Rosmarinus officinalis Whitewater Silver

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Whitewater Silver' is an ornamental variety of rosemary with a prostrate and creeping habit. Its evergreen foliage is highly aromatic and has dark green colour with silver undersides, sparkling in the sunlight. In late spring, it is covered with small pale blue flowers enhanced with violet. It is moderately hardy and requires well-drained soil and full sun to thrive. It rewards you by enduring summer drought without any problem. Give it a place in a dry rockery or on top of a stone wall so that it can express its vigour and its lovely silhouette.

The Common Rosemary, called Rosmarinus officinalis, is a small shrub native to the Mediterranean basin belonging to the Lamiaceae family, which includes numerous medicinal and aromatic plants (mint, oregano, sage, lemon balm, basil, summer savory...). In addition to its multiple food and therapeutic properties, this plant has long been attributed the power to purify the air and ward off evil spirits. Around the Mediterranean, it was burned like incense. Depending on the region and its natural environment, it is locally differentiated and shows quite varied characteristics of hardiness, habit, and flowering.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Whitewater Silver' is an subshrub that develops horizontally, densely covering the ground and cascading if given some height. It grows up to 30 to 40cm (12 to 16in) in height, and 90cm (35in) wide. Its flowering, which is a feature not to be overlooked, is pale, blue in color with violet accents. It lasts long in May and June, delighting pollinators. Its evergreen foliage is composed of small, shiny, narrow green leaves with silvered or wooly white undersides. Moderately hardy, down to about -10°C (14°F), it is both humidity and cold that can be harmful to it. Apart from requiring good drainage, it is otherwise undemanding, growing very well in poor and rocky soil, whether it is acidic, neutral, or alkaline. 

Scenting the air and flavouring cuisine, Common Rosemary and its variants are interesting for quickly planting a dry garden, a rockery or simply an arid area where the soil lacks thickness. They provide a well-adapted solution in Mediterranean areas, but also in certain areas of the Atlantic coast where very sandy soil does not retain moisture. In rainy regions, at the limits of hardiness, it can also succeed if the soil conditions and its sunlight needs are well respected. In a rockery or as a ground cover for borders, it can be combined with other plants such as shrub salvias, polychrome spurge, or even Agave neomexicana for a more exotic theme. Do not hesitate to plant it alone as well, as it is truly magnificent when cascading along a wall.