Quick facts
| Arabic name | إكليل الجبل (الروزماري) |
|---|---|
| English name | Rosemary |
| Scientific name | Salvia rosmarinus |
| Family | Mint family (Lamiaceae) |
| Plant type | Evergreen aromatic shrub |
| Height | Usually 50 to 150 cm |
| Water use | Low |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
September to November, and February to March
Harvest time
All year
Cut sprigs when neededJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Planting timeHarvest or flowering
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
Narrow needle-like leaves, green on top and silver below, small light blue flowers, and a strong fresh smell.
Where it grows
Grown in home gardens and pots. It does best in mild, dry areas like Riyadh, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Jouf and Asir.
Soil
Well-drained soil. Handles poor and limy soil.
Water and irrigation
Low once settled. It hates standing water.
Climate and light
Full sun. Handles cold but not high humidity.
Propagation
Mostly from cuttings.
Benefits and uses
- Used in cooking and drinks
- Fragrant low hedge in gardens
- Attracts bees
Drawbacks
- Roots rot with too much water
- Struggles in very humid coastal areas
- Slow to grow from seed
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Salvia rosmarinus
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Salvia rosmarinus
- Wikipedia: Rosemary
- FAO Crop Calendar - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA)
- Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) - Plant finder
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)