Propagating rosemary is so simple that it almost seems unbelievable. It's an all-around great plant for bees, cooking and landscape beautification. It also requires nearly-zero water once established. If you time the process correctly, you may not need to water your new plants at all.

Once you try this you'll be shocked that Home Depot sells a Rosemary bush in a 2 gallon pot for $20 - or that anybody would pay for this at the grocery store!

If you every want to feel like a plant-propagating superhero, just follow these simple instructions:

  1. Wait Until Fall: The best time to start is in the fall when the plant is preparing for dormancy.
  2. Select Long Shoots: Choose rosemary shoots that are at least 24 inches long.
  3. Prepare the Stem: Strip the foliage from the bottom half of the stem—about 12 inches. The goal is to expose the cambium layer by removing small bits of leaves and bark, which encourages rooting.
  4. Insert a Stake: Find a thin stake roughly the same diameter as the rosemary stem. Drive this stake deep into the ground and then remove it to provide a guide hole.
  5. Plant the Stem: Push the prepared rosemary stem down into the hole as deep as possible.
  6. Wait for Spring: Leave the stem in place over winter. When spring arrives, you should see new growth, indicating that the rosemary has successfully rooted.

This method takes advantage of natural seasonal cycles and the plant’s own resilience. The small purple flowers are a favorite for bees and should help pollinate vegetable gardens and fruit trees.