Rosemary is not the same as rosemary - this not only applies to the very different winter hardiness, but also to the very different flavors of this herb. Rosemary is now available in countless cultivars, most of which can be assigned to the Rosmarinus officinalis. The genus Rosmarinus is divided into two species, the already mentioned Rosmarinus officinalis and the Rosmarinus lavendulaceus.
What types of rosemary are there?
Popular hardy rosemary varieties are Veitshöchheimer Rosemary, Arp, Blue Winter and Hill Hardy. Special varieties such as Rosmarinus lavendulaceus Capri, Rosmarinus officinalis Boule, Prostratus and Majorcan Pink offer exceptional growth forms and flower colors.
Suitable rosemary for the garden
In general, rosemary is not considered hardy, i.e. H. under no circumstances should he stay outside in winter. The lack of resistance to cold and frost is hardly surprising, as the spice bush comes from the sun-drenched coasts of the Mediterranean. However, plant breeders have not remained idle and have bred some hardy rosemary varieties. But even if they can tolerate temperatures as low as minus 20 °C, depending on the variety, this only applies to older, well-rooted plants. Young rosemaries should always overwinter indoors as they are not yet strong and hardy enough to survive a typical German winter. However, in mild winters and in wine-growing regions, you can only leave winter-hardy varieties outside with the appropriate protection.
Winter-hardy rosemary varieties are:
- Veitshöchheim rosemary - a less disease-susceptible variety from Franconia
- Arp – hardy down to minus 22 °C, medium-high variety with light blue flowers
- Blue Winter – probably the least sensitive variety of rosemary
- Hill Hardy – relatively hardy variety, hardy down to minus 22 °C with appropriate protection
Special varieties of rosemary
In addition to the conventional varieties of rosemary, there are unusual varieties that impress either with their special shape or their aroma. Rosmarinus lavendulaceus Capri, the hanging rosemary, is ideal for planting in balcony boxes and on stone walls. This variety is only suitable for pot cultivation and impresses with its abundant, light blue flowers. The Rosmarinus officinalis variety “Boule” also has a very interesting growth habit. This initially grows upright at a young age and eventually bends the shoots downwards over the years. This creates a very distinctive, spherical shape. This variety also develops rich, light blue flowers. The light blue flowering variety 'Prostratus', on the other hand, grows more creepingly and can be arranged particularly beautifully in hanging baskets. On the other hand, “Majorcan Pink”, a rather sensitive variety with columnar growth, has distinctive pink flowers.
Tips & Tricks
The pine rosemary, also known as Rosmarinus angustifolia, promises a unique aroma, its delicate needles have a pronounced taste of pine nuts.
