Blooming rosemary is very pretty to look at - the usually light blue, small lipped flowers are arranged like a whorl in the leaf axils. Depending on the variety, however, the herb also flowers white or soft pink. A planting with groups of differently colored flowering rosemary looks unusual - not only for the eye, but also for bees, butterflies & Co. a gladly accepted pasture.

Cold hibernation encourages rosemary flowering

The flowering time of rosemary is usually in the months of March to May, although some varieties also flower in September. The blossom does not harm the spicy aroma of the leaves, you can also harvest and use the needles during the flowering period without any worries. After a vigorous summer pruning, the rosemary sometimes blooms a second time. All you have to do is cut out the faded stems. The plant then feels encouraged to flower again because it cannot develop seeds due to the cut off, faded parts and therefore cannot mature.

Rosemary does not bloom - what to do?

Many a rosemary grows and grows - but never blooms. The missing rosemary blossom is usually due to a too warm hibernation - for example on the window sill in the heated kitchen. Overwinter your rosemary either outdoors (if it is a hardy variety) or indoors under cold house conditions, i. H. at a maximum of 12 °C. Rosemary needs a winter break and won't bloom again until the cold winter is followed by warmer spring temperatures.

Rosemary flowers are edible

Many only use the leaves of rosemary in the kitchen, but the delicate flowers are also edible. They taste best fresh from the bush, sprinkled directly over salads or desserts. Rosemary flowers are usually used as a decoration, but not directly in cooking.

rosemary sorbet

This delicate sorbet is a wonderful addition to fish or meat dishes.

  • Mix one cup each of water and orange juice with one and a half cups of sugar and four tablespoons of rosemary.
  • You can use either fresh or dried rosemary.
  • Boil the mixture for about five minutes.
  • Strain the mixture, the rosemary needles are quite hard.
  • Now add a spoonful of honey, a cup of red wine and a cup of lime juice.
  • Stir well.
  • Freeze the mixture in the ice cream maker or in the freezer.
  • Sprinkle the finished sorbet with fresh rosemary blossoms.

Harvesting and preserving flowers

There are several ways to preserve rosemary flowers. Harvest the flowers either together with the whole branch or individually. Rosemary sprigs can be hung up to dry in a warm and dark place, while placing the individual blossoms on a baking tray lined with baking paper and putting it in the oven at a maximum of 30 °C to dry. The dried flowers should be stored in an airtight container. Alternatively, it can also be preserved in coarse sea salt.

tips and tricks

Rosemary flowers are a favorite bee pasture. Because rosemary flowers early in the year at a time when bees, bumblebees, and butterflies sometimes have trouble foraging, plant the herb specifically for these busy, honey-collecting insects.

IJA

Category:

Vegetable garden