Rosemary Tree
Growing on the High Plains
SKIP MANCINI
PRODUCER AND HOST OF HIGH PLAINS HISTORY AND GROWING ON THE HIGH PLAINS
Rosemary is an herb of many uses and a long and varied history. The ancient Greeks declared that it improved memory, and students would often wear wreaths of it in their hair while studying for exams. In the middle ages it was thought to possess powers of protection against evil spirits. Medicinally, it has been used for centuries to combat muscle aches and to act as an antibacterial agent. As a culinary herb it excels in the flavoring of roast meats, and it is a successful partner with the potato, giving flavor and bite to that usually bland vegetable.
A biblical look at rosemary finds a belief that rosemary will grow no higher than 6 feet in 33 years so as not to stand taller than Christ. And another story tells that the flowers of rosemary were originally white, but changed to blue when the Virgin Mary caught her cloak on a bush while fleeing from Herod’s soldiers with the infant Christ child. Perhaps it is this particular point in the background of rosemary that brings us to a logical visit about rosemary as a holiday symbol. More specifically, as a potted and shaped shrub that can become a Christmas tree, if so desired. The structure of the rosemary bush, with its evergreen needles and piney scent fits in nicely with the look and smell of holiday greenery. During the Christmas season small conical trees that have been shaped from rosemary shrubs are potted, foiled, sometimes decorated, and then sold as an accent tree for the holidays. They are small enough to become a table centerpiece, or to sit on an office desk or in a window for the outside world to see. Rosemary trees are a great way to bring the scent of the holidays inside, as a light brush with your hand will release a wonderful pine woods smell. And for apartment dwellers they often do double duty as an authentic Christmas tree when surrounded by gifts or placed in an area where Santa can easily unload his pack on Christmas Eve.
But if you want your tree to last through the holidays and hopefully into the spring season when it can be transplanted outdoors, you’ll need to be vigilant about sunlight and watering. Rosemary will want lots of sunlight, so that window placement might be a simple solution. However, the watering is not such an easy fix. Rosemary is native to hot, dry climates like the Mediterranean, and it doesn’t live long if it has wet feet. However, being indoors can cause it to quickly dry out on the root ball, which means a fatal ending to your rosemary tree. For best results, set your newly purchased rosemary tree in a larger pot that is then lined with gravel. Or place the original pot on a saucer of gravel. In any case, be sure the soil around the root ball is moist, but has an opportunity to drain off excess water. Also try taking the tree into the bathroom about once a week and letting it breathe in the moisture provided in the air when you take a shower. Or give the foliage a short spritz of water every few days. With some proper care and attention you should be able to gain a rosemary shrub at the end of the cold weather season. And if your tiny tree turns up its toes, dies, and dries? Then use the dried foliage in the kitchen, where you can still enjoy your rosemary Christmas tree on the holiday turkey or even the Easter lamb!
“Rosemary is native to hot, dry climates like the Mediterranean”
Skip Mancini’s radio program “Growing on the High Plains” airs Thursday at 10:30AM CST and on Saturdays at 8:35AM CST HPPR 91.9 FM airing out of Dodge City. Listen to archives shows on their website.
