Growing Rosemary Indoors
Published: October 8, 2025 | Updated: September 28, 2026
There’s something about a rosemary plant that’s hard to resist. Its fresh, piney scent gives your senses a little lift every time you brush past.
I grow rosemary on my deck year-round, and I also pick up one of the tree-shaped plants for indoors when they start showing up in stores shortly before Thanksgiving.
Growing rosemary indoors lets you keep its fresh, piney sprigs close at hand through winter. Image © Mizina via Canva.com
Maybe you just brought one home, received one as a gift, or have a potted rosemary that’s been happily growing outside all summer. Now you’re wondering where to put it and what to do when winter comes.
Let’s look at where rosemary grows best, how to care for it indoors, and when it can head back outside.
Bringing rosemary indoors? A few simple care choices will help keep it happy through winter. Image © Alina Skazka via Canva.com
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Meet Your Rosemary Plant
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly known as Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, evergreen perennial herb with needle-like leaves and a distinctive aromatic fragrance. Mature plants produce small flowers in shades of blue or purple.
It's a member of the mint family, though you might not guess from its woody appearance!
Rosemary's Mediterranean Origins
Rosemary grows happily along the Mediterranean coast, with rocky soil, ocean breezes, and plenty of sunshine. Image © Petra Nesti via Canva.com.
Here’s the key to understanding rosemary: it’s native to the Mediterranean region, including parts of southern Europe and North Africa.
Picture sun-baked hillsides along the Spanish coast, rocky cliffs in southern France, or the arid landscapes of North Africa. That's the environment rosemary evolved to love!
In its natural habitat, rosemary thrives in:
Full sunlight
Sandy, rocky, fast-draining soil
Coastal breezes and excellent air circulation
Ambient moisture from the sea air
Hot, dry summers and mild, slightly rainy winters
Once you picture rosemary growing outside in those conditions, it’s easier to see what it needs when you bring it indoors for winter.
One of the pleasures of growing rosemary indoors: snipping a fresh sprig right when you need it. Image © Pixelshot via Canva.com
Can Rosemary Stay Outside Year-Round?
That depends on your winter temperatures, your growing conditions, and which variety of rosemary you have.
In USDA Zones 8–10, rosemary can grow outdoors year-round. Plant it in full sun and well-draining soil, especially if your winters are wet. If your area occasionally gets a hard freeze, planting rosemary near a south-facing wall gives it some protection from cold winds.
In Zone 7, rosemary is less predictable. A mild winter and a protected, well-drained spot may work, but rosemary might not survive a particularly cold or wet winter.
In Zone 6, most rosemary won’t reliably survive winter in the ground. If you’d like to try, look for a cold-tolerant variety like ‘Arp’ or ‘Madalene Hill’ (also sold as ‘Hill Hardy’). Give it full sun, excellent drainage, and a protected spot, and be aware that winter survival still isn’t guaranteed.
In Zone 5 and colder, rosemary won’t survive winter outside. Grow it in a pot outdoors and bring it inside for the winter. You can also enjoy it for one growing season and start with a new plant the following spring.
If you don’t know your zone, check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Also check your rosemary’s plant tag for its variety and hardiness zones.
Depending on your climate, a potted rosemary can stay outdoors year-round or come inside for the winter. Chef's Choice Rosemary photo courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company
Bringing Rosemary Indoors for Winter
Before bringing your rosemary inside, check the stems and undersides of the leaves for pests. Clear fallen leaves from the soil surface and make sure the pot has drainage holes.
Give it the sunniest spot in your home, ideally in front of a south-facing window. If your windows don’t get enough direct sun in winter, use a grow light.
A cool, bright room makes a good winter home for rosemary. Keep it away from heating vents, radiators, and other sources of dry heat.
Give your potted rosemary the brightest, sunniest spot you can find indoors. Image © Aravis via Canva.com
How to Water Rosemary Indoors
Don't water your rosemary "just because"! Check the soil first by pressing your finger an inch or two into the potting mix, or use a moisture meter. When the soil feels dry, give the plant a thorough drink and let excess water drain away.
I like to water my indoor rosemary from the bottom. I set the pot in a shallow bowl of water for about 20 minutes, move it to the sink to drain, and return it to its sunny spot.
It’s a simple routine that helps me keep my plant happy all winter long, until it can go back outdoors in spring.
To bottom-water rosemary, remove the foil wrapper and set the pot in a shallow bowl of water for about 20 minutes. Let it drain fully before putting the wrapper back on. Image © Plant and Bloom Design Studio
Seasonal watering adjustments: During winter months when growth naturally slows, your rosemary will need less frequent watering. For example, you might water once a week instead of twice. Always let the soil be your guide rather than following a rigid schedule.
