Beach Rosemary

Beach Rosemary

Beach Rosemary

Sand on barrier islands have has almost no nutrients. The Sand does not retain water well if at all. Generally this environment does not include shaded of any kind. In short it is a desert-like environment, although it is within sight of the gulf or ocean, yet that is where you will find rosemary thriving along the gulf coast.

This clump of rosemarie is in Fort Pickens National Seashore on the extreme west end of Santa Rosa Island, south of Pensacola, Florida.

Beach Rosemary

Its presence on windblown beaches with constant drift from salt-laden air makes the common name "beach rosemary" particularly apropos. Because of its tolerance to salt, it is frequently chosen for beach restoration projects after hurricanes sweep through.

Beach Rosemary

Rosemary is extremely salt tolerant. It is one of the plants you can find in the front set of dunes nearest the beach. Salt comes from droplets thrown in the air by the surf. Storms (gales and hurricanes) flood their habitat with salt water. This clump of rosemary is located only a few feet away from Pensacola Pass.

Beach Rosemary

For most of the year plants are nondescript gray-green shrubs, but in spring everybody notices them as they become covered with clusters of lavender two-lipped flowers typical of the mint family.

Beach Rosemary

Rubbing (crushing the leaves in the palm of your hand) beach rosemary leaves will release a pleasant scent reminiscent of lavender and oregano.

Beach Rosemary

Beach rosemary is a shrubby evergreen perennial that grows anywhere from one to three feet tall. We tend to see it mostly in the scrub and beach dune areas of west Florida.

Poor, sandy soil that holds no moisture and full sun seem to be where we find beach rosemary.

For most of the year plants are nondescript gray-green shrubs, but in spring everybody notices them as they become covered with clusters of lavender flowers.

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