I’ve heard the West Klosterman Preserve is home to the Florida rosemary plant. Is Florida rosemary the same as the rosemary in my garden?
Culinary rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus (also known as Rosmarinus officinalis) is a plant from the Mediterranean region. Florida rosemary, Ceratiola ericoides, has a similar appearance and has a delightful aroma as well, hence the common name of Florida rosemary.
Although Florida rosemary is not used for seasoning, it is a rare plant, found only in Florida’s imperiled upland scrub habitat.
Did you know that there is still some Florida rosemary in the scrub at the West Klosterman Preserve? You can help preserve this special species by donating to the effort to keep this preserve in public ownership and management to assure the survival of this species in Pinellas County and Florida.
