Seasonal Wild Flowers

Rosemary

Latin name

Rosmarinus officinalis

Family

Lamiaceae

Flowering season

Late March to December, although some flowers can be found

throughout the year. It flowered in January and February in

West Dorset in 2018

English distribution

It is grown as a culinary and decorative herb throughout

the country.

The escape is found scattered throughout most of the

country, but is absent from the North and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Rosemary

Habitat

Rosemary has been cultivated in England as a culinary herb,

and sometimes a hedge, since the 14th century. It is classed

as a neophyte because it did not become an escape until

the late 1960s.

The escape, grows on walls, in cracks in pavements and

on waste ground.

Description

Rosemary is an evergreen, aromatic, woody shrub,

growing up to 2m.

Flowers are in clusters, range from pale to deep violet.

They are up to 15mm and 2-lipped.

The upper lip is 2-lobed and the lower 3-lobed.

There are 2 stamens and one style which protrude from

the flower.

Leaves are green, glandular, linear and thick and up to 4cm.

Stems are woody.

Fresh and dried leaves are used in cooking and are the

source of an essential oil.

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Clusters of Rosemary flowers

Close-up of flower - 2-lobed upper lip,

3-lobed lower lip, linear style and 2 protruding

stamens with anthers

Newly open flower showing markings

Leaves

Close-up of glanular leaf

Woody stem