CHARACTERIZATION OF ROSEMARY CULTIVARS FOR ORNAMENTAL PURPOSES

The morphological variability of twenty-five cultivars of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) of the CRA-FSO collection was analyzed to select the most interesting ones for different ornamental uses (cut green, pot plants, garden decoration). A large variability was found for characters of leaves (size, shape), shoots (size, habitus, internode length and thickness) and flowers (size, colour, drawings of lower lip). The habitus and compactness of branches was discussed with regard to the variability of characters of shoots and leaves.
On the base of the morphological characteristics, for each type of plant habitus (erect, semi-erect or prostrate) the most interesting cultivars were identified for pot plant or cut green production.
Some cultivars showed flowers with intense blue or pink colour and with distinctive drawings.
The availability of many different cultivars and of wild germplasm shows interesting perspectives for further selection of ornamental plant material and for a wider use of rosemary in Mediterranean gardens.

VII International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops

C. Cervelli, L. Masselli

collection, flower, germplasm, morphology, production

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1000.12