Rosemary

Certain plants represent Christmas with different forms of symbolism. Rosemary plants share a spot among the popular Christmas pine or fir tree, holly berry plants, and mistletoe vines.

In the Middle Ages, people spread the needles of a rosemary plant across the floor during the winter months and walked on it to fill the room with its clarifying aroma. It was also used against the plague. Tradition says that the herb is sacred and fragrant because the Virgin Mary laid Baby Jesus' clothing on its branches.

Rosemary is an evergreen shrub used as a culinary herb. A rosemary tree grows only up to five feet, but careful pruning can keep it at a shorter height. This makes a rosemary Christmas tree the perfect indoor plant for gift giving.

The caring of rosemary plants aids in relieving stress. Rosemary properties include mental clarity and mental awareness. It is useful for enhancing memory. Rosemary plant repellant works for the cabbage maggot, cabbage moth, carrot fly, Mexican bean beetle, mosquitoes, slugs, snails, and many other insects.

Rosemary essential oil comes from extracting the plant's essence through steam extraction. This concentrated oil takes on all of the plant's properties into one drop. Rosemary herb and oil helps with migraines, headaches, mental fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, bronchitis, asthma and other repertory problems, memory loss, digestion, acne, eczema, hair growth and scalp irritations and much more. A massage oil made from rosemary and sweet almond oil helps relieve menstrual cramps, muscle aches, colds and back pain.

Rosemary needles and sprigs add flavor to fish and poultry dishes. A toner made of rosemary freshens skin and cleans facial pores. Aromatherapy books and online websites give handmade recipes for both food and beauty utilizing rosemary's special characteristics.

When buying rosemary plants look for strength and scent as well as beauty. Wilting or burned edges are clear indications of rosemary plant problems. White powdery patches on leaves and stems indicate a rosemary plant disease caused by fungi. Often rosemary tree care instructions come with purchase of a rosemary plant. If giving one as a gift, create a more detailed rosemary plant care card for the recipient.

For more information about rosemary plants, visit online herbal and gardening sites and find books on growing rosemary plants at local bookstores. Often these sources provide rosemary plant pictures and diagrams. When buying through mail orders and online, check for rosemary plant delivery schedules.