spring. Grows well in containers indoors |
| position | Prefers full sun |
| soil | Well-drained, slightly alkaline and coarse soil |
| care | Cut sprawling stems back in spring. Give winter protection if in a damp and shady position |
| propagation | Sow seed onto soil surface in spring. Take stem tip cuttings, layer stems or divide overgrown plants in spring |
| species and varieties | Creeping winter savory (Satureja spicigera) has aromatic leaves and makes good ground cover |
| harvest | Harvest young plants in their second year from early summer onwards. Cut flowering tips and leaves from soft stems |
| herbal value | Mix with other herbs in bouquet garni. Use sparingly on its own as it has a strong flavour. Antiseptic properties are useful in astringent face preparations and to ease insect stings |
Chives
Rosemary
French tarragon