What Soil Does Rosemary Like?
Rosemary thrives in what gardeners call “lean” soil, meaning soil that isn’t especially rich in organic matter or nutrients.
Remember those rocky Mediterranean hillsides? Rosemary is right at home in soil that drains quickly and doesn’t offer much in the way of nutrients. Indoors, that means choosing a potting mix that drains well.
Look for a mix that is:
Fast-draining, so water doesn’t sit around the roots
Gritty rather than dense and moisture-retentive
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Mixing your own potting soil:
If you’re repotting, mix about 80% all-purpose potting mix with 20% perlite. You can add a small amount of coarse sand, too. Avoid heavy mixes and products labeled “moisture control,” which hold on to water.
There’s no need to repot a healthy rosemary plant just to change its soil. If the current mix drains well and the plant is growing happily, leave it be.
Humidity and Air Circulation
Remember the coastal breezes in rosemary’s Mediterranean home? Indoors, aim for that same combination of bright sunlight, moving air, and good drainage. It’s hard to recreate an open hillside in your house 😉, but these small steps help:
Give the plant some space. Leave room around your rosemary plant instead of crowding it between other plants.
Let fresh air in when the weather allows. Open a nearby window, but keep the plant out of freezing drafts.
Use a fan if the room feels stuffy. A small fan on a gentle setting will keep air moving; it doesn’t need to blow directly on the rosemary.
Skip enclosed or steamy spots. Terrariums and cloches trap moisture around the foliage; bathrooms are humid and usually lack the air circulation and sunlight rosemary needs.
Give potted rosemary a sunny spot with room for air to circulate around the plant. Image © Pixelshot via Canva.com
Temperature: Cooler Than You Think
Rosemary comes from a sunny climate, but that doesn’t mean it wants to spend winter in the warmest room of your house. In its Mediterranean home, winters are cooler, and temperatures drop at night.
Aim for a bright spot that stays around 65–75°F during the day and cooler at night, around 55–65°F. A sunny, cool room or an enclosed porch that stays above freezing gives your rosemary those conditions.
Keep an eye on an enclosed porch during cold snaps, since its temperature may fall much lower overnight than it does during the day.
Skip fertilizer while your rosemary is indoors for winter; wait until it’s actively growing again in spring
Why Is My Indoor Rosemary Turning Brown?
A healthy rosemary plant has bright green needles on top with a silvery sheen underneath. Image © GPimages via Canva.com
Brown leaves are a sign that something is stressing your rosemary. Check the soil first, then check the plant’s light and surroundings.
The plant isn’t getting enough water: If the potting mix has been dry for too long, water the rosemary thoroughly and let the excess drain away. Check the soil regularly so the whole root ball doesn’t dry out. If you’re unsure what the soil feels like when it needs water, a moisture meter can help.
The soil stays soggy and wet: Make sure the pot has drainage holes and isn’t sitting in water inside a decorative container or foil wrapper. Let the soil dry out before watering again.
The plant isn’t getting enough sun: Move it to your brightest window or add a grow light.
It’s near a heating vent: Move it away from the hot, dry air.
Pests are present: Look closely at the stems and leaves for fine webbing, sticky residue, small bumps, or cottony white patches. Pests aren’t always easy to spot at first glance.
Brown leaves won’t turn green again. Focus on healthy growth and fixing the condition that caused the problem.
Moving Rosemary Back Outside in Spring
Once the risk of freezing weather has passed, your rosemary can head back outdoors. Start it in a sheltered spot with morning sun for a few days, then gradually move it into full sun over the next week or so. Even a plant that spent winter in a sunny window needs time to adjust to stronger outdoor light.
Check the soil more often during this transition. Sun and wind will dry the pot out faster than indoors, so your watering routine will change.
Once your rosemary is settled into a sunny spot, you can get back to brushing past the leaves and snipping a sprig whenever you need one for dinner.
With the right care, you can keep fresh rosemary on hand for cooking year-round. Image © bit245 via Canva.com
Rosemary at a Glance
Botanical name: Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis)
Plant type: Woody, evergreen perennial herb
Light: Full sun outdoors; your sunniest window or a grow light indoors
Soil: Lean, well-draining soil or potting mix
Water: Water when the upper inch or two of potting mix feels dry, and let the pot drain completely
Outdoor hardiness: Zones 8–10; less reliable in Zone 7. A few cold-tolerant varieties may survive in Zone 6 with the right conditions.
Pet safety: The rosemary plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs in small amounts; rosemary essential oil is not pet safe.
Deer resistant: Yes