Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Shrub Coast Rosemary By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 16, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Coast Rosemary Overview Description This tough plant stands strong in drought, heat, and salt spray. Although some of the wild forms of this plant have a wayward, unkept look, cultivated forms of coast rosemary are more compact, set brilliant spring flowers, and do well with shearing. Simply prune the evergreens into a pleasing shape and enjoy their easy-care ways throughout the garden. Genus Name Westringia fruticosa Common Name Coast Rosemary Plant Type Shrub Light Part Sun, Sun Height 1 to 3 feet Width 1 to 4 feet Flower Color Purple, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Spring Bloom Special Features Low Maintenance Zones 10, 11, 8, 9 Propagation Stem Cuttings Problem Solvers Drought Tolerant Planting Partners for Coast Rosemary Colorful and long-lived planting companions include heavenly bamboo Nandina spp., stonecrop Sedum spp., aloe, and yucca. Perennial salvia and eucalyptus also make good companions. Coast rosemary is an excellent plant for stabilizing a slope and adds evergreen color to rock gardens. There are multiple landscape uses for this almost-no-maintenance plant. Find more ideas for planting on a slope here. Coast Rosemary Care Easy-to-grow in average, sandy, or well-drained soil, coast rosemary thrives in bright sun, though it will tolerate part shade. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant. Plant coast rosemary in early spring and water it regularly during the first growing season to encourage a strong root system. Discontinue watering after the first growing season and count on the plant to handle extreme drought. A layer of coarse mulch over the root zone helps conserve soil moisture. Coast rosemary can be fertilized in spring to promote fast growth, although fertilization is not necessary. Avoid fertilizer combinations that have a high phosphorus formula. Coast rosemary requires little pruning, especially the groundcover types. Prune upright varieties as needed to shape the plants after spring flowering. Check out our list of the best plants to add interest to rock gardens. New Types of Coast Rosemary Plant breeders have introduced several new varieties of coast rosemary to the market, including small, ground-hugging varieties and kinds that sport striking blue-purple flowers. They are all rugged, easy to grow, and tolerate dry soil and high temperatures. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit