Flat n Fruity Coast Rosemary

Flat n Fruity Coast Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa 'Flat n Fruity') is a native groundcover that stays about 30cm tall and spreads 1.5m wide. Soft grey-green foliage knits into a dense mat, with small white flowers through much of the year. It is the tough answer for dry banks, bare patches under trees and low care borders.

Why you'll love it

• Low and wide. At 30cm high and 1.5m across, a single plant covers a generous patch of ground.
• Dense enough to smother weeds. The tight mat of foliage leaves little room for weeds to get established.
• It holds a slope. The spreading stems bind soil on embankments and help slow erosion, and it copes with exposed positions.
• Flowers most of the year. Small white flowers feed native bees and butterflies.
• Tough in humid or dry air. It performs in humid subtropical gardens and in dry inland ones, and its roots are not a worry near pipes and structures.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 1m apart in staggered rows. The plants meet within two to three seasons, and 80cm spacing closes the gaps sooner if you want faster cover.

Banks and embankments. Set plants 1m apart across the face of the slope. The spreading stems bind the soil, so it is a practical low maintenance cover for batters that are awkward to mow or weed.

Under trees. It copes better than most with the dry soil beneath established trees, provided some light reaches the ground. Plant it beyond the trunk, where the roots are less dense.

Coastal and exposed gardens. Wind and exposure that flatten other plants suit a groundcover this low, so it works along coastal verges and open boundaries.

Growing Flat n Fruity Coast Rosemary in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It grows in subtropical humidity and in dry inland air, and it is drought and frost tolerant once established, so it suits most of the country.

Soil. Well drained soil is the one real requirement. It accepts most soil types, but avoid ground that stays waterlogged in winter.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until the plant is established, usually around 12 weeks. After that it needs very little water, and feeding is rarely necessary.

Pruning. Clip occasionally to thicken the growth or to shape the edges. Cut into leafy growth only, because westringia reshoots poorly from bare old wood.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Flat n Fruity as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, in 140mm pots in packs of 10, in 200mm pots in packs of 6 and as single 300mm pots. Tubes and 140mm packs are the economical way to cover a large bank or bed, while the 300mm pots give you an established mat in the first season.

Tube availability depends on our grower, so the tube is sometimes sold out. The notify button on this page emails you the day it is back in stock.

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

• Westringia care guide for coast rosemary
• Browse the full westringia range
• Ground covers for low maintenance gardens
• More coastal and salt tolerant plants

Common questions

How many plants do I need to cover a bank?

Allow about one plant per square metre at 1m spacing. For quicker cover, plant at 80cm, which needs roughly one and a half plants per square metre.

Will it grow under a tree?

Yes, if some light reaches the soil. It tolerates dry ground once established, but it will thin out in deep, permanent shade.

Is it safe around dogs and cats?

Yes. Westringia is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the foliage is soft rather than prickly.