Rosemary varieties: 33 varieties for the kitchen and ornamental garden

table of contents

Winter hardy varieties
Exceptions
Winter-resistant varieties
Varieties from A - C
Varieties from G - Z
Winterproof only with protection against the cold
Rosemary varieties that are sensitive to frost

rosemary is one of the herbs that should not be missing in the kitchen. There are numerous varieties available that have different flavors. The varieties, which come from the Mediterranean coastal areas, are mostly sensitive to the cold. However, new varieties show a significantly higher frost resistance, so that they can overwinter in the garden. Which variety has to offer is described below.

Winter hardy varieties

With the new varieties of Rosmarinus officinalis, an important focus has been placed on winter hardiness. While almost all herbs originating from the Mediterranean areas love warmth and only temperatures above the Tolerated freezing point, so today there are varieties that can go down to over -20 ° C in winter in German herb and ornamental gardens can spend.

The most popular hardy specimens include:

'Arp'

Pronounced aroma of resin and incense
Is used, for example, in Italian cuisine and for drying
The intense smell makes it ideal for scented and ornamental gardens
Very robust plant
Hardy to -22 ° C

'Blue Winter'

Blue-green colored leaves
Purple flowers are a tasteful addition to any ornamental garden
Intense, spicy aroma
Gladly for seasoning food to be grilled
Winter hardy to -20 ° C

'Hill Hardy'

American breed
Growth height up to 120 cm
Resinous scent
Light blue flowers
Winter hardy to at least -20 ° C

'Punta di Canelle'

Italian vigorous variety
Growing upright
Slightly curved shoots
Delicate fragrance
Temperatures down to -20 ° C, however, only with fleece protection - otherwise a maximum of -12 ° C

'Rex'

Upright, robust variety
Light blue flowers
Strong-growing
Resinous aroma
Winter hardy to at least -20 ° C

'Sudbury Blue'

Globular growth
Height between 80 and 120 cm
Medium blue flowers
Very strong spicy aroma
Suitable for winter hardiness zone 7a with between -15 ° C and -17 ° C with fleece
Without protection against the cold, however, a maximum of -12 ° C

'Veitshöchheim'

Franconian breeding
Slightly resinous aromas
Winter hardy to -20 ° C
Somewhat susceptible to illness

'Weihenstephan'

German breeding
Gray-green foliage
Fast growing
Strong aroma
Winter hardy to around -15 ° C

Exceptions

Winter hardiness only refers to healthy, adult plants or rosemary with a pronounced root system. However, young plants and weakened specimens are much more sensitive to cold. If they have spent the summer outdoors, they must then be moved to frost-free winter quarters by the beginning / middle of October at the latest.

Winter-resistant varieties

Often the terms "winter hardy" and "winter hardy" are equated. However, there is a big one between them difference, which refers to a temperature difference of up to 16 ° C within the minus range. While the hardy Rosmarinus officinalis can withstand icy temperatures in the double-digit range can, the temperature limit for winter-proof rosemary varieties is just in the single digits Minus range. Because even from freezing point, protection against the cold is recommended for some species.

The winter hardy specimens that survive at most in winter hardiness zone 9a with temperatures between -6.6 ° C and -3.9 ° C without protection against the cold include:

Varieties from A - C

'Beneden'

Belgian breed
Scented of pine trees
With protection against the cold, it can withstand temperatures down to -15 ° C

'Blue lip'

Aromatic resinous-balsamic scent
Compact growth
With protection against the cold, it can withstand temperatures down to -15 ° C

,Blue Lagoon'

Strongly growing
Intense, spicy fragrance
Equally suitable for the kitchen and garden
Growth height up to 90 cm
With protection against the cold, it can withstand temperatures down to -12 ° C

"Blue Rain"

Hanging plant
Intense and spicy fragrance
Winter hardiness zone 7 - 8, up to a maximum of -15 ° C, but only with garden fleece

'Boule'

