How big does Rosemary grow?

About 1.2 m × 1 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1.8 m × 0.6–1.2 m.

What soil does Rosemary grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Hardy down to -12 °C (USDA zone 8, RHS H5). Outdoors in this country it only survives with winter protection, or in a pot overwintered frost-free.

Is Rosemary toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Rosemary toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

Is Rosemary toxic to children?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to children.

How far from the house should Rosemary be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

When does Rosemary flower?

Flowering: March–June, blue, purple, white.

How much water does Rosemary need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a shrub that reaches 1.2 m × 1 m after ten years. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -12 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Non-toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about PLN 14.

Illustration of Rosemary — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

An evergreen, needle-leaved culinary shrub whose strongly aromatic shoots you can pick all year, and whose pale blue spring flowers are covered in bees. It loves sun, heat and drought, but here it only gets through winter in a sheltered, warm position with loose, free-draining soil. Plant it at the foot of a south-facing wall and cover it during hard frosts, or grow it in a tub and overwinter it somewhere bright, cool and frost-free.

Watch out for

It is not reliably hardy in Central Europe: it tolerates roughly minus 10 to minus 12 °C, and prolonged harder frost or cold wind cuts it back or kills it, so it only overwinters in sheltered, warm positions and can still be lost there in a severe winter. Hardier cultivars (such as Arp) take a little more. Waterlogged soil in winter and overwatering cause root rot, the other common cause of death. Powdery mildew appears where air is damp and still, and old, bare plants do not reshoot when cut back into old wood.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.2 m × 1 m
Hardiness: down to -12 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–June, blue, purple, white

All details

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	1.2 m × 1 m
Ultimate size	0.6–1.8 m × 0.6–1.2 m
Hardiness	down to -12 °C (USDA 8, RHS H5)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	March–June, blue, purple, white
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	80 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Non-toxic
Typical price	from about PLN 14

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. PLN 14

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants that are non-toxic to cats Plants that are non-toxic to children Evergreen plants Shrubs for pollinators Plants for containers Plants for a Mediterranean garden Low shrubs Fragrant plants Fragrant shrubs

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