Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is such an amazingly versatile plant. You might have seen potted Gallipoli rosemary for sale at nurseries recently as sprigs of rosemary are often worn as a commemorative symbol on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. This aromatic herb has many uses in the kitchen- you can’t have a roast lamb without rosemary. Rosemary can also be seeped as a tea for its numerous health benefits and even made into a hair tonic. It is also known to be a great memory booster.
Rosmarinus officinalis varieties are low maintenance, evergreen hardy perennials. They grow best in full sun and well-draining soil in pots or in the ground. Pale purple flowers appear typically in winter and spring but also sporadically at other times of the year. These flowers attract beneficial insects which include, you guessed it, bees!
This is a fire-tailed resin bee (Megachile mystaceana), easily identified by the bright orange abdomen. They are a native Australian solitary bee species that build their nests in narrow crevices using resin from trees. I often have fire-tailed resin bees trying to nest in old screw holes in the exposed timber beams in my garage. I have learnt that resin is very hard to clean off my car! The poor things seem to struggle in their nest building though as their larvae keep falling out of the holes. I have placed an insect hotel just outside for them to use but they haven’t found it yet!
In addition to attracting cool bees, there are so many other great reasons you should plant a rosemary in your garden! There are ground cover varieties such as Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' and the Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue', which can grow to 180cm tall. Rosemary bushes are right at home in Mediterranean themed gardens and they can also be used to make formal hedges and pruned as topiaries in renaissance style gardens. Prostrate rosemaries look amazing cascading down banks or over retaining walls. Rosemary foliage will release its recognizable scent when brushed past so plant them beside pathways or in pots on patios so you can frequently enjoy their fresh aroma.
Come and see our range of rosemary at Nursery Traders