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in Gardening· Spring Gardening

How to Propagate a Rosemary Plant from Stem Cuttings

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Fresh rosemary is one of the most flavorful and fragrant herbs in the kitchen. Learn how to take rosemary cuttings from an established mother plant and grow new plants in containers that can be moved outside in summer and indoors in winter.

image of a young rosemary plant in terracotta pot

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a perennial herb in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 and warmer where it can be planted in the garden and can grow 4 feet tall and spreads about 4 feet wide depending on the variety.

For those of us gardening in colder zones, growing rosemary in containers allows us to bring it in during the winter to keep it alive.

My rosemary plant is going on seven years old this year. It grows in a container spends the summer outside on the porch. The rosemary plant is brought inside when the weather turns cold in fall, and it overwinters on a south-facing windowsill.

By the time spring rolls around, the rosemary usually looks raggedy from reduced light and heat fluctuations. Sometimes so many needles dry up and drop off that I wonder if it can possibly survive.

Once warmer weather arrives, the rosemary plant is hardened off, and returned outside for summer. After only a few weeks, it begins to grow new shoots, and the branches fill in with thicker foliage. I am amazed every time it happens.

This is the perfect time to start a new batch of plants. These fresh, green stems are the ones you want to select for softwood stem cuttings.

image closeup of rosemary stems

Benefits of Growing Rosemary Plants from Stem Cuttings

Instead of purchasing a new rosemary plant every year or starting new plants from seeds, try growing your own from stem cuttings. Some of the benefits of growing rosemary from cuttings vs. starting from seeds include:

  • Earlier Harvest: A rooted rosemary plant from a cutting will mature quicker than a plant started from seed. Rosemary seeds tend to have low germination rates and take a long time to sprout and grow. A rosemary stem cutting will reach a usable size in just a few months, so you will be able to harvest rosemary sooner.
  • Same as the Mother Plant: The rosemary plant you will grow from cuttings will be an exact clone of the mother plant and have the same flavor, disease resistance, and growth.
  • Extra Plants for Free: A single plant can provide numerous cuttings without risking the health of the plant. So you can line your kitchen windowsill with several plants that will smell wonderful when you brush your hand against them.

How to Grow Rosemary from Cuttings

Here are steps to taking rosemary cuttings from an established mother plant and grow new rosemary plants in containers that can be moved outside in summer and indoors in winter.

Step 1: Select new shoots from the mother plant

Choose healthy stems with fresh growth. The younger shoots will have green stems that are flexible. Avoid older brown, woody stems.

image of fresh green shoots on a rosemary plant

Step 2: Take stem cuttings

Use sharp scissors and snip the rosemary stem about 5 to 6-inches back from a fresh growing tip. Cut plenty of extra stems in case some fail to grow roots.

three rosemary stem cuttings on a table

Step 3: Strip the lower leaves

Grasp your fingers around the stem, and gently strip off the lower 2-inches of needles from the stem of the rosemary cutting.

image of hands removing the lower leaves of a rosemary stem

Step 4: Place cuttings in water

Stick the stems in a jar of water and place the jar in a warm place away from direct sunlight. Change the water every couple days, replacing with room temperature water. The fresh water provides dissolved oxygen and prevents the cuttings from rotting.

image of a jar of water with three rosemary stems

The rosemary stem cuttings should grow roots in a few weeks depending on the temperature. It can take longer in colder temperatures. After 4 to 8 weeks it should be apparent if the rosemary cuttings have survived. The cuttings that do not survive will be brown and shed needles. If your rosemary cutting is still alive, give it some more time.

Step 5: Pot up the stem cuttings once roots develop

Your rosemary cuttings are ready to place in soil when you see 4 to 6 roots on each stem that are at least 1/2-inch long. Use a sandy soil mix that drains well. Mix equal parts all-purpose potting soil and sharp sand. Or use cactus-potting soil. Use a sandy soil mix that drains well. Mix equal parts all-purpose potting soil and sharp sand. Or use cactus-potting soil.

Fill a 4-inch pot with slightly damp potting soil for each rosemary cutting. Use a pencil to make a 3 to 4-inch hole into the soil. Place the cutting in the hole with care to avoid damaging the roots. Cover gently and water thoroughly.

Place the newly potted rosemary plant in indirect light or in filtered sunlight until roots become established, and then move to direct light, at least 6 to 8 hours per day. Keep the potting soil moist until you see new growth.

overhead image of rosemary plant

Let the new plants to put on some growth before harvesting. Once the plant is 6-inches tall, harvest by cutting stems as needed. New growth will continue forming on the stem. Rosemary grows slowly so don’t harvest more than 1/3 of the plant at one time.

How to Care for Rosemary Plants

Rosemary is a rather robust plant once it is established and growing. Here are some tips to keep your plant healthy and producing:

  • Grow in a sunny location. Rosemary thrives in 6-8 hours of direct sun in the summertime.
  • Water when the soil feels dry. Once established, rosemary likes to stay on the dry side. Allow top inch of soil to dry out between watering, and then water thoroughly.
  • Re-pot as the plant gets larger and the roots fill the container. A rosemary plant that grows in a container can reach 1 to 3 feet high. Just keep transplanting to a larger container when the roots fill the pot.
  • Prune rosemary frequently. The more you trim, the bushier the plant grows. Prune the plant after it flowers to keep it compact.

