When to Plant Rosemary in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Sow July to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is July.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Rosemary guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Rosemary

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Iconic Mediterranean evergreen shrub with intensely aromatic needle-like leaves. Extremely drought-tolerant once established. HATES wet feet and humidity. Root rot kills more rosemary in Australia than anything else. Forms a woody shrub 1-1.5m tall. Long-lived (10+ years) in suitable conditions. Upright and prostrate forms available.

Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - D D - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Rosemary sowing time in Alice Springs?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Rosemary included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 22.7°C (optimal range: 15–20°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Rosemary in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Plant Mar-May and Aug-Oct.

Soil
Well-drained, lean, slightly alkaline soil. Sandy or gravelly. Does NOT want rich soil.
pH Range
6.5-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun. Minimum 6 hours. More = better.
Spacing
100cm apart, 120cm between rows
Watering
Minimal once established. Water young plants weekly until rooted. Established plants need almost no supplementary water in temperate zones. OVERWATERING KILLS ROSEMARY.

Companion plants: Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Beans, Cabbage, Carrot

Avoid planting near: Mint, Basil (different water needs)

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Rosemary

Recommended Varieties

  • Tuscan Blue
  • Common
  • Prostrate

Key Challenges

  • Extreme heat above 45C can scorch
  • Afternoon sun can be too intense

Pro Tips

  • Excellent zone, dry conditions suit rosemary perfectly
  • Almost zero supplementary water once established
  • Natural drainage in sandy soils is ideal

Harvesting Rosemary

When ready: Harvest from established plants (6+ months old). Evergreen, available year-round.

How to harvest: Snip 10-15cm stem tips. Never cut into old leafless wood, it won't regrow. Always cut above green growth.

Where to next

What rosemary costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this September: Ginger, Chilli Peppers, Lemongrass and Beetroot.

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Common Questions About Rosemary

When do you plant rosemary in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does rosemary grow all year round in Alice Springs?

No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jul to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.