Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus prostratus) – Growing Guide for NZ Gardens

Creeping Rosemary Plant Information

This series of articles answers many of the frequently asked questions about Creeping Rosemary.

Can You Eat Creeping Rosemary?

Yes, you can eat creeping rosemary! The leaves and flowers are edible, and it has a similar flavour profile to upright Rosemary, but it can be slightly milder. Creeping rosemary is used in all the same ways you would use regular rosemary for cooking, such as seasoning meats, vegetables, soups, and stews. However, due to the smaller leaf size, creeping rosemary might be better suited for chopping finely and using throughout a dish rather than using whole sprigs.

Does Creeping Rosemary Spread?

Creeping Rosemary spreads horizontally across the ground. However, it generally does not put down roots as it spreads. It is a popular choice for a groundcover because it forms a dense mat of aromatic foliage that is very aesthetic. It typically spreads to 1-2 metres at a rate of 30-50 cm per year.

Is Trailing Rosemary The Same As Creeping Rosemary?

Trailing rosemary and creeping rosemary are one in the same. They both refer to the prostrate form of Rosmarinus officinalis. The stems spreads horizontally along the ground.

What Are The Benefits Of Creeping Rosemary?

Creeping Rosemary offers a variety of benefits and can be a valuable addition to a garden:

• Creeping rosemary produces the same wonderful rosemary scent as its upright cousin.
• It grows as a dense mat and is high effective at suppressing weeds.
• The dense foliage helps prevent soil erosion on slopes and hillsides.
• Once established, creeping rosemary is a low-maintenance groundcover. It's drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering.
• The lovely light blue flowers of creeping rosemary attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators.
• Creeping rosemary is a culinary herb and the leaves can be harvested for cooking purposes.
• Creeping Rosemary is evergreen.
• It is a relatively easy plant to grow if it has a well-drained soil. It requires minimal care.
• It thrives in sunny locations and is well-suited to borders, edges, rock gardens, and even pots.

What Is Creeping Rosemary Called?

Creeping Rosemary has two main common names:

• Creeping Rosemary is the most widely used and descriptive name, clearly indicating its low-growing and spreading habit.
• Prostrate Rosemary is the name that comes from the botanical term "prostrate" which means "lying flat on the ground." It's less common than "creeping rosemary" but still used by some gardeners and nurseries.

What Is The Difference Between Rosemary And Creeping Rosemary?

Rosemary and creeping rosemary are both varieties of the same species, Rosmarinus officinalis, but they have distinct differences in their growth habit and how they are used:

Growth habit:

• Upright rosemary grows as a shrub with a woody stem up to 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall and 1 metre (3 feet) wide.
• Creeping rosemary grows across the ground as a spreading shrub to form a dense mat. It typically only reaches 30-50 cm tall.

Application:

• Upright Rosemary can be used to create low hedges, maintained in a container in pots on patios or balconies.
• Creeping Rosemary is commonly used as a beautiful ground cover that forms a fragrant carpet to suppress weeds. It also looks amazing when planted to cascade over retaining walls or edges of raised beds.

Both rosemary and creeping rosemary have similar fragrant, needle-like leaves and light blue flowers. Their culinary uses are also similar, although some find upright rosemary to have a slightly stronger flavour.

Fertiliser For Creeping Rosemary

Providing the best fertiliser for Creeping Rosemary is important to ensure the plants thrive. The correct fertiliser depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or in soil, and getting this wrong can be disastrous for your plants. Our articles provide the best advice about fertiliser for Creeping Rosemary so you can achieve the amazing results you are after.

What Is The Best Fertiliser For Creeping Rosemary Grown In A Pot?

Creeping Rosemary grown in containers require different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance the correct fertilisers to use are either the container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertiliser can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.

What Is The Best Fertiliser For Creeping Rosemary?

Creeping Rosemary are vigorous plants that require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s shrub fertiliser has been blended to give plants an initial boost and then sustained nutrition for 12-months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. This fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. This shrub fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.

Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if shrub fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.

How To Care For Creeping Rosemary Plants

Caring for Creeping Rosemary plants is about making sure the plants are thriving. Our plant care articles provide the necessary details to give you the greatest chance of success. Afterall, there is nothing worse than putting the effort into planting for them to fail. Therefore, follow our advice and give yourself the best chance of success!

How To Care For Creeping Rosemary

The most important part to Creeping Rosemary care starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant Creeping Rosemary, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!

Winter is the perfect time for mulching your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommend stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.

Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our shrub fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.

Summer is when the plants need regular watering and this should be undertaken every second day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.

Caring for Creeping Rosemary in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.

Winter is generally the time for undertaking any pruning. Light trimming can be undertaken any time, but The Plant Company recommends late winter for any harder trimming.

How to Grow Creeping Rosemary

Planting Creeping Rosemary and getting it to grow well is generally easy when you get a few of the basics right. This involves planting them in the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to give you the greatest chance of success when growing Creeping Rosemary.

