White Box™ Coastal Rosemary

White Box Coastal Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa 'WES10') is a hardy native shrub with a naturally neat, boxy dome, bred by Ozbreed for tidy, low upkeep plantings. It grows to about 450mm high and wide in fine, soft grey-green foliage with a cream tone, and it holds its shape with almost no pruning or clips into a formal low hedge when you want one.

Why you'll love it

• A dome without pruning. The natural shape is a tidy dome, so it looks planned without a hedge trimmer.
• Clips well. It responds to pruning, so it works for formal hedging, topiary, domes and mounds.
• Colour contrast. The glaucous, cream-toned foliage lifts darker green plantings.
• Tough in most soils. It copes with ordinary garden soil, poor soil and roadside conditions.
• Cheap to look after. Roadside use needs almost no maintenance, which suits low maintenance budgets at home as well as in council plantings.

Where it works best

Low hedging. Plant 40cm apart, which is two to three plants per linear metre, and clip twice a year for a manicured edge. At 450mm it makes a low formal hedge rather than a screen.

Domes, mounds and topiary. Plants clip into balls and boxes, or can be left alone as natural domes for a soft, rounded rhythm along a border.

Mass planting, roadsides and slopes. Plant 50cm apart, about four plants per square metre. Ozbreed's range is three to six per square metre, and it suits roadsides and the upper slopes of bioswales.

Growing White Box Coastal Rosemary in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light shade. Ozbreed lists it for every state and the ACT. Like the species, it handles coastal exposure and frost once established, and sharp drainage matters most in humid summers.

Soil. It is tough in most soils but still repays some preparation: improve the soil before planting and mulch with chunky mulch. On heavy clay, plant on a low mound.

Water and feed. Water through the first summer until it is established. Fertilise in spring.

Pruning. Optional. A hedge prune twice a year gives a manicured shape, or leave it as a natural dome. Do not cut back into bare old wood, because westringias reshoot poorly from it.

What to expect when it arrives

We list White Box 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 long hedge and catch up quickly, while the 200mm plants give a more developed start. Stock comes from Ozbreed's licensed growers and is not always available, so a size shows as sold out when no grower has it. The notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

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 the full Ozbreed range
• Compare more hedging plants

Common questions

How far apart for a low hedge?

Forty centimetres apart in a single row, which is two to three plants per linear metre. Clip twice a year to keep the edge crisp.

Does it flower?

Yes. It flowers heavily in spring and sporadically through the rest of the year.

Is it safe around pets?

Yes. Westringia is not toxic to cats or dogs, one reason it is common in front gardens and pool surrounds.