Arp Rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus 'Arp'

herb

Arp Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus 'Arp') is the benchmark cold-hardy rosemary, discovered in 1972 near the town of Arp in east Texas and prized for surviving winter temperatures down to about -10F. That hardiness extends dependable rosemary into zone 6, well beyond the mild-winter range of most varieties. It is an upright, open, vigorous shrub reaching 3 to 5 ft, with slightly longer, lighter gray-green, spruce-scented needles and pale blue flowers in spring. The flavor is full and resinous, excellent for roasts, breads, and grilling, and like all rosemary it is evergreen, drought-tough, and beloved by bees.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Cabbage: The strong pine-like aroma is a traditional companion for brassicas, helping mask them from cabbage pests
• Carrot: Said to help confuse the carrot rust fly while both enjoy lean, well-drained soil
• Bean: A classic aromatic herb companion in the vegetable garden
• Garden Sage: Shares the exact lean, dry, sunny Mediterranean conditions, making them easy bedfellows

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Powdery mildew →

  Give full sun and excellent airflow, avoid overhead watering, and do not crowd plants - mildew follows damp, stagnant conditions, especially indoors in winter

• Spider mites →

  A frequent problem on indoor-wintered rosemary - raise humidity, rinse the foliage, and inspect regularly

• Root rot →

  The biggest killer - plant in sharply drained soil and never overwater; soggy roots in cool weather are fatal

🌾 Harvest & storage

Harvest rosemary year-round by snipping 4 to 6 in. sprig tips, which also shapes the plant; cut lightly and never strip more than a third at once. Use sprigs fresh or strip the needles for chopping into roasts, potatoes, breads, and marinades. Rosemary dries and stores extremely well - hang bundles in a warm airy place and the dried needles keep their punch for months. Woody stems make fragrant skewers for grilling.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Arp Rosemary provides the same robust, resinous, pine-citrus flavor as common rosemary, used to season roasted meats, potatoes, breads, focaccia, and Mediterranean dishes, and to infuse oils and vinegars. The aromatic oils are rich in antioxidants. Its spring flowers are also an early nectar source for bees, and the evergreen shrub adds year-round fragrance and structure to the herb garden.