How to Grow a Rosemary Christmas Tree: 11 Care Tips
If you’re looking for a compact and aromatic alternative to a popular holiday decoration, try growing a rosemary Christmas tree. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum shows you how to turn this common herb into a festive centerpiece.

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When we think of Christmas trees, Douglas fir, blue spruce, and white pine often come to mind. But did you know you can prune a rosemary bush into a small Christmas tree as well?
This perennial herb is native to the Mediterranean and thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10. Rosemary grows to five feet high and almost four feet wide. Besides its stunning appearance, rosemary is drought resilient, easy to grow, and useful as food and medicine.
If you prune it correctly, you can turn this culinary staple into a festive-looking miniature Christmas tree. Below are 11 care tips for growing a vibrant rosemary Christmas tree in your own home or garden.
Start Your Rosemary Christmas Tree Early

Sculpting a rosemary Christmas tree is like maintaining a Japanese bonsai. It takes time to prune it into the perfect shape. Start your tree a year or two ahead of time, and you’ll be able to shape it into the ultimate holiday cone.
If you propagate your shrub by cuttings or grow it by seed, let it mature before pruning it. Wait until the first spring to give it its first haircut. When you see a flush of new growth that’s light green and softer than its older foliage, it’s time to cut.
Start by sanitizing and sharpening your sheers. Cut roughly one-third to half of the new growth into the shape of a Christmas tree. Leave the base of the plant wider and slowly taper towards the top. After your plant matures, you can prune it again in the fall.
Use the Right Soil

For your rosemary to grow into a healthy miniature tree, it needs the right soil. If the soil is too acidic or keeps too much moisture, your plant won’t thrive.
Plant your aromatic shrub in a container or raised bed with a well-draining, gritty blend. The pH should be between 6.0 and 8.0, similar to the limestone-rich alkaline ground of its Mediterranean homeland. However, rosemary is pretty adaptable to various conditions as long as its roots have drainage.
Although any slightly alkaline, well-draining blend will do, a customized mixture works the best. Try a combination of gravel, vermiculite, perlite, and other well-draining sediments with well-rotted compost or rich bagged soil. Below are ideal ingredients to add to your rosemary’s container. Remember to keep the soil at a ratio of equal parts organic matter, grit, and drainage materials.
- Horticultural sand
- Limestone gravel
- Pea gravel
- Grit
- Vermiculite
- Perlite
- A small amount of organic compost
- Pebbles
Grow a Variety of Plants from Cuttings

Try propagating several plants to experiment with your tree designs. You’ll have more plants to work with, giving you more room to learn from your mistakes. On top of the pruning practice, you’ll have an abundance of tiny trees to give away as gifts!
Rosemary is easy to propagate from cuttings, so save your trimmings! Gather healthy, 4-8-inch long cuttings and cut them with sanitized clippers just before their woody ends. Carefully remove the branch’s bottom leaves and any remaining bark. Root your new growth cuttings in soil or water and move them to indirect light until the roots form in about 6 to 8 weeks.
You can also use a rooting hormone on the tips of the cuttings. This can help your cuttings quickly develop roots. You can use gel rooting hormone, powder rooting hormone, or even organic honey!
Grow Multiple Trees by Seed

If you don’t have cuttings available, you can always grow your shrubs by seed. This cost-effective method will give you multiple plants to work with. It’s also a great experience for kids who get to learn every process of creating a stunning Christmas tree.
To start, purchase healthy rosemary seeds from a good source. Sow your seeds at least 12 weeks before the last frost in winter. It takes two weeks to a month before they germinate.
After 10 to 12 weeks, your plants will harden off. At this stage, they’re ready to transplant into containers. This is a good time to select the most vibrant plants to work with. At this stage, your plants will be small. If a plant isn’t suitable for shaping into a Christmas tree, you can always use it in the kitchen or keep it as a baby Christmas tree and shape it up next year.
Choose the Right Pot

