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Westringia fruticosa

coastal rosemary

Lamiaceae Coastal south-eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Westringia fruticosa is a rounded, evergreen shrub typically 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft) tall and about as wide, occasionally reaching 2 m (6.5 ft). The narrow, grey-green leaves are 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long and arranged in whorls of four around the stems, with a pale, felted underside that reflects light and reduces water loss. Small white to pale mauve, two-lipped flowers with orange-brown spotting in the throat appear through much of the year, peaking in spring. It grows naturally on coastal cliffs, headlands, and dunes in south-eastern Australia, where it withstands salt spray, sandy soils, and constant wind. The dense, small-leaved habit makes it a common low hedge and groundcover in coastal gardens. It is short-lived compared with many shrubs, often declining after eight to ten years, and becomes open and woody at the base in shade or in overly rich, moist soil.

Native Range

Native to coastal south-eastern Australia, chiefly the cliffs, headlands, and dunes of New South Wales and far eastern Victoria.

Suggested Uses

Used as a low hedge, informal screen, groundcover, and erosion-binding plant in coastal and low-water gardens. Suited to seaside, rockery, and container plantings exposed to salt and wind. Also grown as a clipped formal hedge in mild climates.

How to Identify

A rounded grey-green shrub to 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft) with narrow leaves 1-2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) long in whorls of four and pale, felted undersides. Small two-lipped white to pale mauve flowers with orange-brown throat markings are scattered over the plant for much of the year. The whorled leaves and salt-tolerant coastal habit separate it from true rosemary, which has alternate leaves and blue flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread3' - 5'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Flowers appear in flushes through much of the year, with the heaviest display in spring. The white to pale mauve blooms draw bees and other small insects. Flowering is sparser in deep shade or during extended dry periods.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to pale mauve

Foliage Description

grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on free-draining sandy or loamy soils with a pH of about 6.0-8.0, including alkaline coastal sands. It is highly tolerant of salt spray, wind, and drought once established, and needs little supplemental water. Waterlogged or heavy, rich soils shorten its life and cause open, leggy growth. It tolerates light frost but is damaged by hard freezes. Light tip pruning after the main spring flush keeps the habit dense. Replacement every eight to ten years maintains a tidy planting as older plants decline.

Pruning

Light, regular tip pruning maintains a compact shape and can follow the main flowering flush. The plant tolerates clipping into formal hedges but does not reliably reshoot from bare old wood, so cutting back into leafless stems is avoided. Removing spent growth keeps the centre from opening.

Pruning Schedule

late springsummer