CaCadmium (Cd) contamination is a critical environmental concern due to its persistence and toxicity. Phytoremediation provides an eco-friendly solution by using plants to accumulate and detoxify heavy metals. This study evaluated the Cd hyperaccumulation potential of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a medicinal-aromatic plant with ornamental value, by assessing agro-morphological traits, elemental uptake, and essential oil composition under Cd stress. In this regard, rosemary plants were exposed to five Cd doses (10, 20, 40, 80, and 100 mg kg⁻¹) in a randomized design with three replicates. The present findings of the study revealed that morphological traits were largely unaffected (p > 0.05), indicating tolerance to Cd stress. However, significant responses with respect to the nutrient uptake were recorded, being concentration-dependent. Among the nutrients, nitrogen decreased by 55% (from 2.64% to 1.16%), magnesium by 24% (from 188.2 to 143.4 mg kg⁻¹), and calcium by 22% (from 355.7 to 278.1 mg kg⁻¹). Conversely, phosphorus increased by 34% (from 198.4 to 265.8 mg kg⁻¹), potassium by 5% (from 1561 to 1641 mg kg⁻¹), sodium by 24% (from 30.3 to 37.6 mg kg⁻¹), zinc by 83% (from 1.68 to 3.07 mg kg⁻¹), iron by 38% (from 34.8 to 48.0 mg kg⁻¹), manganese by 43% (from 1.09 to 1.56 mg kg⁻¹) and copper by 100% (from 0.46 to 0.92 mg kg⁻¹). Cadmium accumulation itself increased six-fold (from 0.12 to 0.73 mg kg⁻¹). Regarding the responses of the individual essential oil compounds, α-pinene, eucalyptol, camphene, D-limonene and camphor showed varying degrees of increase in response to stress. However, these compounds eventually declined as stress levels increased. These findings demonstrate that rosemary can tolerate Cd stress while effectively accumulating the metal, thus supporting its use as a Cd hyperaccumulator. Its dual value as both a phytoremediator and an essential-oil crop highlights its potential for the sustainable remediation of Cd-contaminated soils.