Welcome to Gardening in South Africa!

This article covers the most common pests and diseases of Aloes, and the most serious ones. Learn how to protect your plants against threats, how…

Queen palms growing in the landscape appear carefree, but they are susceptible to many diseases, and if they are grown in the wrong soil pH, suffer from many nutritional problems. They are also very high maintenance and expensive, so before you purchase a queen palm, read more below on what their requirements are, and if you can’t give them what they need to thrive, rather select another tree for the site.

This revolutionary way to grow more in less space has been around for a long time, so if you want to grow edibles and need…

Pyracantha and Cotoneaster are beautiful shrubs which belong to the Rosaceae, or Rose family. In South Africa, species of northern temperate origin were introduced as garden ornamentals, and in certain regions they thrived, and their invasiveness quickly became apparent. Read more below about the various species.

Pyracantha and Cotoneaster are beautiful shrubs which belong to the Rosaceae, or Rose family. In South Africa, species of northern temperate origin were introduced as…

In South Africa obedience plants have not been easy to find for a long time and still aren’t. Just like everything else, garden plants seem to go in and out of fashion, and this wonderful old fashioned plant may just be making a come-back. Read more below about the Obedient Plant, how to grow and care for it, and how to use it in the garden.

Phlox is an old-fashioned favourite with gardeners because the blooms are impossible to miss at the height of the summer garden, and blooming will extend into autumn.  It’s easy to grow, quick to flower, and needs little attention once established. Read more below on how to plant, grow and propagate perennial phlox, plus many other interesting facts about this plant.

The neatly whorled leaves and long flowering time of coastal rosemary make it very popular in cultivation, and although its a coastal shrub, it also grows well inland. The blooms attract beneficial insects, and as a cut flower the stiff straight sprays are surprisingly handsome, and continue to open their buds for weeks. Read more below on how easy it is to grow and propagate.

Westringia fruticosa Picture courtesy Tatters from flickrCondensed Version:

Coastal Rosemary is a hardy, evergreen shrub with narrow, grey-green leaves which are white-felted underneath, with new shoots emerging a pretty silvery-green. It produces a large shrubby bush which forms a tall mound twice as wide as it is tall. It is fast growing and varies in size according to its growing conditions, and at maturity can reach 1.5 to 2m in height with a spread of 3 to 4m. The branches are dotted with masses of small, lightly fragrant, white or pale lilac-blue flowers which appear year-round in mild climates, but in colder areas it is a spring and summer bloomer. Coastal Rosemary can be grown as an informal shrub, or it can be pruned into a hedge or screen.

Because it is both salt and wind tolerant it is ideal for seaside gardens with a Mediterranean climate, and it thrives in our winter rainfall regions. It also does extremely well inland in our summer rainfall regions, tolerating moderate frost and temperatures as low as -5°C.

The plant loves to grow in full sun but will take some semi-shade. It is best in fertile soil, but is tolerant of a variety of garden soils as long as they drain well. Water regularly until established, and to keep it looking at its best in the garden, water moderately during long hot and dry spells. A fresh layer of mulch together with a slow release fertiliser in spring should be sufficient to keep it healthy and blooming.

To encourage dense growth, prune lightly while the plant is still young, or anytime it is necessary. If you want to maintain a dense hedge then you should also cut out some old growth from the centre of the plant every third year or so, to encourage more new shoots in the middle of the plant. If standard plants are becoming too top-heavy, pruning is especially important to prevent wind damage or toppling.

Full Version:

Description, History & Interesting Facts:

The genus Westringia belongs to the Lamiaceae or Labiatae family of flowering plants, commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. It includes 33 species of shrubs native to Australia.

Westringia fruticosa is a hardy fast growing shrub of simple and neat appearance that is easy to grow and long lived. It is commonly known as “Coastal Rosemary” as in its natural habitat, this native of the coast of New South Wales in eastern Australia, can be seen hugging the cliffs and also growing near the sand on the beach. It was widely planted in gardens, and has since naturalised across the east and south of Australia.

The name for the genus, ‘Westringia’, was given by Sir James Edward Smith, an English botanist and founder of the Linnaean Society in 1788, to honour Doctor Johan Peter Westring (1753-1833), a botanist and physician to King Charles XIII of Sweden who was a student of Linnaeus. Fruticosa comes from the Latin word 'frutico' meaning "to put forth shoots" or "become bushy", in reference to the dense bushiness of this species.

