Rosemary – A Mediterranean Kitchen Herb for Bed and Pot
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) comes from the Mediterranean and loves sun, warmth and dry soil. It is popular in Germany – but many people lose it every winter. With the right knowledge, that does not have to happen.
Active compounds and their traditional uses
Rosemary contains:
- Rosmarinic acid – strongly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
- Camphor & cineole – improves circulation, expectorant
- Essential oils – antibacterial, boosts concentration
- Flavonoids – protective for liver and blood vessels
Traditional uses: supporting circulation, concentration, digestion, muscle pain (external use), circulatory problems.
⚠️ Winter protection – the critical point in Germany
Rosemary is only partly winter-hardy. It tolerates brief frosts down to about -10°C, but:
- Waterlogging is more deadly than cold – wet roots in winter are the most common cause of death
- Clear frost with wind dries out the evergreen needles while the frozen roots cannot supply water – the plant essentially dies of thirst
- Potted plants are more frost-sensitive than plants in the ground and need to come indoors at around -5°C (a cool, bright room, water sparingly)
Protective measures outdoors: choose a spot against a south-facing wall, cover the roots with mulch, protect with fleece during hard frost.
Growing & location
Location: Full sun, very well-draining soil – the sandier the better. Avoid waterlogging at all costs.
Planting: From May outdoors, after the last spring frosts. Do not plant too deep.
Pot: At least 30 cm deep, with a drainage layer of gravel. Terracotta pots are better than plastic – they dry out faster.
Fertilizing: Barely necessary. Too much fertilizer makes the shoots soft and more frost-prone.
Propagation: Easiest via cuttings in summer – a 10 cm shoot, remove the lower leaves, place in potting soil.
When & how to harvest
Best harvest time: March to October, just before flowering is when the active compound content is highest.
How: Only harvest the soft shoot tips (10–15 cm), never cut into old wood – it will not sprout again. Take a maximum of one third of the plant at a time.
In winter: Rosemary can also be harvested in winter as long as it is not frozen – but sparingly, the plant needs its strength.
Use in the kitchen
Rosemary is powerful – less is often more.
Classics: Lamb, potatoes, focaccia, olive oil, grill marinades.
Rosemary oil – make it with fresh sprigs in good olive oil only for use soon: keep it in the fridge and use it no later than the day after making it (BfR, risk of botulism with fresh herbs in oil). Great for salads and dipping. To keep rosemary, dry it instead.
Rosemary salt – finely chop fresh needles, mix with coarse sea salt, let dry. Keeps for months.
Use as a medicinal herb
Tea – 1 tsp dried needles, steep for 5 minutes. Traditionally regarded as stimulating for circulation and digestion. Do not drink it in the evening – it can be stimulating.
Rosemary bath – a handful of fresh sprigs in hot water, steep for 20 minutes, add to the bathwater. Traditionally used for muscle pain and exhaustion.
Rubbing oil – rosemary oil or tincture is traditionally applied externally for tension and circulation complaints.
⚠️ Notes on use
Do not use rosemary in medicinal doses during pregnancy – it can stimulate contractions. As a culinary spice in normal cooking amounts it is safe.
Essential rosemary oil is far more concentrated than tea or the culinary herb: avoid it if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy, and check with a doctor if you are unsure.
Drying & storage
Bundle the sprigs and hang upside down in an airy, shaded spot. Alternatively, strip the needles from the sprigs and dry in a dehydrator at max. 40°C.
Stored dark and dry: keeps 1–2 years. Freshly frozen sprigs retain their flavor better than dried ones.
Sources
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR): Rare but avoidable: questions and answers about botulism, as of 12 Nov 2025, accessed 4 Oct 2026
The sources support individual statements in this article. The organisations named have neither reviewed nor endorsed it.