Flowering Rosemary

[nilling]

My Rosemary has started to flower for the first time this year. I've been told that you should not use it for cooking. Is this true?

[ratglass]

Hi Nilling

I think herbs are suppose to lose some of their flavour if left to flower but personally mine has been in flower most of the year and I happily use it with no problems.
Hope this helps!!

[moggssue]

Mine is also in flower, bit early but lovely! I cooked with it at the weekend and am still here to tell the tale so I guess it must be okay

[Birdie Wife]

It's fine to eat, but leave some flowers for the bees, they love it!

[robD]

Never heard that before. I have a 'trailing' rosemary that always seems to be in flower, including through the winter. Don't use that one for cooking though, maybe time for an experiment...

[rustylady]

It's fine to use for cooking. The flowers really attract bees which is good for the rest of the garden or plot. If you don't want to use the flowers, then use the new shoots which soon appear above them.

[Storm]

the esstential oils that give rosemary (and all herbs) their powerful smell and taste are at their most concetrated just *before* flowering - so theoretically this is the best time to pick them for flavour and for medicinal use.

it is perfectly safe to eat when in flower and to be honest i only begin to notice a change in flavour at the "end" of the season when herbs such as tarragon begin to die back for winter.

[chubber]

When you bush grows up a bit, you can afford to cut a portion hard occasionally to promote new fresh growth, which keeps that lovely tangy rosemary flavour.

[mrs dog]

My rosemary which I neglect deliberately is in flower almost all year. I use it in almost everything and have never noticed a lack of flavour.

[areia]

ive used rosemary flowers in ice cubes, i use it pretty much all year round too, good few whole sprigs laid in the bottom of dish before i stick all of my shepards pie mix in bang in the oven house smells loverly but then i do like strong herbs and lots of garlic,

[sewer rat]

Don't wanna hijack this thread, but what about when broad leaved sage flowers - anyone know. One of my last years plants has started to produce flower buds. Just curious.

[mrs dog]

Makes a lovely tea! In salad it is a gentler flavour than the leaves and loooverly with feta cheese and garlic.

[Flummery]

Don't wanna hijack this thread, but what about when broad leaved sage flowers - anyone know. One of my last years plants has started to produce flower buds. Just curious.

You could eat them too I suspect. Most things that have edible leaves have edible flowers. I use quite a lot of flowers in salads.

I've used rosemary all year round. It used to flower in May only but these days with the funny climate it can flower for much of the year. My palate is not sufficiently educated to tell the difference in flavour, if any. (Good job, or I couldn't enjoy cheap wine!)

[DKM Kartha]

One of our rosemary plants, which has been growing indoors (in Montana) for the last two years, flowered today! I am celebrating. I had never seen rosemary flowers before today! We have another rosemary that is three years old and she might soon follow -- giving us another cause to celebrate! The flowers look magical, ethereal in the middle of winter and a cactus nearby has yellowish golden flowers. The violet and the gold colors combined with the subtle fragrance of the rosemaries have turned our house into heaven on earth!