Rosmarinus officinalis (syn. Salvia rosmarinus)
A Mediterranean shrub with a naturally upright habit, becoming gnarled with age, with blue-violet flowers and the scent of garrigue — Rosmarinus officinalis is one of the most sensory bonsai in existence.
What makes it unique. The trunk of Rosmarinus officinalis ages remarkably quickly in bonsai: the bark furrows, twists and takes on the texture of old wood in just a few years. The tiny needle-like leaves, dark green above and white beneath, release their characteristic fragrance at the slightest contact. From late winter to spring (or almost year-round in mild climates), blue-violet flowers dot all the shoot tips — sometimes a second flowering occurs in autumn on vigorous specimens.
Origin. Native to the shores and garrigue of the Mediterranean basin, Rosmarinus officinalis grows naturally in poor, rocky soils, under intense sun, with little water. This origin dictates its entire bonsai culture: absolute drainage, maximum exposure, light fertilisation.
A demanding Mediterranean bonsai. Its reputation as an "easy" garden plant is misleading in bonsai — Rosmarinus officinalis does not tolerate excess water in pot, is sensitive to cold, wet winters and reacts badly to severe pruning into old wood. In return, it offers rapid aesthetic development, dense ramification and a unique visual character among European outdoor bonsai.
A Mediterranean shrub with a naturally upright habit, becoming gnarled with age, with blue-violet flowers and the scent of garrigue — Rosmarinus officinalis is one of the most sensory bonsai in existence.
What makes it unique. The trunk of Rosmarinus officinalis ages remarkably quickly in bonsai: the bark furrows, twists and takes on the texture of old wood in just a few years. The tiny needle-like leaves, dark green above and white beneath, release their characteristic fragrance at the slightest contact. From late winter to spring (or almost year-round in mild climates), blue-violet flowers dot all the shoot tips — sometimes a second flowering occurs in autumn on vigorous specimens.
Origin. Native to the shores and garrigue of the Mediterranean basin, Rosmarinus officinalis grows naturally in poor, rocky soils, under intense sun, with little water. This origin dictates its entire bonsai culture: absolute drainage, maximum exposure, light fertilisation.
A demanding Mediterranean bonsai. Its reputation as an "easy" garden plant is misleading in bonsai — Rosmarinus officinalis does not tolerate excess water in pot, is sensitive to cold, wet winters and reacts badly to severe pruning into old wood. In return, it offers rapid aesthetic development, dense ramification and a unique visual character among European outdoor bonsai.