- Mature height
- 0.2m to 0.4m
- Mature width
- 1m to 1.5m
Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus', the Prostrate or Trailing Rosemary, is a low spreading evergreen that trails rather than stands up. Where common rosemary grows into an upright bush, this one hugs the ground and cascades, which makes it a groundcover and a wall-spiller rather than a hedge plant.
It reaches around 20 to 40 centimetres high and spreads 1 to 1.5 metres wide. The needle-like aromatic foliage is the same as culinary rosemary, and it is fully edible, so it earns its place in a kitchen garden as well as an ornamental one. Small pale blue flowers appear through winter and spring and are heavily worked by bees.
Its real strength is toughness in hard positions. Once established it handles drought, heat, salt wind, poor rocky soil and reflected heat from paving. It is the plant for the top of a retaining wall, a dry embankment, the edge of a raised bed or a hot coastal verge, where it will spill over and soften the edge while suppressing weeds underneath.
Full sun and free-draining soil are the two things it insists on. It will not tolerate wet feet or heavy shade.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Prostrate Rosemary
How is Prostrate Rosemary different from normal rosemary?
Habit, not flavour. Common rosemary grows upright into a bush of 1 to 1.5 metres. Prostrate Rosemary stays low at 20 to 40 centimetres and spreads or trails 1 to 1.5 metres wide. The foliage, aroma and culinary use are the same. Choose prostrate for groundcover, wall edges and embankments, and upright for hedging or a standing shrub.
Can you eat Prostrate Rosemary?
Yes. It is the same species as culinary rosemary and is fully edible, with the same aroma and flavour. Pick sprigs as needed, which also helps keep the plant compact.
How far does it spread?
Around 1 to 1.5 metres wide, at a height of 20 to 40 centimetres. Plant 80 centimetres to 1 metre apart for a continuous groundcover, or space wider where you want individual plants to read separately.
Is it good for retaining walls and embankments?
It is one of the best plants for the job. Planted along the top of a wall it cascades over the face and softens the edge, and on a dry embankment the spreading habit stabilises loose soil and suppresses weeds. Both positions suit it because drainage is excellent.
When does it flower?
Small pale blue flowers appear through winter and into spring, with scattered flowering at other times in mild climates. The flowers are a valuable nectar source for bees during the cooler months when little else is out.
Is it drought tolerant?
Very. Once established it survives on rainfall alone across most of Australia and copes with heat, reflected warmth from paving and poor rocky ground. Water through the first summer to establish, then only in extended dry spells. Overwatering is a greater risk than underwatering.
Will it grow in shade?
No. It needs full sun. In shade the growth becomes sparse and leggy, flowering drops away and the plant is far more prone to fungal problems. Give it the sunniest, best-drained position you have.
How do I care for it?
Very little. Water through the first summer, then only in extended dry periods. Trim lightly after flowering to keep it dense, and harvest sprigs regularly for the same effect. Avoid cutting back into bare old wood, which is slow to reshoot. It rarely needs feeding and prefers lean soil over rich.
