Rosemary plant leaves curling?

On rosemary, curled leaves usually mean the pot is either too dry or the roots are staying too wet; outdoors, curling more often follows drought, cold wind, reflected heat, or spray drift.

Answer what you can see

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Push a finger two inches into the soil. What does it feel like?

Which leaves are affected?

Where does it live?

How fast did this happen?

Some answer sets overlap: dry soil with window-side curling can be thirst or heat stress, damp soil with slow curling can be wet roots or pests, and sudden curling on new growth can be cold shock or spray burn, so use the confirm checks to separate them.

The causes in full

Dry potting mix or shrunken root ballMOST COMMON

How to tell
In a pot, the soil is dry two inches down, the pot feels light, or the mix has pulled away from the pot edge; outdoors, the soil is dry several inches down, especially after hot or windy weather.

What to do
If the soil is dry two inches down or bone dry and pulling from the pot, water slowly until water runs from the drainage holes; if the root ball has shrunk away from the pot, set the pot in shallow water for 10 to 15 minutes, then let it drain fully. Outdoors, water deeply only if the soil is dry several inches down.

Wet roots from overwatering or poor drainageCOMMON

How to tell
The soil feels soggy or stays damp for days, the pot has poor drainage or sits in water, and older lower leaves may curl, dull, yellow, or drop; outdoors this is most likely in heavy clay, low spots, or after repeated rain or irrigation.

What to do
If the soil is soggy or still damp several days after watering, withhold water until the top few inches are dry and the pot feels lighter, and empty any saucer. If drainage is poor, repot into a fast-draining mix in a pot with holes; outdoors, improve drainage or reduce irrigation rather than adding more water.

Heat, hot glass, or dry wind stressCOMMON

How to tell
Curling is worst on the side facing hot glass, a radiator, or strong sun, and the leaves may feel dry or crisp; outdoors, check for reflected heat from walls, paving, or a windy exposed spot.

What to do
Move a potted rosemary back from hot glass or heat vents, and give strong light without cooking the window-facing side. If the soil is dry two inches down, water thoroughly; if it is damp, do not water just because the leaves are curled.

Spider mites or aphidsCOMMON

How to tell
Look closely at the newest tips and leaf undersides, then tap stems over white paper; tiny moving specks, fine webbing, sticky residue, or clusters of small insects point to pests rather than watering.

What to do
If you find mites or aphids, rinse the stems and leaf undersides with a firm spray of water, then use labeled insecticidal soap if pests remain. Repeat checks every few days, because one treatment often misses eggs or hidden pests.

Cold shock or frost damageLESS COMMON

How to tell
Curling starts after a cold night, the plant touched a cold window, or leaf tips look darkened; outdoors, exposed rosemary can curl after frost, cold rain, or drying winter wind.

What to do
Move a potted plant away from cold glass and drafts, or bring it into a brighter sheltered spot if freezing weather is expected. Do not prune immediately; wait until you can see which stems stay green and firm.

Spray drift or fertilizer burnRARE

How to tell
Curling that begins within a day or two of fertilizing, spraying, cleaning nearby glass, or lawn and weedkiller drift, especially on the sprayed side or tender tips, points to chemical damage.

What to do
If recent spray or fertilizer exposure fits, stop using the product and rinse the foliage with clean water as soon as possible. If fertilizer was overapplied and the potting mix is not soggy, flush the pot with water until it drains well; if the mix is soggy, let it dry instead of adding more water.

Will it recover?

Leaves curled only from thirst may relax after watering, but browned, scorched, pest-damaged, or cold-hit leaves usually will not fully uncurl, so judge recovery by healthy new growth.

Stopping it happening again

In pots, use a fast-draining mix and water only when the soil is dry two inches down; outdoors, plant rosemary in very well-drained soil and protect it from hard cold, reflected heat, and spray drift.