Low Horizon™ Coastal Rosemary

Low Horizon Coastal Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa 'WES06') is the lowest maintenance groundcover westringia available. It grows just 30cm high and spreads to about 70cm wide, with much shorter internodes and a flatter habit than older forms, so it stays dense and tight without the regular trimming a Mundi needs. Bred by Ozbreed and tested in Canberra frost and Sydney humidity, it takes cold, drought, salt wind and poor sandy soil, and carries small white flowers through much of the year.

Why you'll love it

• Flat and dense by nature. The short internodes keep the foliage packed tight, so it covers ground without the gaps and leggy stems of taller westringias.
• Lower than Mundi. At 30cm it sits well below the older groundcover form and needs less pruning to stay neat.
• Proven in cold and humidity. Canberra testing showed it handles frost and cold well, and it has performed strongly through Sydney summers.
• Coastal tough. Like every coastal rosemary it takes salt wind and sandy soil, and it is drought tolerant once down.
• Pet friendly and bee friendly. Westringia is not toxic to cats or dogs, and the white flowers feed bees through the year.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 60cm apart in offset rows, two to three plants per square metre. The plants knit into a flat grey green carpet within two seasons and smother most weeds beneath them.

Borders and edging. A single row at 35cm to 50cm spacing, two to three plants per metre, gives a low, tidy edge along a path, a driveway or the top of a retaining wall.

Native companion planting. Ozbreed recommends it beside Grey Box westringia and lomandras, where the flat carpet sets off the upright tussocks.

Growing Low Horizon Coastal Rosemary in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade, with the tightest growth in sun. It is recommended for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, the ACT and Tasmania, so warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens suit it. Ozbreed is still trialling it in Queensland, so in humid subtropical gardens give it sharp drainage and treat it as an experiment.

Soil. Sandy to well drained clay soils. Drainage is the one real requirement; on heavy wet clay plant on a slight mound with coarse compost worked through.

Water and feed. Water as required for the first 8 to 13 weeks until established, then only in long dry spells. Mulch with a chunky mulch and, if needed, use a low phosphorus native slow release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. Optional. An occasional light trim makes the carpet even tighter, but it holds its shape without one. Never cut back into bare old wood, which westringia reshoots from poorly.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Low Horizon Coastal Rosemary as tube stock, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and in 200mm pots in packs of 6. Tubes are the economical choice for a large groundcover area and grow away quickly, since westringia is fast when young; the 200mm plants already show the flat habit and cover ground in the first season. Plants travel upright and settle within a few weeks, then spread through spring and summer.

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

• Our westringia care guide
• Browse the full westringia range
• See every Ozbreed plant we stock
• More groundcover plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 60cm apart for a dense groundcover, or 35cm to 50cm apart in a single row for an edge. Each plant spreads to about 70cm, so wider spacing simply takes longer to close.

How is it different from Mundi?

Low Horizon grows lower and flatter, with shorter internodes, and needs less pruning to stay dense. Mundi is the taller, older groundcover form.

Can I cut it back hard?

No. Like all westringias it reshoots poorly from leafless wood. Trim lightly and occasionally, or leave it alone; it holds its shape either way.