Many people turn to evergreen trees like firs to decorate for the holidays, using branches to make wreaths and garlands. These make delightful festive flourishes, and also help to fill the air with a fresh, cleansing scent. Alongside traditional holiday choices, there are also plenty of unique holiday evergreen trees and shrubs you can try, though. Often overlooked is the uniquely fragrant rosemary. As well as being a superlative culinary herb, you’ll find rosemary decor is a remarkably versatile option. It can also be used in holiday cooking, wall hangings, gifting embellishments and table settings for a unique look and smell. Here are some rosemary decorating ideas to help you add a delightfully fragrant touch to your festive displays.
How to Decorate with Rosemary in Your Home
Making holiday and Christmas decorations with rosemary is a unique way to use this traditional culinary herb. Whether you’re using rosemary as a holiday porch plant or as a kitchen garden container, it can easily be put to good use this holiday season. The piney, floral fragrance is ideal for the holiday season and the evergreen leaves dry nicely in décor items. Use the leaves of rosemary in festive recipes and use entire stems with leaves to make decorations. Here are some rosemary decoration ideas you can use this holiday.
1. Wreaths and Garlands
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Evergreens have long been used to make these traditional holiday decorations because they stay green while other plants go dormant in winter. The smell of pine and other evergreens have become characteristics of the season. If you are familiar with growing rosemary, you will know this plant has a similar smell and is also an evergreen, so you can use it in any way you would the more traditional greens.
You can create a wreath or garland for a fireplace or banister using entirely rosemary. Link the ends of stems together with twine or florist’s wire. An easier option is to tuck a few stems of decorative rosemary into a pre-made decoration made of other greens.
2. Rosemary Table Decorations
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As well as using rosemary grown in containers as artful table extras, you can use sprigs of rosemary as a table runner or as part of your holiday centerpiece. Create wreaths of rosemary and place candles in the center, or make a runner out of rosemary stems. Just keep in mind that the aroma of rosemary is strong and might interfere with what you’re eating at the table.
To use less rosemary but still enjoy its aroma and appearance, tuck a spring into each place setting. A simple idea is to lay one spring on each plate. Or, get more creative and incorporate a sprig into a decoratively folded napkin.
3. Food and Drink Garnishes
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Rosemary may be an ingredient in some of your holiday dishes, but you can also make rosemary décor for food and drinks. Lay sprigs of fresh rosemary plant varieties across cooked meats, especially dishes you’ve cooked with rosemary. The fragrance will add to the experience.
Rosemary stems can also be used as garnishes in seasonal cocktails. Use it as an ingredient or just as a garnish. Rosemary goes well with gin, which is made with juniper and has a piney flavor. It also pairs well with lemon and cranberry flavors. A spring of rosemary and a couple of floating cranberries make for a very festive garnish in both cocktails and mocktails.
4. Gifting with Rosemary
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Rosemary is an excellent choice for decorating holiday gifts and as a gift itself. You can use sprigs of rosemary tucked under ribbons, bows, or twine to elevate your holiday gift wrapping. Tuck a sprig inside a card to give the recipient an unexpected aroma when they open it.
Rosemary also makes a nice holiday gift. As one of the best perennial herbs for pots, it can be presented in a container for the instant seasonal pick-me-up. Try small pots of rosemary as hostess gifts or party favors. For the latter, use them as table decorations and then send your guests home with them. Decorate the pots or wrap them in festive paper for a holiday feel.
5. Stovetop Simmers
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Decorative rosemary is festive, but to really utilize the seasonal smell of piney rosemary, use it in a simmer pot. Simmer pots fill the whole house with cozy fragrances and are easy to create. Make your own blend to suit your mood or tastes.
To make a simmer pot, harvest some rosemary and add to a pot of water along with other fruits and spices. Set it on the stove at a low simmer. Rosemary pairs well with cranberries, orange slices and apples. You can also pair it with warming seasonal spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
Try These Other Great Garden Gifting Ideas from GKH
- Inspire evergreen lovers and ornamental flower lovers with these winter plants for seasonal interest to take you through the holidays and beyond.
- Tempt indoor gardeners to cultivate more gorgeous green plants with houseplant gift ideas for any space or size of home.
- If you’re going to someone else’s home for the holidays, don’t forget one of these host & hostess gift ideas to bring joy to the festive table.
- Browse even more ideas in the Gardening Know How Shop’s Garden Gifts section.
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