This low growing, spreading evergreen shrub is a cultivar of a plant native to the Mediterranean and a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes beebalm, basal, and lavender. It grows 6-24″ tall and up to 4′ wide, rooting as it spreads. The needle-like leaves are grayish green with whitish undersides and up to 2″ long. They have a pine-like scent and are valued as a culinary herb fresh or dried. From spring into summer, clusters of small pale blue to white tubular flowers appear that are attractive to both butterflies and bees. Creeping rosemary is valued for its use as a groundcover, in containers and window boxes, and in Mediterranean, wall, rock, herb, and xeric gardens. The genus name, Rosmarinus, comes from the Latin words ros meaning dew, and marinus meaning pertaining to the sea and may refer to the plants ability to thrive in coastal areas. The specific epithet, officinalis, is the Latin word meaning belonging to an officina, the storeroom of a monastery, where medicines and other necessaries were kept, and refers to the medicinal use of the plant. The cultivar name, Prostratus, is the Latin word meaning flat on the ground and refers to the sprawling nature of the plant.
Type: Low growing evergreen shrub
Outstanding Feature: Fragrant edible evergreen foliage; prostate growth habit
Form:Prostrate
Growth Rate: Rapid
Bloom: Clusters of tiny pale blue to white flowers from spring into summer
Size: 6-24″ H x 4′ W
Light: Full sun; tolerates some shade
Soil: Lean, dry to medium moist, well drained; drought tolerant when established
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: Generally healthy but susceptible to rosemary leaf beetle and brown scale
Propagation: Semi-hardwood cuttings in summer
Karen Meyers