When it’s time to pick a container for your tree, look for something stylish, functional, and large. For rosemary Christmas trees, try using a large terracotta or clay pot that’s at least 12 inches deep and aesthetically-pleasing. Its porousness lets the soil breathe and dry out between waterings. The extra space gives roots enough room to anchor into the soil.
An earthen pot regulates the soil’s temperature during the day and night. It also looks great decorated for the holidays. Get creative and turn your earthen container into colorful holiday decor to hold your tree.
A fabric grow bag also works well for rosemary. It’s environmentally friendly, well-draining, and affordable, but not great for an indoor setting. Self-watering pots tend to overwater this Mediterranean shrub. Plastic containers may be unsafe for food and the environment. Check your source before purchasing to ensure you’re using the best planter for your situation.
Grow Near South-Facing Windows

If you’re growing your rosemary indoors, keep it near a south-facing window. This fragrant shrub is native to the sun-soaked shores of Southern Europe and North Africa and needs a lot of sunlight.
South-facing windows let in direct sun, which your plant will love. Make sure that it gets at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. If you don’t have a window with enough sunlight, try using a grow light instead.
Watch to see if your shrub turns yellow or brown, or if it loses its aroma. In some cases, it may appear stunted and slow-growing. These are telltale signs your Christmas tree isn’t getting enough light.
Don’t Worry About Feeding

Rosemary is a hardy perennial that doesn’t need excess fertilizer. It thrives in low-fertility environments like rocky outcrops or even limestone cliffs. You’ll hardly see it thrive in fertile soils or forests rich in organic material.
Over-fertilizing your plant can add too much nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen and other minerals can cause the plant to lose its delicious aroma. Its needles may turn from dark green to yellow and the plant can appear sickly.
To grow a healthy rosemary bush, make sure your soil is healthy and well-drained. If the soil health is good and it’s getting enough sunlight, you don’t have to feed it. As your plant grows, transplant it into a larger container with gritty soil rich in organic compost.
Prune Consistently

Once your plant is mature, stay on a consistent pruning schedule at least twice a year. This will train its branches to maintain their Christmas tree-like shape. As it grows, it will look like a dwarf pine or spruce tree.
Just like a large hedge, start from the bottom and trim towards the top. Try not to trim more than one-third of your plant at a time. Use a tree-shaped drawing or string as a guide and move slowly.
Take off the tips of your shrub once you see new growth in spring. This will encourage its branches to grow laterally, giving you a wide base similar to your favorite holiday tree.
Don’t Over-Water

One of the most common mistakes we all make with rosemary is over-watering. This shrub thrives in Mediterranean climates such as California. These dry environments experience most of the year’s rainfall during the winter. After a rainstorm, the water naturally drains from the porous soil.
Try mimicking the shrub’s natural environment. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Use your finger to see if it’s dry, or wait until you notice your plant looking a little thirsty.
Give it a healthy drink until the soil is completely moist and water is draining out of the pot’s drainage hole. Wait for a couple of weeks until the soil completely dries out, and repeat. Your shrub should look vibrant and put on plenty of new growth in the spring.
Re-Pot if Needed

If you notice your aromatic holiday shrub outgrow its container, go ahead and replant it. Rosemary has deep roots that can become rootbound to a small container. It’s always best to plant it in a larger container each year. Your plant will start to grow stunted and sick if it’s feeling crowded.
Select a larger earthen or cloth container with plenty of drainage. Carefully tip your plant and place it in the new pot. Fill it with well-draining soil with a mixture of grit, sand, and compost. Make sure there’s plenty of space around the plant’s root system.
As your rosemary Christmas tree grows, you can select new and more festive earthenware pots. Have fun and add custom designs to your containers to make your festive herbs even more Christmassy.
Watch for Pests

Rosemary is a hardy perennial, but it’s still important to watch for pests. The first step to keeping your plant pest and disease-free is keeping it dry. Most problems come from overwatering and soggy soil.
Watch out for powdery mildew. This happens if you overwater your plant and get water on the leaves. You’ll notice white, yellow, or rust-colored dust on the leaves. Fortunately, it’s easy to treat powdery mildew with a few household remedies.
Because of the plant’s natural oils, most bugs will leave your shrub alone. If you see pests such as mites or aphids, spray a neem oil solution or horticultural soap on the leaves. Move your rosemary Christmas tree away from other plants until the bugs are gone.