According to Ophelia in Shakespeare’s Hamlet "There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember." In modern times, it has been rephrased to “Rosemary is for remembrance.”
No one seems to know the exact origin of the idea but since ancient times, it has been used in weddings, funerals and other important ceremonies.
It is native to the Mediterranean and has many uses including culinary, scents and for health. As a member of the mint family it is related to other herbs including thyme, basil, oregano and even lavender.
Most varieties of this woody perennial are hardy up to USDA zone 8 (where the temperature doesn’t drop below 10 degrees) but some varieties are being developed that are hardy to zone 6 and can survive in zone 5 with protection.
Hardy varieties include Arp, Alcalde Cold Hardy, Madeline Hill and Athens Blue Spire. There are so many varieties that can be grown in post and there is a choice between upright and prostrate. The prostrate variety can look lovely in a hanging pot and the upright variety is sometimes used as topiary.
If you are growing it outdoors here in northern NJ it will need a bit of winter care. Once a hard frost has set, cut it almost to the ground and mulch heavily. Remove most of the mulch in the spring once new growth has appeared.
If you have a less hardy variety, grow it outdoors in warmer weather and then bring it indoors when it gets cold.
It can be temperamental so leave it in a pot year-round so you don’t disturb the roots. Don’t overwater it and don’t let it dry out. Either condition can kill it. It isn’t fond of direct sunlight either.
Rosemary is susceptible to spittlebugs, aphids and whiteflies, root rot and powdery mildew. Deer tend to ignore it because of its strong fragrance.
This will be a wonderful addition to any indoor or outdoor garden.