Benenden Blue Rosemary is a popular choice for gardeners due to its ornamental beauty, practical utility, and adaptability. This variety stands out with its distinctive appearance and aromatic qualities, enhancing any garden space.
Key Characteristics of Benenden Blue Rosemary
Benenden Blue Rosemary, botanically known as Salvia rosmarinus ‘Benenden Blue’, is an evergreen shrub with fine, needle-like, dark green foliage. Densely packed, its feathery appearance sets it apart, with narrow leaves contrasting pleasingly against the plant’s light-colored stems.
This variety grows upright and bushy, reaching heights of 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) and spreading similarly wide. Its branches can also develop a graceful, pendulous quality. Bright, intense blue, two-lipped flowers emerge profusely in late spring to early summer, sometimes reblooming in fall or winter in milder climates. The highly aromatic foliage releases a strong, pine-like scent when brushed, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, while deterring deer.
Cultivating Benenden Blue Rosemary
Site Selection and Soil
Cultivating Benenden Blue Rosemary requires an optimal planting location that mimics its native Mediterranean environment. It thrives in full sun, needing at least six hours of direct sunlight daily for robust growth and abundant flowering. A hot, dry, sunny position is ideal.
Well-drained soil is crucial for Benenden Blue Rosemary, which is highly susceptible to root rot in waterlogged conditions. It tolerates a range of soil types, including chalk, loam, and sand, and prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH. If your soil is heavy clay, amending it with organic matter like compost or grit can improve drainage. Planting on a slope also provides free-draining conditions.
Light and Water Requirements
While Benenden Blue Rosemary thrives in full sun, it can tolerate some partial shade, though growth and flowering may be less vigorous. Consistent sunlight helps maintain the plant’s compact form and aromatic intensity.
Once established, Benenden Blue Rosemary is drought-tolerant, reflecting its origins in dry, rocky regions. Overwatering is a common pitfall and should be avoided, as it leads to root rot. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings; once every one to two weeks during dry periods is sufficient. When watering, direct the water to the soil at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry, which helps prevent fungal issues.
Pruning Practices
Pruning Benenden Blue Rosemary helps maintain its shape, promotes denser growth, and encourages continued flowering. Regular light pruning is beneficial, especially in warmer climates where the plant grows rapidly. The best time for a more substantial prune is in spring or early summer, immediately after the main flush of flowers begins to fade.
Avoid cutting into old, woody stems that lack foliage, as these areas do not sprout new growth. Instead, focus on snipping the tips of the stems, removing about three to six inches of new growth, which encourages bushiness. Removing no more than one-third of the plant’s growth at one time helps prevent stress. Regular harvesting of leaves for culinary use also acts as a natural, ongoing pruning method, keeping the plant compact.
Fertilization and Pest Management
Benenden Blue Rosemary has low nutrient needs and does not require heavy fertilization. An annual application of a slow-release fertilizer in spring provides sufficient nutrients. Alternatively, incorporating compost around the base of the plant once a year enriches the soil naturally. Over-fertilizing can lead to leggy growth and reduced flowering.
This rosemary variety is robust and resilient, experiencing few serious pest or disease issues. Common problems for rosemary include powdery mildew, especially in humid conditions or areas with poor air circulation, and root rot if the soil remains consistently wet. Ensuring good air circulation and proper soil drainage are the primary preventative measures. If powdery mildew appears, pruning affected areas and improving air flow can help.
Harnessing the Versatility of Benenden Blue Rosemary
Benenden Blue Rosemary offers a wide array of uses. Its highly aromatic foliage makes it a popular choice for culinary applications. The leaves can be used fresh or dried to flavor a variety of dishes, particularly roasted meats like lamb, pork, and chicken, as well as vegetables such as potatoes. Its milder flavor compared to some other rosemary varieties makes it versatile in the kitchen, suitable for stuffing, breads, and even tomato-based sauces.
Beyond its culinary appeal, Benenden Blue Rosemary provides significant ornamental value in landscaping. Its compact, upright growth habit and fine foliage make it an excellent choice for beds and borders, Mediterranean-themed gardens, or cottage gardens. It can be effectively used as a formal or informal low hedge, defining garden spaces with its unique texture and color. This rosemary also thrives in patio containers, adding fragrance and beauty to smaller spaces.
The strong, pleasant aroma of Benenden Blue Rosemary also lends itself to various aromatic uses. The essential oils in its foliage are prized for their scent, making it suitable for potpourri or as a natural air freshener. Some historical uses include infusions for bathwater to aid relaxation. Its presence in the garden naturally attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies, contributing to the garden’s ecosystem.