At a glance
- Common name
- Rosemary
- Botanical name
- Salvia rosmarinus / Rosmarinus officinalis
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Parts mentioned in historical records
- Needles, leafy sprigs
- Traditional correspondences
- Sun; Fire
Historical record
Hailing from the Mediterranean ('Dew of the Sea' from Latin 'ros marinus'). Burned in French hospitals (alongside juniper) during epidemics to cleanse air. Renaissance scholars wore rosemary garlands to enhance mental acuity.
Folklore and mythology
Tucked under pillows to dispel nightmares; woven into bridal crowns to guarantee marital fidelity; strewn upon coffins and graves as an emblem of eternal remembrance ('There's rosemary, that's for remembrance').
Greek students wove garlands into their hair during exams. Associated with Aphrodite/Venus, who was said to be draped in rosemary as she rose from sea foam; later associated with the Virgin Mary turning its flowers blue.
Tradition: Greco-Roman & Christian Lore Associated figures: Aphrodite (Venus) & Virgin Mary
Draped around Aphrodite as she emerged from the sea foam; in Christian lore, its white flowers turned sky blue when Mary laid her cloak over the shrub during the Flight to Egypt.
Garlands worn by scholars for memory; bridal bouquets for enduring fidelity; sprigs cast into open graves for remembrance.
Mystical correspondences
Correspondences vary by tradition and source.
Safety first
Historical and spiritual associations do not establish that Rosemary is safe or effective. Do not use this page as instructions for ingesting, smoking, inhaling, or applying Rosemary.
For current safety information, check a health authority or ask a qualified clinician or pharmacist, especially during pregnancy or lactation, while taking medication, or with an allergy or health condition.