Tips on Caring for Creeping Rosemary

View of creeping rosemary in a garden

Image - Flickr / cultivar413

Creeping rosemary is an aromatic plant that you can use as a hanging plant, planting it for example in pots or in the ground near low walls or walls. It is very easy to take care of, since in addition resists drought very well once acclimatized.

So if you are looking for a grateful plant with which you do not have to worry about anything, decorate your garden or terrace with a creeping rosemary.

Origin and characteristics of creeping rosemary

Rosemary growing is easy

Image - Wikimdia / Forest & Kim Starr

The scientific name of this shrubby plant that grows to 35cm tall, with a diameter of more or less 1m, is Rosmarinus officinalis 'Postratus'. It has evergreen, lanceolate, dark green leaves and beautiful lilac flowers that make it even more beautiful in spring. In addition to giving off a very pleasant aroma, it must be said that it helps to drive away pests, that is, if you have a specimen near other plants, they will not be affected by any insects.

It is a very beautiful and easy-to-care plant that will help us to have a very special garden or patio. It can even be put on the balcony, as long as it is sunny.

Growing or caring for the Rosmarinus officinalis 'Postratus'

In cultivation, rosemary is very grateful. Being native to the Mediterranean region, it is prepared to withstand drought. So, to take good care of it, you should keep the following in mind:

Location

We need to locate it in an area directly exposed to the sun, because if it were in shade its leaves would lose color and it would not be able to survive.

It does not have invasive roots, but as it tends to expand a bit, it is advisable to plant it at least 50 centimeters from other plants in order for it to develop properly.

Irrigation

Creeping rosemary leaves are evergreen

Image - Wikimedia / Forest & Kim Starr

We will water it very occasionally. The frequency of watering will vary depending on the weather, but generally you will need to water once or twice a week in summer, and every 10 days the rest of the year. In the case of having it in the garden, and if a minimum of 350mm of precipitation per year is registered, from the second season on land, the waterings can be increasingly spaced.

Earth

If we talk about the soil, it will grow wonderfully in those that are calcareous. In pot, however, a substrate must be used that facilitates the drainage of the water, since is sensitive to overwatering. A good mix would be: 70% black peat with 30% perlite (or similar). In this way, its roots, and therefore the creeping rosemary, will be able to grow without problems.

Subscriber

It is interesting to pay it every 15 days in spring and summer with some organic fertilizerand guano for example following the indications specified on the package. If we have it in the garden, we can put two to three handfuls of herbivorous animal manure, worm castings or compost, around the plant.

Fertilizers can be used without problems, but it is very important to follow the instructions to the letter, since otherwise we would risk causing an overdose, and if that happened, the roots would burn and we would run out of creeping rosemary.

Pruning

It is a plant that supports pruning very well, as long as it is done 'with head', that is, It will not withstand drastic pruning, but it does those that consist of lowering its height little by little and gradually. So if we see that it has stems that are getting too long, we will take pruning shears, disinfect them with a disinfectant product or pharmacy alcohol, and proceed to trim.

When is the best time? It will be done in spring, when the risk of frost has passed.

Multiplication

Creeping rosemary multiplies by seeds in spring, following this step by step:

  1. First, a seedling tray will be filled with universal substrate, and watered.
  2. Then, a maximum of two seeds will be placed in each alveolus, burying them a little.
  3. Afterwards, a little copper or sulfur will be sprinkled to prevent fungi from damaging the seeds.
  4. Finally, the seedbed will be placed outside, in the sun.

Plagues and diseases

In principle it is a very resistant plant, but if it is watered in excess the fungi will damage it. In dry and warm environments it can sometimes have a cochineal, but that only usually happens when the specimen is already having a hard time for some other reason (very compact and / or very humid soil, for example).

Planting or transplanting time

We can plant it in the garden in spring. If we have it in a pot, we will transplant it to a larger one when more than 2 years have passed since the last transplant.

Rusticity

Withstands cold and frost well up to -7ºC.

Creeping rosemary uses

Creeping rosemary can be grown in a pot

Image - Wikimedia / Petar43

It has several:

Ornamental

It is a very decorative plant, ideal for growing in pots, planters or in the garden. It resists high temperatures well, as well as drought, and it does not have important pests or diseases.

In addition, it can be worked as bonsai.

Culinary

It is used a lot in Mediterranean cuisine, in oven roasts and stews, both fresh and dry. In addition, it is also used to personalize oils and vinegars, introducing a fresh twig in the container where they are kept.

Medicinal properties

Rosemary has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries. The most used part is the leaves, but sometimes the flowers are also used. Some more common uses are:

  • Infusion of leaves: to relieve coughs and intestinal spasms.
  • Essential oil: it is extracted from the leaves, and it is effective as a gastric protector, to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and osteoarthritis, and to prevent ulcers.
  • Rosemary camphor: it is hypertensive and toner of the blood circulation.
  • Decoction leaves: they are applied on sores and wounds as they have healing properties.

Did you know this plant? Go ahead and decorate your green corner with it 🙂.


Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.