Do You Prune Creeping Rosemary?

Pruning Creeping Rosemary is not critical but there are some benefits from giving plants a gentle trim.

• Regular light pruning helps control the spread of creeping rosemary and keeps it contained as you require.
• Pruning stimulates new growth which results in a denser and bushier plant.
• Regular pruning helps prevents the foliage from becoming overgrown and congested, allowing for better air circulation which helps prevent diseases.

Does Creeping Rosemary Grow Fast?

Creeping Rosemary is considered a moderately fast-growing groundcover. It typically spreads to 1-2 metres at a rate of 30-50 cm per year. Therefore, it may take 3-4 years to completely fill in a designated area, depending on the initial plant size and spacing. You can close up the spacing between plants if you want the area to be covered quicker. The plants will simply grow into each other and merge without issue.

How Close To Plant Creeping Rosemary?

The ideal planting distance for Creeping Rosemary depends on how it is used. It can spread 1-2 metres (3-6 feet) wide over time. If you want a quicker fill-in and a denser mat, plant them closer together. For a more controlled spread with space for them to mature to their full size, plant them further apart. If you're using creeping rosemary as a groundcover and want it to fill in an area quickly, you can plant them closer together, around 50 cm apart. For borders or where they are to spill over the sides of a wall, 80-100 cm apart is generally ideal.

How Hardy Is Creeping Rosemary?

Creeping Rosemary, like its upright cousin, isn't the most winter-hardy plant. It is considered cold hardy; however, it may struggle during harsh winters with prolonged freezing temperatures. It can typically withstand short dips down to around 20°F (-6°C). However, prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can damage or kill the plant.

How To Grow Creeping Rosemary From Cuttings

Creeping Rosemary are easily propagated from stem cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are usually taken from autumn until mid-spring. A stem about 8-10 cm long is trimmed into a cutting using secateurs with a few leaves at the top and just below a node. The cutting is dipped in rooting hormone then inserted into propagation growing media. The tray of cuttings is placed under mist with bottom heat also applied. The cuttings will have taken root inside of four weeks as a general rule.

How To Plant Creeping Rosemary

Choose a full sun or partial position with good drainage and moderate shelter for your Creeping Rosemary plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A good planting spade makes this job a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. The Plant Company does not advise cutting through roots, even if the plant is rootbound, as that injures the plant. Our article, Managing Rootbound Plants explains this in more detail.

Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is sitting above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure from your fingers as you go. Scatter shrub fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering. If the plant is taller than 30 cm you might want to consider staking it to give it a bit of extra support and use tree ties for secure and appropriate holding.

Is Creeping Rosemary A Good Ground Cover?

Creeping Rosemary is an excellent choice for a ground cover. It grows horizontally and forms a dense mat that effectively suppresses weeds. Once established, creeping rosemary is a low-maintenance groundcover, and becomes largely drought-tolerant. It is also highly aesthetic and has fragrant flowers and foliage. The blue flowers not only complement the foliage, but also attract bees and other pollinators.

Overall, Creeping Rosemary is a beautiful, functional, and low-maintenance groundcover that offers a variety of advantages for your garden. If you're looking for an attractive and fragrant solution to suppress weeds and add beauty to your landscape, creeping rosemary is an excellent choice.

Where Do You Plant Creeping Rosemary?

The best place to plant creeping Rosemary is in a well-drained spot with a soil that is rich in fertility and slightly acidic. They can tolerate a variety of climates, but they prefer a full sun position that is sheltered from strong winds.

Creeping Rosemary has a variety of landscaping applications:

• It is most commonly used as a groundcover. Plant it in areas where you want to suppress weeds and create a beautiful, fragrant carpet such as on sunny slopes, walkways, or around shrubs.
• It is often used for edges and borders, particularly where it can spill over to create a cascading effect.
• Creeping rosemary can fill in gaps and soften the rock formations in your rock garden.
• Plant creeping rosemary along the top of retaining walls to create a lush, green border that spills over the sides.
• Creeping rosemary can be grown in pots or planters on patios, balconies, or other sunny positions. Just ensure the pot has drainage holes and use a well-draining potting mix.

Why Is My Creeping Rosemary Turning Yellow?

There are a few possible reasons why your Creeping Rosemary leaves might be turning yellow:

• Overwatering is often the most common issue. Rosemary prefer well-draining soil and don't like their roots being constantly wet.
• A lack of nutrients, especially iron and magnesium, can cause the leaves to yellow. A foliar fertiliser can correct issues quickly and should be supplemented with shrub fertiliser.
• If you recently experienced a frost, the leaves might be suffering from the cold damage. Rosemary generally tolerate cooler climates, but severe frosts can damage the foliage.
• Pests or diseases are less likely, but inspect for signs of pests like fungal diseases or scale insects that could be causing the issue.