In heraldry a sprig or branch of rosemary traditionally stands for remembrance, fidelity, and constancy. Because rosemary is an aromatic, evergreen shrub prized for its memory-preserving associations, its presence on a shield or badge signals honor for the dead, loyal devotion, and steady affection. Clerical arms and memorial devices commonly show rosemary to mark spiritual remembrance or pastoral care, while private arms may use it to recall an ancestor, a vow, or a celebrated local custom tied to commemoration.

Rosemary’s practical and cultural uses shape its heraldic associations with occupation, status, and place. Apothecaries, herbalists, and gardeners may adopt the sprig as a mark of craft and healing, and civic arms in Mediterranean and temperate regions use rosemary to indicate local flora or horticultural pride. In social symbolism a rosemary sprig can imply marital fidelity when paired with roses or a bridal knot, and in military or civic mourning it functions as a botanical emblem of remembrance for those who served. Designers vary the treatment from naturalistic sprigs to stylized stems and sometimes combine rosemary with crosses, books, or candlesticks to specify religious or educational ties.

For examples and images see collections that group rosemary charges in real arms, such as the Wikimedia Commons category for rosemary in heraldry (Rosemary in heraldry) and the thematic gallery at Heraldry of the World (Rosemary category). For general reference and further reading consult The Heraldry Society (The Heraldry Society), Civic Heraldry (Civic Heraldry UK), the College of Arms (College of Arms), and pictorial glossaries like Mistholme (Mistholme heraldic dictionary).