westringia

( west - RING - ee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This species is an evergreen shrub and needs full sun and little to moderate water. It is a great choice for water-wise gardens. 

Westringia Species and Varietals

The genus Westringia is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae and includes 33 distinct species. Most shrubs in the genus grow well in zones 8, 9, and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Westringia angustifolia (Scabrous Westringia)
These flowering plants are endemic to Tasmania, and take the form of small shrubs that reaches between 3 and 10 feet tall. Branches are rigid and spreading, and flowers range in color from white to pale lilac, with yellow, crimson, or purplish dots on the lower petals of the throat. Flowers bloom on these shrubs between October and December in the plant's native range, and are followed by nutlets.

Westringia blakeana (Blake's Mint-Bush)
Native to Queensland, Australia, these shrubs reach between 3 and 13 feet tall when mature. Leaves are whorled and linear, and flowers are light mauve to white with brown spotting. Flowering occurs throughout the year but is most profuse in springtime.

Westringia crassifolia (Whipstick Westringia)
This rare species is endemic to Victoria, Australia. The species forms a slender upright shrub to just under 7 feet tall. Leaves are dark green, and flowers are magenta to blue-mauve, often with orange-yellow dots on throats. Blooms pop from August through September. Fruits that follow are nutlets.

Westringia eremicola (Slender Westringia, Slender Western Rosemary)
These flowering plants are endemic to eastern Australia. The species forms a small, slender shrub to just under 5 feet tall. Leaves are linear and have a similar look to those of Rosemary shrubs. Flowers are mauve, purple, or occasionally white, and have orange-brown markings and spots in their throats. Flowering can occur at any time of the year.

Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary, Coastal Westringia)
​It is native to coastal Australia and has a loose, spreading habit to 3-6 feet tall and 5-10 feet wide. Leaves are green to grey-green and have white undersides; Flowers are small and white, popping from the middle of winter through spring in cool areas and all year in mild climates. Great near the coast (hence its common name, Coast Rosemary), Varieties include 'Wynyabbie Gem' (with light lavender flowers), 'Morning Light' (3-4 feet tall with white flowers and leaves edged with white), and 'Smokey' (with a more upright habit and greyer foliage).

Westringia glabra (Violet Westringia)
These plants are endemic to Australia, and produce pink, mauve or purple flowers. The species forms a small shrub to just over 3 feet tall with whorled elliptic green leaves with edges that are rolled under.

Westringia longifolia (Long-Leaved Westringia)
These small shrubs are native to southeastern Australia, and reach between 3 and 10 feet tall when mature. Foliage is linear and green, and flowers are mostly white (occasionally mauve) with purple or light brown spots. Blooms open between July and December in the plant's native range.

Caring for and pruning Westringia shrubs

Plant Coast Rosemary in full sun to partial shade. It will flower better the more sun it gets; ideally 6-8 hours. Plant in well-draining soil that has a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5. Water regularly while the plant is getting established; at maturity, these plants are considered to be drought-tolerant. Water only when soil is dry, and water deeply, providing supplemental waterings in times of high heat. Mulch around the base of the plant after installing to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperature. Although these plants are not heavy feeders, a yearly application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer can be applied in springtime to support the year's new growth and flowering. 

Prune these shrubs to maintain shape and size. A bushier growth can be encouraged via pruning, as well, and may be necessary in shrubs planted in shadier conditions. Light pruning after the main flowering period in springtime can assist in promoting a more compact form, and has the added benefit of encouraging more flowers to bloom. These shrubs can tolerate brief periods of light frost, but really do need some protection if the temperature goes much below freezing or if the frost extends for a significant period of time.

Propagation

Westringia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Westringia by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Westringia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds and then water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  3. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Westringia fruticosa flowers fade to reveal seed pods which will release seeds when bumped.
Coast Rosemary Seeds.

Problems and Pests

Coast Rosemary does not normally have many issues with pests or diseases, but they should be checked for the occasional problem, such as:
  • Aphids
  • Spider Mites
​​For more information on these issues, see the following links:
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Gallery

Coast Rosemary does well in mixed beds.
The grey foliage of these shrubs stands out against green foliage.
Westringia fruticosa 'Wynyabble Gem'
Westringia fruticosa 'Morning Light'.
Westringia fruticosa 'Smoky'.
The foliage of 'Morning Light' really stands out in the sun with its variegated leaves.
Climbing, sprawling varieties do well in rock gardens.​
Prostrate varieties can be great for adding some height to otherwise flat areas.
These plants thrive in sandy and loamy soils.

Videos

All about Coastal Rosemary.
Learn how to care for Westringia fruticosa shrubs.
How to care for and prune your Coastal Rosemary.
Get excited about Coastal Rosemary.

Resources

Westringia fruticosa - Coastal Rosemary Plant Care Tips
How to Plant and Grow Coast Rosemary
Wikipedia: Westringia
Wikiupedia: Westringia fruiticosa
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 654, Westringia fruticosa (Coast Rosemary)
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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