Rosemary
A hardy woody perennial shrub that tolerates poor soil and dry spells well once its roots are established.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- low
- Spacing
- 60cm
- Harvest
- Ready in 75-90 days
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Expected yield
- Continuous sprigs year-round once established
- Cost to grow
- ~$6 NZD
- Grocery value
- ~$18 NZD
- Companion plants
- Carrots, Cabbage family, Beans
- Plants to avoid nearby
- Potatoes
- Common diseases
- Root rot in wet soil
- Common pests
- Aphids, Spider mites
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-October.
Growing stages
Planting
- Choose a free-draining, full-sun spot, as wet soil around the roots leads to root rot
- Give it room to grow into a substantial woody shrub, spacing plants around 60cm apart
Establishment
- Water regularly until roots are established, even though rosemary needs little water once mature
- Watch for aphids and spider mites on soft new growth
Ongoing growth & harvest75-90 days to first sprigs, then continuous year-round
- Pick sprigs regularly; rosemary tolerates poor soil and dry spells well once established
- Spider mites can build up in hot, dry conditions, especially on plants in pots
- Poor drainage remains the main long-term risk; avoid waterlogged soil, particularly in winter