SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue'
COMMON NAME: Tuscan Blue Rosemary
GARDEN SIZE: 72 inches tall x 24-48 inches wide.
GROWTH RATE: Moderate
USDA Zone: 8-11
EXPOSURE: Full sun
WATER & SOIL: Well-draining, preferably rocky soil. Allow to go almost dry between waterings. Do not over water!
HABIT (FORM): Upright, compact
FOLIAGE: Semi-evergreen, fragrant, gray-green
FLOWERS: Rich blue from spring-summer
PLANT ORIGIN: Mediterranean
WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Flowers feed many pollinators, but the plant is not a host for local North American species. Deer and rabbit resistant.
FERTILIZING: Feed lightly in late winter or early spring with compost or an organic fertilizer. Bone meal in the early fall may help with overwintering.
PRUNING: Trim lightly as needed to shape after flowering to promote next season's growth. Pruning by 1/4 to 1/3 at least once a year rejuvenates the plants.
ASPCA Toxicity flags (see their site for details): Dogs, Cats, Horses
USES: Good as trimmed hedge or left in original form. Good for thick-walled (cold protection) containers. Often used in the kitchen for culinary purposes, or for aromatics and aromatherapy.Tuscan Blue is a great height for shaping into hedges, or for being left in its natural state. Like all rosemary varieties, it is an emblem of remembrance and fidelity. In medieval times, its fragrant leaves were crushed on floors to mask odors.