Rosemary officinalis, maybe not the most exciting plant on the planet, but maybe one of the most useful and versatile out there. Out in the up-country areas of Solano County, water is expensive, deer are plentiful, and the sun is hot, burning down all day with little shade for relief. What does a gardener do combat these elements? My answer is to plant rosemary…many kinds, many uses!
There are two main types of Rosemary officinalis, upright and creeping, but Sunset Western Garden book lists 17 separate named varieties. It‘s drought-tolerant, will take full sun and laugh, and the deer don't touch it! It has beautiful flowers for months at a time, which attracts honeybees. You can cook with it, chopping tender leaves to add aroma and flavor to many dishes as well as using sprigs in brines or as a garnish. The foliage is ever so fragrant, and it's evergreen too!
And best of all you can find a variety to suit all kinds of needs. I had a sunny area on the backside of a garage, with a steep bank for a few feet, after solar was installed for the pool, I was looking at ugly white PVC pipes, and weeds with the potential for erosion. OHH, and did I forget to mention, the deer travel down that area like a highway. My answer, Rosemary officinalis ‘Huntington Carpet' which grows to 2 feet and will cover a bank. (photo below) This lovely variety fearlessly answered all the challenges and thrived!
In another area, I needed to cover a small retaining wall, the same full sun and deer issues. I wanted something low growing to highlight the plants behind it. (photo below) The perfect answer was ‘Prostratus' a low growing variety with pale lavender/blue flowers that can be used to make a green curtain.
In yet another area, I wanted a tall hedge. This answer, ‘Tuscan Blue' an upright variety like which grows to 6 feet and can be used to create informal hedges. This one is a standard culinary variety with dark violet/blue flowers that are some of the showiest around. I would have a photo to share, but mine are still growing and in hindsight, I should have planted them closer together in order to get a full hedge sooner.
Rosemary is a hard-working, unsung hero in the garden. I encourage you, go out there and explore what's available at the nurseries, whether it's one plant to use in an herb garden or multiple plants for form and function, there is a Rosemary officinalis for you.