If you were on the market of farmers, the garden center, or even in the backyard of your aunt, you probably saw it like rosemary. But here’s the matter, Mother -nature likes to play tricks. Several plants suspiciously look like rosemary, and if you don’t know what you are looking for, you can eventually sniff (or cook) the wrong grass.
Step First: Meet the shape and size
Real rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) is a woody perennial grass that resembles a tiny pine. Its leaves are like a needle, but not sharp, and they grow in thick bunches along vertical, woody stems.Height: Usually 1-3 feet when grown in pots, but in the ground it can get up to 4-5 feet in height.Stems: Woody at the base, more green at the tips.Leaves: narrow, near inch, top dark green, with silver-white lower sides.If there are disks, rounded leaves or bright green in the plant in question, it is probably not rosemary.
Step Second: Trust your nose
This is the distribution. Rosemary smells… Well, like rosemary: strong, fresh, stencies, with a hint of lemon and camphor. Once you sniffed the true thing.Fast tip: gently rub the leaves between the fingers. If the fragrance does not explode in this classic aroma of rosemary, you keep the impostor.
Plants that are often mistaken for rosemary – like a Russian sage or lavender – Smell is different. The Russian sage has a softer, more like a sage aroma. The lavender, of course, smells like floral, not spicy.
Step Three: Check Color contrast
One of the unique features of the rosemary is that two -color leaves. The upper side is dark, almost the forest is green, while the underside is pale and silver, thanks to tiny hair. This contrast is much more pronounced in rosemary than most factories.If your “rosemary” has leaves that are exactly the same shade on both sides – it is suspicious.
Step Four: Pay attention to flowers (if it blooms)
Rosemary flowers are small, tender and usually pale -synchina to purple. They pop up in the late winter or spring (although some varieties bloom more than once a year).Dump trucks, such as lavender, have a much greater, more fragrant flowering, while the Russian sage has higher, air flower spikes.
Ordinary self -enlisters rosemary and how to overcome them
Let’s play in the plant detective and meet the best views of the rosemary.Russian sage (Peresovskaya atpypholia)
- Higher, with softer, more furry leaves.
- Light purple flowers in high spikes.
- It smells like a hero, but not pine.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- The leaves are often more gray green and soft.
- Strong floral aroma (amazing but definitely not rosemary).
- High flower stems.
Swamp Wise (Salvia Uliginosa)
- Bright -ena flowers.
- More vertically and less woody.
- Soft aroma.
Bonus tips on buying the right rosemary
If you buy fresh rosemary branches on a supermarket or on the US farmers market, look for:
- Solid, vertical stems (not floppy).
- Strong aroma.
- No tips and dried tips.
- If you buy room rosemary for your garden or window sill:
- Check the label on the Rosmarinus Officinalis.
- Avoid plants that look filled or rare, they can be stressed or incorrect.
- Allow the leaves to sniff before passing the money.
Why do you really want a real thing
In addition to the fact that fake rosemary simply does not taste properly, the rosemary has unique oils such as kinol and camphor, which give it their characteristic aroma and potential health benefits. It is brilliant for seasoning of fried potatoes, chicken, lamb, bread and even cocktails.If you mistakenly grab the Russian sage, your potatoes will taste … Well, earthly and strange. And the lavender? Let’s just say, your lamb chops will taste like soap.Noticing the right rosemary, it is not rocket science, all to look closely, smell deep and trust your feelings. Once you have closed in this aroma and samples of the leaves, you will never be cheated again.Therefore, the next time you are in the garden center, send the detective of the inner herb.Refusal of responsibility: This content is designed only for general information purposes and is not a replacement for professional botanical advice. Plant identification may vary depending on the growing conditions and regional varieties. Always consult a qualified gardener or a reliable plant management before consuming or using any herb.
