Westringia fruticosa 'Smokey'

Coastal Rosemary 'Smokey' / Native Rosemary 'Smokey' / Variegated Coastal Rosemary 'Smokey'

Botanical Name: Westringia fruticosa 'Smokey'
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Australia (coastal regions)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

Westringia fruticosa ‘Smokey’ is a compact, variegated form that thrives in Adelaide and coastal South Australia. Its neat, naturally rounded habit shows off silvery grey-green leaves edged in creamy white, creating a soft “smokey” look year-round. Prolific pale mauve to white flowers appear for much of the year, even in tough, salt-laden winds.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 1–1.5 m H × 1–1.5 m W (easily kept smaller with light clipping)
• Growth Rate: 30-50 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine, rosemary-like leaves with distinct creamy-white variegation; dense, tidy habit
• Flowers: Pale mauve to white, heaviest in spring and autumn, with spot flowering most of the year
• Seasonal Interest: Evergreen texture and variegation year-round; extended flowering windows
• Wildlife Value: Attracts native bees and beneficial insects; dense cover for small birds
• Tolerance: Drought & heat tolerant once established; excellent salt & wind tolerance; light frost hardy; copes with sandy/limestone soils if well-drained; avoid waterlogging
• Planting Density: Hedge: 1 plant per metre (0.7 m for very tight screens) • Specimen/massing: 1.2–1.5 m apart
• Pet Friendly: Generally non-toxic; discourage chewing of any ornamental plant

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (more sun = tighter form, heavier bloom)
• Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam or improved clay; loves coastal sands; mulch to keep roots cool
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (more in heatwaves); monthly in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Light clip 2–4×/yr to keep a crisp outline and enhance density; tip-prune after flowering; feed lightly in early spring (use low-phosphorus native fertiliser if planting with natives)
• Lifespan: 15-25+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Slightly acidic to alkaline; happy on Adelaide limestone

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Coastal and poolside gardens: silver variegation sparkles against water and stands up to salt spray and wind
• Low, formal hedges, balls and borders: trims cleanly and holds shape with minimal pruning; ideal along paths, driveways and front verges
• Contrast planting in Mediterranean/native palettes: pair with olives, rosemary, lomandra, dianella and blue/grey succulents for layered, water-wise texture

Why You Will Love It

‘Smokey’ gives you the look of a premium, silver-variegated hedge with the toughness of a true coastal native—perfect for Adelaide’s heat, wind and limestone soils. It stays neat with just a few light clips and flowers for months, delivering year-round colour, texture and curb appeal with minimal effort.