Hi,
my rosemary has been in the ground for at least 3 years, and it is hardy here in Atlanta. Why hasn't it flowered? it is in full sun. The only thing I can think of is that I have pruned it at the wrong time. Any advice would be appreciated...Harriet
why doesn't my rosemary flower
What type of soil do you have?
I'm wondering if your soil may be deficient in sufficient phosphorus to trigger blooming. Are other plants in the same area producing blooms?
The rosemary is in clay soil. it grows well, and the mixed border around it has (well - blooming) roses, and perenials that get a lot of food, although I don't feed the rosemary directly. I think maybe I am pruning the blossoms off. When is the right time to prune? I thought rosemary prefered not to be fed, maybe I'm wrong on that... Harriet
You know, I have an upright rosemary that has never bloomed. My trailing rosemary blooms in the winter. I wonder if some types don't bloom...
Perhaps you could leave a few branches unpruned to see what happens.
I'm confused. Is there some reason you want it to flower? Rosemary is usually used for it's foliage, not flowers. Am I missing out on something?
Shoe
I have a rosemary topiary I shaped with a large ball on top and small "hedge" on the bottom that I grew from a 3" cutting. It is now about three years old and is the Arp variety. I just read recently that it doesn't flower. And true to its word, it never has -lol. It's still very nice. Do you know what variety you have?
Shoe, are you saying you've never had rosemary honey???
The bees love the rosemary blossoms! If there is a lot of rosemary around the hive, you will get a lovely spicy honey.
The rosemary blossoms are also used in cooking. The flavour is more subtle that the leaves. When making rosemary vinaegar, infused oil etc, we always prefer to add the sprig with the blossoms. They are a lovely edible flower.
Purple Flash Spinach Salad
PREP AND COOK TIME: About 15 minutes
NOTES: Other purple-blue flowers you can use include borage, chive, and sage. Rinse and drain flowers. Pull petals from dianthus, and blossoms from rosemary and lavender.
MAKES: 6 servings
1/3 cup slivered almonds
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 quarts (6 to 8 oz.) baby spinach leaves, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons rosemary blossoms (see notes)
1 cup purple or pink dianthus petals (see notes)
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh lavender blossoms (see notes) or 2 1/4 teaspoons dried lavender
Salt and pepper
1. In an 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium heat, shake or stir almonds until golden, about 3 minutes. Pour from pan into a wide shallow bowl.
2. To bowl, add oil, vinegar, 1 tablespoon water, and mustard; mix.
3. Add spinach, rosemary blossoms, dianthus petals, and lavender. Mix and season with salt and pepper to taste.
http://www.herbvideos.com/rosemar.htm
Pam, I got my rosemary from DeBaggio (who knows his rosemary), and it's an 'Arp'. It flowers! Not lavishly, but it does get spikes of pretty little pale purple blooms.
:-)
fernman, I don't think Messenger will help with fungus but it might be worth experimenting with. Rosemary tends to get powdery mildew fairly easily when the environment is humid and stagnant air (no airflow). A baking soda spray will certainly help and is much cheaper.
Critter, I've grown Arp for years and it is one of the best for our region. Since this thread started I've noticed a HUGE rosemary plant I sold to a customer that is flowering now. Very pretty! I'm so jealous! I had no idea they would flower this early in the year but perhaps becus of its location it has (next to the house and by her brick porch).
Mermaid, what a great recipe! Thanks. I'm gonna print it out and give to my friend who has the giant rosemary BUSH.
fernman, WELCOME to DG! Haven't seen you before. Hope to see you around the site!
Shoe
I grow different types of rosemary in various places in my garden.Most of them get very little sun and do not flower.The ones who get more sun do.
hey, Horseshoe, thanks~~!
i use the site a lot bt have been here more of late...usually in the Morning Glory or Ferns forums, but i hop about..Is the mix you mentioned as simple and basic as it sounds? Just Baking soda and H20 or do you add something else? The air where these are at is shady and hot, but the shultz got it last year. If i can use baking soda, i would lovethat as it would be better for the bees and I to, printed that recipe! Got a lot of Borage around...thanks GardenMermaid~great moniker too!
cheers all!
fernman23
fernman, I got it on my rosemary plants that were in the g-house. Can't remember if it was powdery mildew or downy mildew but it'll work for both types
If you put 3 tbls of baking soda in a gallon of warm water and add some soap as a sticker you're good to go. (I prefer Murphy's oil soap but I suppose you could use a tame dishwash soap like Ivory if you like.) Mix it up good and spray. Remember, with any type of soap or oil spray I wouldn't recommend spraying it on super hot days for fear of burning the leaves.
Also, good air circulation around your plants goes a long way to prevent molds and mildews, too.
Shoe
Thanks for the directions! Its strange that we get it~ it's so dry here but in the shade cooler plus the rising moisture, maybe a little less water would help~!!? Its plenty breezy, so i will clean under the plants to allow better eveporation and maybe that'll help too.
thanks
fernman23
I'm going to try the baking soda remedy on my topiary. I've been using plain water sprays and the occassional Safer's insecticidal soap spray, but it continues to get the mildew eventually. I'll say one thing for it, even if it doesn't flower, it continues to grow and look hardy. I just changed out the soil on it and root pruned it, so it's resting. Maybe it will flower this spring.