Rosemary prostrate is a low-growing, spreading form of rosemary that makes an excellent ground cover with its attractive and aromatic evergreen foliage. This low spreading rosemary is great for tumbling over walls, acting as ground cover in locations beyond its hardiness range or draping down the rungs of hanging baskets; unlike most other types it does not grow upright.
However, prostrate rosemary has its Mediterranean origins and it prefers dry, sunny conditions in well drainage soil making the prostrate form an ideal gardening choice for gardeners living throughout a range of climate zones.
This article will review everything you need to know about the prostrate rosemary plant including its-growing behavior, how and where best to build it as well as maintenance guides. At the end of this article, you should have all details on how to grow prostrate rosemary in your garden or home. Let’s know!
What is Rosmarinus Prostratus?
The prostrate rosemary is a form of the perennial herb, ordinary rosemary. Here’s what makes it special:
- Growing Behavior
Prostrate rosemary, unlike standard types of rosemary which grow upright and bushy; prostrate varieties carpet the ground or cascade over walls with a delightful mat of straw-like smelling foliage.
- Size
1 foot tall, with a spread of 4 to 6 feet wide great as ground cover or for cascading over raised beds and containers.
- Flowers and Foliage
The plant has needle-type evergreen leaves with a silvery-green color that releases a herby, aromatic scent. The plant blooms the whole summer- producing tiny, soft blue to lavender flowers that are much loved by bees and other pollinators.
This no-brainer herb is much beloved of gardeners dreaming of sunny Mediterranean idylls. It’s both lovely and useful, a great plant for the kitchen and to fill in near those hard-to-fill spots.
What To Plant With Ground Cover Rosemary?
Because of its prostrate growth habit, this rosemary plant has the ability to be used in many different garden design applications. Creative ways to incorporate this plant in your garden are:
1. Ground Cover
Soil Retention: The pros can also be used as a form of erosion control on slopes or hillsides where the chances of washing are high. Its root system is vigorous and holds the soil in place, but it also spreads across by a trailing stem cover.
Ideal Ground Cover: For big expanses of garden, prostrate rosemary is perfect for planting in dull spaces and covering it over with aromatically scented foliage. The large, slow-growing evergreen naturally forms a dense and extensive mat with thick roots in response to periodic droughts.
2. Rock Gardens and Xeriscaping
Low-water landscapes: Once prostrate rosemary is established, it’s extremely drought-tolerant perfect for a rock garden or xeriscaping. The Blue Cascade is great for areas which have restrictions on watering because it does not need much water to flourish.
Accent Plant: Gorgeous trailing form sitting on retaining walls or boulders, to cascade down the sides.
3. Container Gardening
Hanging Baskets: Planting a prostrate rosemary in hanging baskets will allow the stems to be nicely wired and help bring a green touch to patio, porch or balcony.
Raised beds: In raised borders, the plant can flop over to minimize hard lines and trigger visual interest.
4. Culinary Uses
Herb Use: Prostrate rosemary can be used just like any other garden variety of rosemary, and adds a distinctive flavor to your cooking. Its leaves impart a pine-like, savory flavor to meats, soups and stews as well roasted vegetables.
Herb Gardens: Perfect for herb gardens, where it can sprawl out and flow with other herbs such as thyme, oregano, sage.
Prostrate Rosemary Propagation
I will help you to ensure the propagation success properly. Make sure your plant is in set for the right recipe by following these steps.
- Choose the Right Location
Light: For example, prostrate rosemary needs full sun all day at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. A sunny location will promote good growth and the production of flowers.
Soil: Prefers a fast draining sandy or gravely soil. It will forgive poorer soils, but fights in the heavy clayish conditions. When planting outdoors you should mix some sand or grit into soil to aid drainage.
- Planting Technique
When planting more than one prostrate rosemary plant, space them about three feet to four apart from each other. Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball with the top of it level to soil surface. Refill soil around the hole and gently press it down to remove air pockets.
Water: Be sure to water well immediately after planting, which will help settle the soil. For the first few weeks, make sure you keep soil moist; not soggy to encourage roots.
Caring for Prostrate Rosemary
Once established, prostrate rosemary is low maintenance and tough plant requiring only rudimentary attention to keep it looking good. Here’s a detailed care guide:
1. Watering
Prostrate rosemary has low water needs and when it is established, only requires occasional watering during extended periods of drought.
Don’t Over Water: Over watering will lead to root rots in your juniper especially if the soil does not drain well. Otherwise it only needs to be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry.
2. Pruning and Maintenance
Promote Bushier Growth: Pruning helps to maintain the plant’s form and increase leafy growth. Cut the stems back after flowering or during early spring to keep your plant looking neat.
Clean Out Dead Wood: Eventually, the tree will begin to move its energy around and some branches that have died back may be left over. This also prevents the plant from looking scraggly while opening up more airflow, which in turn reduces the potential for fungal diseases.
3. Fertilizing
Limited Feeding Needs: If fed correctly, Trailing rosemary does not need to be heavily fertilised. Balanced, slow-release fertilizer can typically be applied lightly in spring. Do not fertilize too much as that will lead to lower quantities of the plant’s aromatic oils.
4. Mulching
Moisture: Spread a thin layer of mulch around the base in your plant to keep moisture therein further weeding. Make sure to leave an inch or so of space between the stem and mulch, as this can lead to rot.
Readily Available Prostrate Rosemary Issues
While trailing rosemary is fairly undemanding, there may be a number of problems that it meets. These are some problems and solutions:
- Root Rot
SYMPTOMS: Leaves turn yellow, the plant stops growing and wilts root rot as result of overwatering or inadequate soil drainage.
Solution: Decrease the watering cycles and add sand or gravel to improve drainage. If is containerized, make sure the pot has a drainage.
- Pests
Aphids, Spider Mites Aphids and spider mites are two small pests can sometimes infest rosemary plants; this may cause leaves to curl or turn discolored.
Solution: Spray Strong jet of water or insecticidal soap can help control these pests. Good air circulation can be maintained by pruning the plant properly, which may accelerate infestations.
- Cold Damage
Though prostrate rosemary does well in mild winters, it can have hard freezes or long cold spells.
Solution: For cooler climates, grow your prostrate rosemary in containers so it can be feature indoors over the winter months or cover with frost cloth.
Prostrate Rosemary Propagation
Propagating method of Prostrate Rosemary is very important. If you wish to have more prostrate rosemary plants, the following techniques are simple.
1. Take Cuttings
When: In the spring or summer, cut 4- to 6-inch sections from a healthy plant.
How to prepare: Strip the leaves from 50% of a cutting and dip that end in rooting hormone.
2. Plant in Soil
Soil Mix: Plant them in well-draining potting mix, perlite and peat is the way to go.
Water the soil, 2-3 times a week then put it in plastic bag or coverAreas: Coastal forests east of Australian Coastlines In 4-6 weeks roots will have developed.
Conclusion
Prostrate Rosemary is an ideal option for those gardeners out there hoping to impart a mediterranean aesthetic with some groundcover or vertical accents in their landscapes.
There is no other herb that combines both a useful garden plant and beautiful blue flowers for aesthetic appeal. Hardy in zones 10 and up, rosemary is attractive evergreen shrub recommended usefulness with beauty.
With the steps in this guide on planting and caring for prostrate rosemary, you can maintain your salvia ground cover plant for years to come. Happy gardening!
