Plants of the Westringia variety are another highly versatile Australian native that suits a wide variety of uses ranging from expansive groundcover, to colourful formal hedges, box gardens, retaining walls or as an ornamental shrub.
The popular Westringia owes its common names, ‘native rosemary’ or ‘coastal rosemary’, more to the shape of its leaves than any distinctive aroma. The leaves are often covered with an attractive contrasting grey or white velvety sheen.
Westringias are part of the mint family (Lamiaceae) but neither the leaves nor the flowers have a strong aroma.
The name westringia is a reference to the 19th century Swedish lichen authority and royal physician, Johan Peter Westring.
