Westringia fruticosa

RHS Plant Profile
Australian rosemary

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Australian rosemary visionspictures.com
Australian rosemary visionspictures.com

Other common names

Victorian rosemary

Synonyms

Westringia rosmariniformis

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A tender shrub to 1.5m, with linear leaves to 2.5cm long, green above, white-felted beneath. From late spring to early autumn it produces tubular white to very pale blue flowers with darker freckling in the throats; these are borne singly in the leaf axils

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
A genus of 25 species of evergreen shrubs, native to Australia, with narrow, lance-shaped dark green foliage, similar to Rosmarinus, and white to pale blue flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Australia (coastal NSW)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added leaf mould and sharp sand, in full light. When in growth, water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly; water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in spring, greenwood cuttings in early summer, or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

See pruning group 9

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free