Blue Lagoon Rosemary

Blue Lagoon Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Blue Lagoon') is a compact, trailing rosemary that grows to about 1m high and 1m wide. It has the same fragrant, edible, sea green foliage as ordinary rosemary, but a softer, cascading habit and deep blue-purple flowers speckled with white through the warmer months. Plant it where it can tumble over a wall, a terrace edge or the rim of a pot.

Why you'll love it

• A cascading habit. The compact, trailing growth spills over walls and pot rims instead of standing bolt upright like common rosemary.
• Fragrant, edible foliage. The sea green leaves are aromatic and can be picked for the kitchen, so it earns its place as both ornamental and herb.
• Deep blue-purple flowers. Blooms speckled with white appear through the warmer months and feed visiting bees.
• Tough in sun and dry ground. It is frost hardy, drought tolerant and suited to seaside planting, as long as the drainage is sharp.
• Safe around pets. Rosemary is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it suits family gardens where pets roam.

Where it works best

Walls and terraces. Set a plant at the top of a retaining wall or along a terrace edge, where the stems can cascade. Space them about a metre apart for a continuous curtain.

Rockeries and seaside gardens. Salt wind, sun and poor soil suit it, so it works on exposed coastal sites as well as in a dry rockery.

Low hedges and stepover borders. Plant 70cm apart in a single row for a low, informal hedge of about 1m that you can trim lower.

Pots and the kitchen door. A pot by the back door puts the fragrant foliage within reach of the cook.

Growing Blue Lagoon Rosemary in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, in well drained soil. It is frost hardy and well suited to cool, dry climates, so it grows in warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. In humid summer rainfall districts, plant it on a mound or in a pot of gritty mix, because wet, muggy weather is its main enemy.

Soil. Well drained soil is the key. Sandy, gravelly and even alkaline ground suits it. On heavy clay, build up the bed and add coarse sand, or grow it in a pot.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well while it establishes, then ease off. Established plants are drought tolerant and are best watered only in extended dry spells, since constant moisture does more harm than thirst.

Pruning. Prune after flowering, and trim lightly through the year to maintain compact growth. Cut into green growth, because rosemary seldom reshoots from old bare wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Blue Lagoon Rosemary as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes are the economical way to plant a low hedge or fill a bank, while the potted packs give a fuller wall display straight away. Expect a small, fragrant plant that starts trailing as it grows.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete rosemary care guide
• Edible plants for the kitchen garden
• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Low hedge plants under one metre

Common questions

Can I eat the leaves?

Yes. The foliage is fragrant and edible, and Blue Lagoon can be picked and used like any other rosemary. Pick lightly so the plant keeps its shape.

How far apart should I plant it for a low hedge?

Plant 70cm apart in a single row. The trailing stems knit together into a soft, informal hedge of about 1m.

Why did my rosemary die in wet weather?

Rosemary resents constantly wet soil, especially in warm, humid weather. Plant it in sharply drained soil or a pot, and leave established plants alone unless the weather turns dry.