Wynyabbie Gem westringia

Sun

Full sun to light partial shade; growth is denser and flowering better in sun.

Water

Water regularly through the first growing season. Once established, water deeply during prolonged dry spells rather than giving frequent light sprinkles.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates a range of soil pH. Avoid waterlogged ground and heavy, poorly drained clay.

Height

5-7 ft (1.5-2.1 m)

Spread

5-7 ft (1.5-2.1 m)

Flowers

Small pale mauve to lilac flowers, mainly from spring through autumn, with scattered flowers in winter in frost-free climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow grey-green leaves held in whorls along the stems, with paler, softly hairy undersides.

Growth

Moderate to fast in mild climates.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   2.7 ft (0.83 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.2 m)

4. After 3 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant in spring where winter frost is possible; autumn planting suits mild, frost-free areas.
• Water deeply during establishment, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.
• Apply a light mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; avoid heavy applications of fertiliser.
• In colder regions, grow in a container and overwinter in a bright, frost-free place.

Pruning. Lightly trim after the main spring flowering and repeat during the growing season if maintaining a hedge or rounded shape. Keep cuts within leafy growth rather than cutting hard into bare old wood, and avoid pruning just before frost.

Spring

Plant in frost-prone districts once hard frosts have passed, and water thoroughly.

Late spring

Lightly trim after the main flush of flowers to encourage dense growth.

Summer

Check new plants and containers regularly; water deeply when the root zone begins to dry.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Plant in frost-free districts; stop clipping where cold weather is approaching.

Winter

Keep container plants sheltered from frost and ensure pots and beds drain freely.

• Plant as an informal coastal hedge where wind and salt spray limit more delicate shrubs.
• Clip into rounded mounds beside paths or terraces for evergreen structure.
• Combine with lavender, rock roses and ornamental grasses in a sunny gravel garden.
• Use as a grey-green backdrop to flowering Australian native shrubs.
• Grow in a large, well-drained container in a sunny courtyard.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Coastal, Mediterranean, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance and Contemporary minimal.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rock rose, Kangaroo paw, Lomandra, Grevillea and Blue fescue.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar for bees and other visiting insects. Dense shrubs offer shelter for small garden wildlife.

• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage before planting, avoid low spots and reduce watering during cool weather.
• Frost damage: choose a sheltered position, cover young plants during brief frosts and wait until spring to remove damaged shoots.
• Sparse, leggy growth: provide more sun and lightly trim leafy shoots regularly rather than allowing the shrub to become overgrown.
• Yellowing foliage in containers: check for saturated compost or blocked drainage holes before adding fertiliser.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although specific safety information for this cultivar is limited. No part should be treated as edible or used as a substitute for culinary rosemary.

• Coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)

  Usually has white flowers and broader, shorter leaves; 'Wynyabbie Gem' has narrower leaves and pale mauve flowers.

• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

  Has strongly aromatic leaves arranged in opposite pairs; westringia leaves occur in whorls and lack the familiar culinary rosemary scent.

Westringia honours the Swedish physician and botanist Johan Peter Westring, while 'Wynyabbie Gem' refers to the Queensland nursery where the hybrid originated.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a freely draining propagation mix under humid conditions. Use cuttings rather than seed to retain the cultivar's characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Westringia

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.