Rosemary ‘Chef’s Choice’ is a compact, semi-prostrate rosemary specially selected for its highly aromatic foliage, high oil content and excellent culinary flavour. With a lower and more spreading habit than upright rosemary varieties, it forms an attractive evergreen shrub that is equally at home in the herb garden, landscape or a decorative pot near the kitchen or outdoor entertaining area.

The strongly scented foliage can be harvested throughout the year for cooking, while masses of attractive blue flowers provide seasonal colour and attract bees and other beneficial pollinators.

Flowers

Produces attractive blue to pale blue flowers along the stems, with flowering particularly prominent during winter and spring. The nectar-rich flowers are attractive to bees and other beneficial pollinators.

Foliage

Evergreen, fine needle-like green foliage with a strong rosemary fragrance. ‘Chef’s Choice’ has been specially selected for its high oil content and flavour, making the foliage excellent for culinary use.

Fruit

Small, dry seed-producing fruits may develop following flowering but are generally insignificant and are not considered an ornamental feature.

Form & Size

A compact, semi-prostrate evergreen shrub growing approximately 0.8 m high × 1 m wide. Its naturally spreading growth creates a dense, rounded plant that can also cascade attractively over the edges of pots and raised garden beds.

Growing Conditions

Light: Full sun to part shade. Best growth, flowering and foliage flavour are generally achieved in a sunny position.

Soil: Prefers well-drained soil and performs well in sandy, loamy and relatively poor soils. Good drainage is particularly important and plants should not be allowed to remain waterlogged.

Water: Water regularly while establishing. Once established, Rosemary ‘Chef’s Choice’ has low water requirements and good drought tolerance.

Frost: Frost tolerant once established.

Wind: Tolerates exposed positions and is suitable for coastal gardens.

Climate: Suitable for warm temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical climates. On the Sunshine Coast, provide excellent drainage and good airflow, particularly during prolonged periods of warm, humid or wet weather.

Uses

Excellent for herb and kitchen gardens, pots and containers, borders, low hedging, Mediterranean-style gardens, coastal gardens and outdoor entertaining areas. Its semi-prostrate growth also makes it useful for spilling over the edges of pots, raised beds and low retaining walls.

Plant close to the kitchen, barbecue or outdoor entertaining area where the fresh aromatic foliage can be easily harvested for cooking.

Maintenance

Low maintenance once established. Harvest sprigs regularly for cooking or lightly prune after flowering to maintain a dense, attractive shape. Avoid excessive watering and ensure the soil remains well drained. An occasional application of a suitable slow-release fertiliser during the growing season can encourage healthy growth.

Notes

Rosemary ‘Chef’s Choice’ is particularly valued as a culinary rosemary, having been selected for its high oil content, strong aroma and spicy rosemary flavour.

Its compact, semi-prostrate habit also distinguishes it from taller upright varieties such as Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’, making ‘Chef’s Choice’ particularly well suited to pots, smaller gardens and lower landscape plantings.

The evergreen foliage can be harvested fresh throughout the year and used to flavour roast vegetables, potatoes, breads, marinades, lamb, chicken and other meat dishes.

Companion Plants

Pairs beautifully with Lavender, Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Santolina, Westringia, Citrus and other Mediterranean-style or drought-tolerant plants.

Common Name: Chef’s Choice Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus ‘Chef’s Choice’ (syn. Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Chef’s Choice’)
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Mediterranean species; selected cultivar