Q&A for How to Identify Rosemary

It looks much like it does in the store, spiky and tall, it is easiest to identify based on its smell.

Rosemary smells very similar to pine.

It will entice bees, but it shouldn't entice deer.

Lavender is purple flowers, while rosemary is green with no flowers or blooms. Rosemary smells more earthy, while lavender is more light and flowery smelling.

You can try crushing or (very, very firmly) rubbing the leaves, but that won't do much, or last very long - it's best to save that for right before you use the rosemary in something. Also, it might be old and the volatile oils have disappeared.

They're more needles than leaves. They're slightly flat, but very thin. The article really is not exaggerating when it says rosemary looks like a miniature pine.

The best answer we have right now is "maybe". Some studies claim to demonstrate this, but the results have yet to be repeated or published in a peer-reviewed journal, which usually means that the study is dubious or needs further work. For example, it could be that any pleasant smell helps concentration, not just rosemary. However, eating rosemary has been shown to improve the memory of lab rats.

Rosemary is especially popular with roasted meat and vegetables in general, and Mediterranean cuisine in particular. It is also used to make a herbal tea.