Dig into Plants: Rosemary

Rosemary

Scientific Name: Rosmarinus officinalis

Native to Alabama: No, non-invasive

Wikimedia – H. Zell

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BASIC INFORMATION

ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

MAINTENANCE NOTES

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS

LEAF, FLOWER & SEED ID

PLANT LIFE CYCLE

Basic Plant Information

Wikimedia – Twam

I am a vascular plant with no woody stems above ground, so I am herbaceous.
I keep leaves year-round, so I am evergreen.
I die back in winter but regrow in spring for many seasons, so I am perennial.
I can up to 6 feet high and 2 – 4 feet wide.

Ecological Benefits

This plant provides food for:

Butterflies

Native Bees

Maintenance Notes

Not dormant in winter.
Flowers can be cut for an indoor vase.
Prune to maintain desired shape and in the Spring after flowering.
In the winter, leaves are green.
When watering, hold hose to base of plant for a count of 5 seconds. Water should reach all roots.
Avoid sprinkling water on the leaves.
Requires average amount of water.

Average watering: water two times per week during the summer and once per week during the rest of the year.

Habitat Requirements

This plant prefers:

Full Sun
(6+ hours of sun per day)

Average Watering

Well-drained
or Acidic Soil

Leaf, Flower & Seed Identification

Wikimedia – David J. Stang

LEAF DESCRIPTION

Gray-green, linear, needle-like leaves closely spaced about 1.5 inches long; fragrant when bruised and strong flavor.

Leaf Characteristics Chart (PDF)


Shape: Linear	Margin: Entire/Smooth

Arrangement: Opposite	Form: Simple

Wikimedia – Antonio from Mijas, España

FLOWER DESCRIPTION

Tiny, two-lipped flowers bloom in axillary (from the upper side of the stem and an outgrowing leaf or branch) clusters.

Flower Shape Chart (JPG)


Color: Purple, light blue	Shape: Labiate	Bloom Months: vary based on variety and range within state; some bloom Spring through Summer; others in Fall and Winter.

Wikimedia – Leo Michaels

SEED DESCRIPTION

Plant spreads by:
Seeds
Rosemary can spread by seed but it is a slow process, propagation by cuttings is much faster


Type: Fruit – Nut	Description: Brown/copper color; fruits are nutlets	Months in Seed: Spring to Summer

Plant Life Cycle

Plant Life Cycle:

All plants start life as a seed.
The seed turns into a sprout when it grows roots.
The sprout becomes a seedling as grows a stem and leaves above the ground.
After the seedling becomes an adult plant it will grow flowers.
After the flowers finish blooming, each flower turns into a seed.
When the seeds fall down to the ground, the plant life cycle starts again.
Each seed can become a plant if it has the food, water and space that it needs to grow.

General Plant Life Cycle – Dreamstime

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

Quick Fact Sheet
(Condensed Species Info)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Ready as-is PDF

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Ready as-is PDF

QR Code
(Links to this Webpage)

Plant ID Sign (Text Only):
Editable Word Doc

Plant ID Sign (With Picture):
Editable Word Doc

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