Will rosemary survive a UK winter?

Yes, in most of the UK if planted in a well-drained sunny spot. Rosemary is rated RHS H4 (−5 to −10°C). It survives the cold; what kills it is waterlogged roots in winter — heavy clay soil holding water around the roots in cold weather. Drainage is the key. Raised beds, gravel gardens, and south-facing walls give the best winter survival.

Why is my rosemary dying?

Almost always waterlogged roots. Rosemary hates cold wet feet — the combination kills more rosemary than frost ever does. Symptoms: browning needles from the bottom up, sudden collapse after a wet spell. Move the plant to a better-drained site, or replace and improve drainage with grit. Other causes: pruning into old bare wood (rosemary rarely regrows from it), or simply the plant having reached its 15–20 year lifespan.

Can I grow rosemary in a pot?

Yes — and it solves the drainage problem for heavy-soil gardens. Use a 30 cm clay pot (clay breathes better than plastic for Mediterranean herbs), peat-free compost mixed with grit, and a south-facing position. Water modestly through summer; let the compost surface dry between waterings. In winter, move to a sheltered spot or unheated greenhouse — pots are less hardy than ground plants because the rootball can freeze through.

How and when should I prune rosemary?

Light prune each spring after flowering (April–May). Shorten last year's growth by a third with secateurs. Never cut back into the woody base — rosemary rarely regrows from old bare wood, and you'll kill the plant. If a plant has become leggy and bare at the base, layer a low branch or take cuttings rather than trying to rejuvenate the original.

What's the best rosemary variety for the UK?

Salvia rosmarinus Miss Jessopp's Upright is the standard UK choice — bigger, hardier, more upright, and longer-lived than the wild-type or prostrate forms. Tuscan Blue is another reliable upright. Avoid prostrate cultivars (Severn Sea and similar) for UK ground planting except in very mild south-coast gardens — they're less hardy and rot more readily.

How do I take rosemary cuttings?

Spring or autumn. Cut 10 cm shoots from non-flowering side-shoots. Strip the lower leaves, dip the base in rooting hormone (optional), push into a pot of gritty multi-purpose compost. Water in; cover loosely with a plastic bag to keep humidity up. Roots in 6–8 weeks. Pot on the following spring.

Rosemary — Grow

Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus

herb☀️ full-sun🪴 well drained📏 medium🌡️ RHS H4

📋Quick Facts

Height

1.0-1.5m

Spread

0.4-0.6m

Water

💧 Minimal watering

Hardiness

Zone 8-10

About

Plant rosemary in spring or autumn, ideally as a young plant rather than from seed — seed-raised plants are slow and unpredictable. Rosemary is hardy in most of the UK (RHS H4) but resents wet feet — the commonest cause of dead rosemary is heavy clay in a cold wet winter, not cold itself. Choose a sunny well-drained spot; raised beds and gravel gardens suit it. Salvia rosmarinus 'Miss Jessopp's Upright' is the most reliable UK cultivar — bigger, hardier and more upright than the prostrate forms. Cut stems for cooking year-round. Prune lightly each spring to keep the shape; never cut back into old bare wood, as rosemary rarely regrows from it. A well-sited plant lasts 15–20 years.

Top tip

Rosemary dislikes wet, heavy soils; plant in a sunny, sheltered spot and clip after flowering to maintain shape.

Also known as: Rosemary, Romarin, Romero, Rozmaryn lekarski, Alecrim, Rosmarin, Salvia rosmarinus, Rozemarijn

How to grow rosemary

1
Buy a young plant
Don't bother with seed. Buy a young rosemary plant (preferably Miss Jessopp's Upright for UK reliability) in a 1–2 litre pot. Cuttings from a friend's plant in spring or autumn root readily.
2
Choose a sunny well-drained spot
Full sun, well-drained soil. South-facing wall, raised bed, gravel garden, or large container. Rosemary tolerates poor soil but not waterlogged conditions.
3
Plant in spring or autumn
March–April or September–October. Dig a hole twice the rootball width; add grit if your soil is heavy. Don't bury the stem below its original level. Water in well, then let nature take over.
4
Prune lightly each spring
After flowering (usually April–May), shorten last year's growth by a third. Never cut back into old bare wood; rosemary rarely regrows from it. Light annual pruning keeps the shape; neglect for several years and the plant gets leggy.
5
Pick year-round
Cut sprigs whenever you cook with it. The plant tolerates regular light picking. Avoid picking heavily in mid-winter; cold-damaged tips happen on over-picked plants.
6
Take cuttings as insurance
At year 10–15, take cuttings in spring or autumn so you have replacements ready before the original declines. Even healthy rosemary eventually exhausts itself.

Common questions

Pest Resilience

5/5 — Highly resilient

Highly aromatic woody herb; virtually pest-free once established.

Companion Planting

Grows well with

Cabbage Carrot Sage Bean

Visual Characteristics

🍳

Culinary

Culinary Use

Roast lamb, roast potatoes, focaccia, marinades, herb butter, stews

The rosemary year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...

What to do now

How to Propagate

🌰Seed

Easy

✂️Cutting

Moderate

🌿Layering

Moderate

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)

H1a

H1b

H1c

RHS H4

USDA 7–8 equivalent

Rosemary

Rosemary

📋Quick Facts

About

How to grow rosemary

Common questions

Pest Resilience

Companion Planting

Visual Characteristics

The rosemary year in your garden

How to Propagate

Hardiness Zones

Names in Other Languages(7)