Creeping rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Creeping rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6–18 in tall and 24–48 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Hardy to about zone 6 — needs a warm protected site to survive Front Range winters. 'Arp' and 'Madeline Hill' are the hardiest selections.
low water6–18 in tall and 24–48 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
Photos
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Salvia rosmarinus
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Arp', 'Madeline Hill', 'Prostratus'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 6–18 in tall and 24–48 in wide
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- full sun
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Bloom color
- blue, purple
- Bloom time
- mid spring, late spring
- Pollinator value
- high
- Good for
- south wall
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer to establish. Minimal water after — needs sharp drainage and tolerates true xeric conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Creeping rosemary good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes. Creeping rosemary is included in the Front Range Plant Finder as a groundcover suited to Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Creeping rosemary get?
- It matures to about 6–18 in tall and 24–48 in wide.
- How much water does Creeping rosemary need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Creeping rosemary native to Colorado?
- No — it is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
