Rosemary Bonsai Care

Rosemary is a small, aromatic woody perennial shrub with needle like foliage that smells wonderful.

It is not commonly seen as bonsai and is more likely to be found in the kitchen as a herb, and it is often grown in gardens to be used exactly for this purpose.

I bought some freshly cut rosemary from the supermarket and tried to root it… and it worked. I have been growing it ever since as bonsai and you can see how its doing in my Rosemary Bonsai Progression.

What Is The Natural Habitat of A Rosemary?

Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean area but can be found in more northern climates. It is often found in herb gardens, sometimes in pot and sometimes in the ground depending on the location.

What Soil Do Rosemary Bonsai Need?

Rosemary bonsai prefer a moist, well draining soil. I use my standard mix of equal parts Perlite/Molar Clay/Compost and I have not had any problems with this.

(For more info on soil read – A General Guide To Bonsai Soil)

How Do you Water A Rosemary Bonsai?

Rosemary is slightly drought tolerant, but should still be watered just as the soil is beginning to dry so that it always remains moist. Trees in bonsai pots are not as strong as those in the ground, so do not try and test its drought tolerance as it can end badly for you.

If you are using good draining soil you will be able to easily keep your tree moist at all times.

(For more info you can read –How To Water A Bonsai)

How Much Sun Light Does A Rosemary Bonsai Need?

Rosemary bonsai trees can take full sun. They will still grow in slightly less sun areas, but this will be very very slow. The more light you can give them the better.

They are from the Mediterranean …they like the sun, so give them as much as possible.

How Hardy Are Rosemary Bonsai?

The hardiness depends on the variety of the rosemary, but a lot of them are hardier than you think.

Most should be able to handle as low as -5°C. However, when growing in a pot, more care should be given and you should protect them before they get this cold.

I have never left my rosemary out all year. I prefer to protect them during the coldest month by putting them in the shed. This way they are still cold, but are not directly exposed to frost.

Rosemary foliage can be damaged by frost. This might not be an issue to normal gardeners, as the damage can be cut away, but this would be catastrophic to a styled and shaped bonsai.

Although your tree might be okay outside all year round, I would suggest a little protection is needed, an cold shed or garage is going to be enough to take the edge off the cold.

(For more info you can read – Working Out How To Over Winter Bonsai Trees)

How Often Do You Feed A Rosemary Bonsai?

I feed my Rosemary bonsai once a month during the growing season with a general all purpose fertiliser which is more than enough to keep it healthy.

(For more info you can read – Do You Need To Use “Bonsai” Fertiliser?)

How Do Rosemary Bonsai Respond to Pruning?

Rosemary bonsai can be pruned, and it will respond well.

However, if you cut back into old wood it will probably not bud out and this branch will die.

You should always keep some foliage on the parts you cut back. I tend to cut back so there is about 2 sets of needles left. I find that from here you will always get two new shoots emerge. I just repeat this to build ramification.

(For more info you can read- How To Prune A Bonsai Tree)

Repotting A Rosemary Bonsai

Rosemary bonsai should be repotted in the spring. I have trimmed the roots quite aggressively when I first started. The tree was okay, but it did take a while to recover. Now I am more moderate with my root pruning.

People have done the same and found their tree dies, especially from trees that have dug up from the ground.

Just be cautious with your roots until your root system has started to really develop and is full of fine roots. Treat your rosemary like any conifer, and you should be fine.

(For more info you can read – How To Repot A Bonsai Tree)

Wiring A Rosemary Bonsai

Rosemary can be wired but you must be very careful. The branches can be very brittle and can easily snap.

You must also be careful with young branches. These can often get damaged and they will die in a few days. It can also be hard to apply wire as the foliage is in the way. This is usually how young branches get damaged.

However, you kind of need to get in there and wire the tree, so its not easy and you will need patience to apply the wire without damaging everything.

(For more info read – Why Do We Wire Bonsai?)

What Is The Leaf Pattern Of A Rosemary Bonsai?

Rosemary has needle like foliage that is in an opposite pattern.

What Pests Does A Rosemary Bonsai Suffer From?

Rosemary bonsai can be attacked by scale insect. If your tree is healthy and growing strongly it should be fine.

However, you should inspect the tree often for problems and deal with them quickly if any arise.

Can You Propagate A Rosemary Bonsai?

Rosemary is very easily propagated from cuttings. If I can get a little twig to root after it was cut off and sealed in a plastic bag and then sat in a supermarket, you will have no problems when removing a fresh cutting and potting it up, or placing it in water straight away.

What Is The Growth Rate Of A Rosemary Bonsai?

Rosemary bonsai can grow at an okay rate. Once it is established and has the right conditions it can start to grow rather quickly.

Should You Get A Rosemary Bonsai?

Rosemary looks cool and smells wonderful but it is not ideal for beginners. You can read more about information about if Rosemary Is A Good Tree For Bonsai.

I would not recommended it to beginners as it can be hard to style and the foliage can get damaged easily. Also as it does not back bud well, it can be difficult to maintain its style and keep it small.

Rosemary is a real challenge and is probably better suited to staying in the herb garden if you are not ready for the challenge.