If there is any plant you need to know, it's Rosemary.  It's easygoing, always around when you need it, and willing to listen to all of your rantings and ravings.  Just like a good friend. :)

Whether you choose to put it in a pot or in the ground, it is almost guaranteed to get tall, bushy, and permeate your yard with its amazing scent.  Its scent is also great for keeping herb loving insects at bay, so may want to consider planting it around your garden as a natural insecticide.

Personally I use Rosemary almost every day in the kitchen, and also use it to make an herbal shampoo that smells divine!  Check out the stats of this old friend below and the recipe for the shampoo that follows.





Rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis)

Description:

Rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae, or mint family, and have square stems, purple two-lipped flowers and abundant fragrance-bearing oil glands typical of many members of the mint family (HerbSociety of America, 2010).

Growing Tips:

Set out plants in the spring when the weather has warmed.
 
Plant in full sun, but in the warmer climates they will accept some light shade. They thrive in a light, well-drained, soil.  During the growing season, pinch back growth tips two or three inches to promote bushy plants; cut back hard only in early spring to allow the new growth time to mature (NGA, 2010).

Most rosemary varieties are reliably hardy to only 20°F; however, gardeners in cold-winter areas can successfully grow rosemary indoors in a container with a fast-draining potting soil. Bring the plants indoors at least several weeks before your area's first frost date. Feed the potted rosemary regularly with fish emulsion and provide good air circulation to ward off harmful mildew (NGA, 2010).

Parts Used: Leaves

Uses:

Rosemary is a great treatment for headaches.  It is also useful for indigestion, colic, nausea, gas, and fevers (Tierra, 1998).  It is also high in calcium and thus is a benefit to the entire nervous system, as well as having antibiotic properties.  Rosemary can also be used for the hair and scalp; use as a cooled strong tea as a rinse after shampoo (Tierra, 1998).   This herb is used in just about every type of culinary dish with fruit, eggs, salads, sauces and meat.

Rosemary Herbal Shampoo

8 oz water
3 oz Liquid Castille Soap
4 TBSP Rosemary Leaf
20-60 drops essential oil (optional)
1/4 tsp organic Jojoba or Olive oil (adjust as needed – use more for dry hair or may omit for oily hair)

Make an herbal infusion, or strong tea, by pouring boiling water over the herbs.  Cover, and allow them to steep for at least 4 hours. Strain the herbs out and pour the remaining liquid into a bottle, then adding the Castille soap and oils. Rosemary is good for any hair type.  It is also effective treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, dermatitis, and hair loss.

*This recipe is adapted from Mountain Rose Herbs (2011).

References:

Herb Society of America.org (2010) Herb Society of America Fact Sheet. Retrieved May 31, 2010 from www.herbsociety.org.

Mountain Rose Herbs (2011).  Retrieved May 1, 2011 from www.mountainroseherbs.com.

National Gardening Association.org (2010) Retrieved May 31, 2010 from http://www.garden.org

Tierra, M. (1998).  The Way of Herbs. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Enjoy!
Kristin Henningsen MS, CH, RYT