Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

What would you say if I said you could grow a plant that works as well as an ornamental as it does an herb? It’s true: Rosemary not only serves as a seasoning for poultry, fish, stews, and other foods, it’s also an attractive plant that can even be used as a Christmas tree!

Rosemary works as a companion plant in vegetable patches, in containers as an attractive house or patio plant, as a ground cover, in kitchen and perennial beds, spilling from a window box, or even stabilizing a slope. It’s even easy to grow, making it a great starter plant for a new herb garden.

In fact, it’s hard for the enthusiastic gardener to find a reason not to grow rosemary. And if you’re thinking that growing herbs isn’t worth the effort, take a look at price labels in the supermarket: One-third of an ounce of dried rosemary can cost close to $4. That’s $182 a pound!

So, turn your thoughts to growing this wonderful plant and peruse our Rosemary Collection. In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about rosemary—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about rosemary gardening—from types of plants and soil preparation to watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’re already an advanced rosemary and herb gardener, some of this may be refresher content for you. But you’re still certain to learn something new about this versatile herb, especially in the recipes!

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about six popular varieties of rosemary, so you’ll have specific details about the characteristics and best uses for particular varieties of rosemary, from food seasoning to landscaping.

While there are many varieties of rosemary, we’ve chosen these six rosemary plants to profile because they are some of the most commonly grown. If you’d like us to include another rosemary variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

After all, we wouldn’t be the Food Gardening Network if we didn’t include our readers and their insights in our content. Please share your thoughts with us throughout this collection!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of classic, simple, and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Rosemary and the foods it seasons are a fun part of this collection!

These rosemary recipes include uses for poultry, seafood, flatbreads, and soup. You’ll be sure to delight everyone at your table when you use rosemary any of these ways, and these dishes will become staples in your household. Enjoy your rosemary harvest with these tasty recipes and your family and friends will appreciate all your rosemary gardening efforts. Shhh… no need to admit how easy it is to grow.

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Rosemary to find out exactly which nutrients are found in rosemary—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Rosemary will help you learn about how key nutrients in rosemary can help strengthen your immune system and potentially ward off cancer. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for rosemary, besides just enjoying its pungent flavor in your cooking.

To help you explore the flavorful world of rosemary even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious rosemary, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Enjoy reading this collection, and then get out there and start your new herb garden with rosemary!