Wild Rosemary Plant Care

Wild Rosemary (Ledum palustre) belongs to the Ericaceae family within the Ledum genus. Wild Rosemary is also known as Marsh Labrador Tea, Labrador Tea, Northern Labrador Tea.

Wild Rosemary displays an upright, dense shrub growth habit, reaching up to 4 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Wild Rosemary produces small white or pink flowers in dense clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 1.5 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Wild Rosemary every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Wild Rosemary thrives in partial shade to full sun.

Ledum palustre tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Wild Rosemary prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Moist, acidic, well-draining soil with high organic matter content. Good drainage is essential for Wild Rosemary to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Wild Rosemary every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with partial shade to full sun and moist, acidic, well-draining soil with high organic matter content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Wild Rosemary is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Wild Rosemary can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 4 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Wild Rosemary while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Wild Rosemary is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Wild Rosemary can be propagated through softwood cuttings, layering, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to pacific labrador tea plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Wild Rosemary is susceptible to spider mites, lace bugs, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Wild Rosemary grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Wild Rosemary as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.