Click here to see Google images of Westringia fruticosa

Its popularity with gardeners gained momentum and in 1858 Westringia fruticosa was introduced into cultivation in California by William Walker at his Golden Gate Nursery in San Francisco, and it is still grown in California today. Its popularity spread worldwide and in 1993 it was awarded the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Coastal Rosemary is a hardy, evergreen shrub with narrow, lance-shaped, grey-green leaves which are white-felted underneath, with new shoots emerging a pretty silvery-green. It is similar in growth habit to the herb Rosemary we all love and grow, producing a large shrubby bush which forms a tall mound twice as wide as it is tall, with the lower branches covering the ground. It is fast growing and varies in size according to its growing conditions, and at maturity can reach 1.5 to 2m in height with a spread of 3 to 4m.

The branches are dotted with masses of small, lightly fragrant, white or pale lilac-blue flowers which appear year-round in mild climates, but in colder areas it is a spring and summer bloomer. The flowers are hairy and have the upper petal divided into two lobes. They also have orange-to-purple spots on their bottom half.

In the Garden:

The neatly whorled leaves and long flowering time of the coastal rosemary make it very popular in cultivation, and although it is a coastal shrub, it will also tolerate moderate frost inland. It is ideal for seaside gardens, and in exposed frontline coastal sites, it is often used as a low lying hedge, or wind break.

Coastal rosemary responds well to clipping and is therefore very versatile in the garden, as it can be left as a dense rounded shrub, where its relaxed open form and soft colouring suit both bushland style and cottage gardens beautifully, or the plant can be pruned for a more formal look. For this reason it makes a wonderful informal or formal screen or hedge, if planted about 60cm to 1m apart.  It is also a favourite standard or lollipop plant and looks really lovely planted in garden beds, and in containers placed on patios, verandas and balconies.

The blooms will attract small bird-life and beneficial insects to the garden, and as a cut flower the stiff straight sprays are surprisingly handsome, especially where a large arrangement is wanted, as quite long sprays live well in water and continue to open their buds for weeks.

Westringia fruiticosa var. alba Picture courtesy David Midgley from flickrCultivation/Propagation:

Because it is both salt and wind tolerant, coastal rosemary is ideal for seaside gardens with a Mediterranean climate and it thrives in our winter rainfall regions. It also does extremely well inland in our summer rainfall regions, tolerating moderate frost and temperatures as low as -5°C.

The plant loves to grow in full sun but will take some semi-shade. It is best in fertile soil, but is tolerant of a variety of garden soils as long as they drain well. 

Water regularly until established, and because the plant grows quickly, this is usually around 12 weeks. A good layer of mulch around the roots will help to keep moisture in the soil. Once established the plant will tolerate dry periods, but to keep it looking at its best in the garden, water moderately during long hot and dry spells.

A fresh layer of mulch together with a slow release fertiliser in spring should be sufficient to keep it healthy and blooming.

To encourage dense growth, prune lightly while the plant is still young, or anytime it is necessary. If you want to maintain a dense hedge then you should also cut out some old growth from the centre of the plant every third year or so, to encourage more new shoots in the middle of the plant.

In cottage or other informal gardens you can just let them do their own thing. However, pruning the tips after flowering has finished will encourage strong growth. If standard plants are becoming too top-heavy, pruning is especially important to prevent wind damage or toppling.

Propagation is by seed, or alternatively, these plants can also be propagated using soft tip cuttings. It is recommended to grow and propagate in early spring as the roots of your plant will develop and establish themselves faster in warmer conditions.

Choose healthy stems to take your cuttings from. Using a sharp and clean pair of scissors or garden shears, take a few cuttings by snipping below leaf nodes on your stems. Remove the small leaves from the bottom two nodes of your stems, and dip the end into a rooting hormone to encourage root growth. Take multiple cuttings to increase your chances of successful establishment. 

Prepare well-draining containers filled with a quality potting mixture. A mix of mostly perlite with some peat moss is also recommended. Place your cuttings into your containers or growing trays, planting the end of the cuttings that were stripped into the soil.

Water well and keep your soil mix lightly moist at all times. Try to avoid letting it dry out completely. Position the cuttings in a well-lit location away from direct sunlight and drafts.

New healthy roots can take around 2 months to start to develop. Once you have enough new root development you can transplant your cuttings into small pots to grow on, planting them into fertile soil that is well-draining.

Problems, Pests & Diseases:

If grown correctly, pests and diseases never seem to trouble this species.

Warning:

Westringia fruiticosa is non-toxic to cats and dogs. It is always recommended that pets and small children are supervised in the garden and discouraged from chewing on plants.

This palm is grown for its strong architectural form, colour and texture, and the eventual height of this species will create a dramatic statement anywhere it is planted. Read more below on how to grow, care for and propagate this palm, and how to use it in the landscape.