Wondering why the botanical name on your herb seed packet or your plant label has changed? Especially as Rosemarys are now considered to be Sages.
These changes were approved by members of the RHS Nomenclature and Taxonomy Advisory Group. Of significance, is the move to absorb Rosmarinus into the genus Salvia. This comes from the results of the Rosemary plant trial that took place from 2016–2019 and allowed the genetic science to more accurately identify the relationship. Jekka frequently supports or participates in these trials and details of them can be seen on the RHS website.
As regular visitors are aware, we try and keep plastic use to a minimum on the herb farm and therefore, we will slowly be replacing labels and seed packets with time. Please bear with us as we update all the names.
For an introduction into understanding herbs and how they are named in general, please read Jekka's blog on the subject.
The botanical name changes that we will be implementing at Jekka's during 2021 are:
| Updated Botanical Names | Previous Botanical Name | Common Name |
| Artemisia dracunculus 'French' | Artemisia dracunculus | French Tarragon |
| Clinopodium menthifolium | Calamintha menthifolia | Calamint, Mountain Balm |
| Diplotaxis tenuifolia | Diplotaxis muralis | Wild Rocket |
| Clinopodium menthifolium | Micromeria subsp. | Emperor's Mint |
| Ocimum x africanum | Ocimum africanum (syn. Ocimum x citriodorum) | Lemon Basil |
| Ocimum x africanum ‘Lime’ | Ocimum americanum | Lime Basil |
| Salvia rosmarinus | Rosmarinus officinalis | Rosemary |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Spice Island’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Spice Island' | Rosemary 'Spice Island' |
| Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group | Rosmarinus officinalis (Prostratus Group) | Rosemary Prostrate |
| Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group ‘Rampant Boule’ | Rosmarinus officinalis (Prostratus Group) 'Rampant Boule' | Rosemary Rampant Boule |
| Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group ‘Whitewater Silver | Rosmarinus officinalis (Prostratus Group) 'Whitewater Silver' | Rosemary Whitewater Silver |
| Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group ‘Capri’ | Rosmarinus officinalis (Prostratus Group) 'Capri | Rosemary Capri |
| Salvia rosmarinus Prostrata Group ‘Cretan' | Rosmarinus officinalis (Prostratus Group) Cretan | Rosemary Cretan |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Barbecue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Barbecue ' | Rosemary Barbecue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Alderley' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Alderley' | Rosemary Alderley Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Ardur' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Ardur' | Rosemary Ardur |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Arp' | Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Arp' | Rosemary Arp |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Aurea' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Aureus' | Rosemary Golden Variegated |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Blue Lagoon’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Blue Lagoon' | Rosemary Blue Lagoon |
| Salvia rosmarinus ’Blue Rain’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Blue River' | Rosemary Blue Rain |
| Salvia rosmarinus Albiflora Group | Rosmarinus officinalis f. albiflorus | Rosemary White |
| Salvia rosmarinus Albiflora Group ‘Lady in White’ | Rosmarinus officinalis f. albiflorus 'Lady in White' | Rosemary Lady in White |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Fota Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Fota Blue' | Rosemary Fota Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Foxtail' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Foxtail' | Rosemary Foxtail |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Gorizia' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Gorizia' | Rosemary Gorizia |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Green Ginger’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Green Ginger' | Rosemary Green Ginger |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Haifa' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Haifa' | Rosemary Haifa |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Jekka’s Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Jekka's Blue' | Rosemary Jekka's Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus 'Jekka's Stardust’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Jekka's Stardust' | Rosemary Jekka's Stardust |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Majorca Pink’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Majorca Pink' | Rosemary Majorca Pink |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘McConnell’s Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'McConnells Blue' | Rosemary McConnells Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Miss Jessopp’s Upright’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Miss Jessopp's Upright' | Rosemary Miss Jessopp's Upright |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Primley Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Primley Blue' | Rosemary Primley Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Rosea' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Roseus' | Rosemary Pink |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Severn Sea’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Severn Sea' | Rosemary Severn Sea |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Sissinghurst Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Sissinghurst Blue' | Rosemary Sissinghurst Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Stavordale' | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Stavordale' | Rosemary Stavordale |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Sudbury Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Sudbury Blue' | Rosemary Sudbury Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Tuscan Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue' | Rosemary Tuscan Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus (Angustifolia Group) ‘Beneden Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis var. angustissimus 'Beneden Blue' | Rosemary Beneden Blue |
| Salvia rosmarinus ‘Vatican Blue’ | Rosmarinus officinalis 'Vatican Blue' | Rosemary Vatican Blue |
| Salvia officinalis ‘Nazareth' | Salvia lavandulifolia 'Nazareth' | Israeli Sage |
| Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp rosmarinifolia ‘Primrose Gem’ | Santolina rosmarinifolia 'Primrose Gem' | Lavender Cotton Primrose Gem |
| Thymus longiflorus | Thymus longifolia | Long Flower Thyme |
| Thymus zygis | Thymus zygia | Spanish Thyme, Tumillo |
| Thymus (Coccineus Group) ‘Purple Beauty’ | Thymus 'Purple Beauty' | Purple Beauty Thyme |
| Thymus polytrichus A. Kern. ex Borbás | Thymus polytrichus A. Kern. ex Borbás subsp. britannicus (Ronniger) Kerguélen | Wooly Thyme |
| Thymus ‘Dillington’ | Thymus pulegioides 'Dillington' | Dillington Thyme |
| Thymus serpyllum L. | Thymus serpyllum | Creeping Thyme |
| Thymus var. albus | Thymus serpyllum var. Albus | Creeping White Thyme |
| Ugni moline orange-leaved | Ugni molinae 'Orange’ | Orange Chilean Guava |
| Viola ‘Back to Black’ | Viola cornuta 'Sawyers Black' | Sawyers Black Violet |
| Viola riviniana ‘Rosea’ | Viola riviniana rosea | Pink Dog Violet |
| Viola soraria ‘Albiflora’ | Viola soraria albiflorus | White Violet |
Want to know more?
For advice on growing and maintaining herbs, check out Jekka's How to Grow Herbs videos and ‘Jekka’s Seasonal Tips’ blog series, which includes what to do in your herb garden in early spring, late spring, summer and autumn & winter. Together they form the basis of Jekka’s guide on how to grow herbs.
Please also see Jekka's herbs of the month blogs: Bay (January), Rosemary (February), Salad Burnet (March), French Tarragon (April), Angelica (May), Alliums (June), Lavender (July), Basil (August), Mint (September), Szechuan Pepper (October) and Thyme (November).
Herb plants are available and you can organise a collection from our herb farm in South Gloucestershire or at one of our Open Days or Herb Experiences (see our events calendar). Please see our 'Looking Good List' for availability and use our webform or email your list directly to us (sales@jekkas.com). We no longer offer a general mail order service for our plants but we do offer a limited selection of Jekka's Culinary Herb Boxes.