Rosemary has been growing on dry, rocky coastal cliffs and inland hillsides around the Mediterranean for long enough that its Latin name, a compound of ros and marinus meaning dew of the sea, reads as a kind of origin story. In cultivation it becomes a 4 to 5 foot evergreen shrub with narrow, needle-like leaves that are green above and white and wooly beneath, and tiny blue or lavender flowers whorled along square stems from spring into summer. The aromatic foliage is the reason it has been a kitchen and pharmacy staple since antiquity, and the flowers bring bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds reliably through the bloom season.

Rosemary grows best in zones 8 through 10 in light, slightly acidic, well-drained soil in full sun. Its tolerances are considerable: drought, partial shade, salt spray, and heavy pruning all suit it well, while wet or humid conditions are genuinely problematic. Overwatering is the single most common cause of decline. Once established, the plants are slow to start from seed, so stem cuttings or layering are far more reliable for propagation. In the landscape, rosemary serves equally as a low hedge, a specimen near a patio where its fragrance can be brushed into the air, a trailing element over a wall, or a container plant brought indoors in colder climates. Severely cutting back after bloom encourages dense foliage regrowth, though the timing and degree require attention to avoid cutting into old wood.