Creeping variety
Light blue flowers
With protection against the cold, it can withstand temperatures down to -15 ° C

'Corsican Blue'

Long-term flowering
Steel blue flowers
Drooping, compact habit
Scent like pine needles
With protection against the cold, it can withstand temperatures down to -12 ° C

Varieties from G - Z

'Gorizia'

Silvery needles
Tall up to 150 cm
Radiant blue-purple flowers
Fresh aroma
With protection against the cold, it can withstand temperatures down to -10 ° C

'Haifa'

Hanging and creeping plant
Gladly as Ground cover used in the garden
Flower color: blue
Beguiling fragrance
Mediterranean aroma
However, only winter-proof up to a maximum of -5 ° C

'Majorca Pink'

Spanish origin
Upright, columnar growth
Growth height up to 50 cm
Delicate branches
Pink to amethyst colored flowers
Strongly spicy taste
Withstands temperatures down to -12 ° C, but only with appropriate protection against the cold

'Miss Jesopp' ('Pyramidalis')

Coming from England
Upright growth - perfect for planting in pots
Height between 50 and 60 cm
Strongly fragrant
Resinous flavors
Can withstand temperatures down to -12 ° C with appropriate protection against the cold

'Primerly Blue'

Upright growing variety ideal for cultivation in the tub
Blue-green needles
Very fine, mild fragrance
Narrow gray needles
Withstands temperatures down to -12 ° C, but only with appropriate protection against the cold

‚Prostate‚

Vigorous variety
Growing flat to overhanging
Growth height: up to 20 cm
Mild scented aroma
Winterproof down to a maximum of -7 ° C - beyond that, only survivable with protection against the cold

Winterproof only with protection against the cold

Frost-sensitive rosemary varieties usually overwinter at temperatures from 0 ° C to 10 ° C. The needles in particular do not tolerate lower temperatures and react quickly to the first Symptoms of frostbite. With an appropriate protection against the cold, the following varieties can still spend the winter outdoors down to certain minus temperatures:

'Bolzano'

Growth height of a maximum of 40 cm
At the same time, intense fragrance aroma
Lush flowers in light blue color
Winterproof down to -8 ° C, but only with protection against the cold

'Cincango Muro'

Compact growth
Growth height up to 40 cm
Lush green needles
Very aromatic and slightly bitter
Also only with cold protection, it can withstand temperatures up to a maximum of -5 ° C

'Florence'

Coming from Tuscany
Strong growth
Growth height up to 70 cm
Light blue flowers
Fine scented aroma
Winterproof down to -7 ° C, but with protection against the cold

'Florence White'

Even milder aromatic
White flowers

'Florence Rosa'

Also mild fragrance
Delicate pink flowers

'Foxtail'

Growth height up to 100 cm
Ideal as a hanging plant
Strong cola aroma
Winterproof down to -7 ° C, but with protection against the cold

,Shepherd'

Growing upright
Slow, partly creeping growth
Growth height up to 40 cm
Winterproof up to a maximum of -8 ° C, but only with protection against the cold

'Severn Sea'

Spreading growth
Small to around 40 cm - ideal for pots in the kitchen
Violet-blue flowers
Fine, slightly spicy aroma
Frost down to -5 ° C, but only with protection

'Ulisée'

Growth height up to 80 cm
Dark blue flower
Mild, resinous but slightly bitter aroma
Down to -8 ° C, but with protection

'Wilmas Gold'

Golden yellow foliage
Strongly growing
Spicy, slightly resinous fragrance nuances
Down to -8 ° C, but with protection against the cold

'Santa Barbara'

Creeping rosemary
Deep blue flowers
Height about 30 cm
Slightly bitter taste
Down to -10 ° C, but with protection against the cold

Rosemary varieties that are sensitive to frost

These varieties are suitable for frost-free Areas. They should move from the field to a warmer area in early autumn, as the first frosty temperatures can cause significant damage.

'Pine rosemary' (Rosmarinus angustifolia)