Rosemary is not just rosemary - this not only applies to the very different winter hardiness, but also the very different aromas of this herb. Rosemary is now available in countless varieties, most of which can be assigned to Rosmarinus officinalis. The genus Rosmarinus is divided into two species, the already mentioned Rosmarinus officinalis and the Rosmarinus lavendulaceus.
Suitable rosemary for the garden
In general, rosemary is not considered hardy, i. H. it should definitely not be left outside in winter. The lack of resistance to cold and frost is hardly surprising, as the spice shrub comes from the sun-drenched coasts of the Mediterranean. However, plant breeders have not been idle and have bred some hardy varieties of rosemary. But even if these - depending on the variety - can tolerate down to minus 20 °C, this only applies to older, well-rooted plants. Young rosemary should always overwinter indoors, as they are not yet strong and hardy enough to survive a typical German winter. In mild winters and in the wine-growing regions, however, you can also just leave winter-hardy varieties outside with the appropriate protection.
Hardy varieties of rosemary are:
- Veitshöchheim rosemary - a less disease-prone breed from Franconia
- Arp - hardy to minus 22 °C, medium-tall variety with light blue flowers
- Blue Winter - probably the most hardy variety of rosemary
- Hill Hardy - relatively hardy variety, hardy to minus 22 °C with appropriate protection
Special varieties of rosemary
In addition to the conventional varieties of rosemary, there are unusual breeds that impress either with their special shape or their aroma. Rosmarinus lavendulaceus Capri, the hanging rosemary, is ideal for planting in window boxes and on stone walls. This variety is only suitable for pot culture and impresses with its abundant, light blue flowers. The Rosmarinus officinalis variety "Boule" also has a very interesting growth habit. This grows upright at a young age, only to eventually bend 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, tends to creep and can be arranged particularly nicely in hanging baskets. On the other hand, “Majorcan Pink”, a rather sensitive variety with columnar growth, has unusual pink flowers.
tips and tricks
Pine rosemary, also known as Rosmarinus angustifolia, promises a unique aroma, whose delicate needles have a distinctive taste of pine nuts.
IJA