Tips for Growing Rosemary Indoors in Winter

Rosemary is native to Mediterranean climates so it prefers a hot, sunny, and humid atmosphere. Here are some tips for keeping your rosemary plants alive indoors during winter:

  • Quarantine: If you have houseplants, it is a good idea to quarantine your rosemary plants when you bring them indoors. Keep the plants in a separate location for a while to be sure there are no hitchhikers, pests, or disease.
  • Light: Locate your rosemary plants in a bright south-facing window. Alternatively, you can use grow lights and keep your plants happy during the winter months.
  • Water: Try to keep the potting mix evenly moist. Over watering will cause the plant to rot. If the soil is too dry, the plant will wither and die. Water when the soil dries out at the surface and let the extra moisture drain.
  • Temperature: Rosemary likes it a bit on the cooler side during the winter. Keep the plants away from heat sources and wood stoves. About 60 to 65 degrees is ideal.
  • Humidity: Winter heating keeps us warm, but it also saps moisture from the air and drops the humidity. Compensate by misting your rosemary plant frequently, running a humidifier, or placing your rosemary plant on a tray of pebbles and water to increase the humidity around your plant.
  • Pests and Diseases: Common pests for indoor rosemary plants are red spider mites, aphids, spittlebugs, and whiteflies. These pests suck on the plants and cause the foliage to wilt and dry up. Inspect your rosemary plants frequently for pests and control with organic insecticidal soap. Diseases such as root rot, powdery mildew, and mold are all signs of too much moisture and poor air circulation. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out between watering, and then water thoroughly allowing extra water to drain out of the bottom of the pot. Run a fan to improve air circulation around your plants.
This article was originally published March 23, 2015. It has been updated with additional information, new photos, and video.

You May Also Like:

  • How to Grow Basil
  • 5 Herbs to Grow Inside
  • How to Harvest and Dry Herbs for Storage

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Whether you are new to growing your own food or have been growing a vegetable garden for years, you will benefit from some planning each year. You will find everything you need to organize and plan your vegetable garden in my PDF eBook, Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden.

Grow a Good Life Guide to Planning Your Vegetable Garden

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Comments

  1. Alicia says

    October 30, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    Hello, thanks for the tips on rooting rosemary. I live in zone 7a. I recently acquired two lovely rosemary plants, growing together in a canvas bag/growing pot. I keep it in the backyard. The plants are almost 2 feet tall. I was thinking about moving them to separate containers to bring indoors but I’m not sure if they should be kept as is since their roots are likely bundled together. I also worry about bugs and worms since I don’t know what’s in the soil.

    What’s the best way to keep these plants going so that I can enjoy them all year round? Should I leave them outdoors and wrap them up somehow? Or should I bring them in for the winter? I’m worried about them dying if I don’t prep for the winter. Thank you for your help.

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      November 1, 2021 at 9:00 am

      Alicia, I would bring your rosemary indoors for winter to keep the plants alive. Many have had success growing rosemary outdoors overwintered in a sheltered location in zone 7. However, since the plants are in a grow bag, they do not have the same insulation around the roots as it would if it was growing in the ground.

      I also don’t recommend separating or transplanting the rosemary plants now because it will be too stressful for the roots to recover, plus deal with the other challenges it will face to survive winter indoors.
      I do recommend quarantining your plants as you transition them to indoor growing conditions. Keep them in a separate room away from houseplants and watch them carefully for unwanted insects. You will also need to find a large pot or container to place the grow bag in to prevent moisture from damaging your floor. I hope this helps! ~Rachel

      Reply
  2. Kimberly Cherrix says

    October 12, 2021 at 1:58 pm

    I have a rosemary plant/bush in a raised heard garden. I’ve had it about 5 years. It overwinters fine (I am in zone 8a) however, this past summer many leaves turned brown. I pruned back all the brown branches and am thinking of relocating it from the raised bed to the ground. I am curious if it is dying or if transplanting it could save it.

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      October 14, 2021 at 11:38 am

      Kimberly, I wouldn’t transplant it right now. If the rosemary is still alive, it is already stressed from whatever is caused the branches to brown. I would let it be to see if it survives over winter.

      Reply
  3. Kandace says

    June 30, 2021 at 7:41 pm

    Some of my rosemary cutting have roots but the ends turned brown. I scraped off the brown and left the roots. What is this brown like “film”? Should I just leave it?

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      July 1, 2021 at 8:53 am

      Kandace, A film forming on the roots can be from bacteria. Roots need water and oxygen to root. If the water is stagnant, it gives bacterial a perfect environment to begin forming on the stems sitting in water and coat the stems with a gooey film. As you stems are rooting, be sure to change the water frequently and rinse off any the slimy film when you change the water. Once your cuttings have roots, go ahead and transfer them to a potting mix right away.

      Reply
  4. Makeda says

    June 6, 2021 at 10:06 am

    Is it possible to save a cutting that is turning brown? Is there any way to plant it in a pot and bring it back to life?

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      June 7, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      Makeda, I am sorry, it is likely no longer alive if it is turning brown.

      Reply
  5. Yvonn says

    May 31, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    Thank you for this great information i live zone 9a and would love as many rosemary plants in my yard as possible.. Would a succulent soil mix work for rosemary?

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      June 1, 2021 at 7:42 am

      Yvonn, Succulent soil mix would be perfect for rosemary.

      Reply
  6. Mary Weir says

    May 4, 2021 at 1:06 pm

    I thought rosemary was suppose to repel ants so I planted one in a raised rose garden bed. The ants made such a
    large mound, it almost co vered the entire plant! What about that?

    Reply
    • ©Rachel Arsenault says

      May 8, 2021 at 8:11 am

      Mary, Well, your ants have proven that theory wrong. Sometimes these old wives tales get told again and again without anyone testing to see if it is true.

      Reply
      • Helen says

        May 27, 2021 at 10:29 pm

        I have found that mint plants in your garden will keep ants away

        Reply
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