Westringia fruticosa 'Smokey' is a versatile, dense, evergreen shrub that resembles boxwood in its bushy foliage and similar landscape applications. However, its small, pointed leaves with grey-green centers and creamy white margins set it apart. Smokey Westringia is a drought-tolerant alternative to traditional boxwood hedges. With its dense, rounded growth habit, it’s perfect for hedges, borders, groupings, or as a versatile addition to any garden.
Easy to grow, Westringia 'Smokey' adds structure to both formal and informal gardens. Known for its ability to withstand heavy pruning, it offers endless design possibilities—from tightly clipped geometric shapes and whimsical topiaries to formal borders. This smokey-grey variegated Westringia grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, making it ideal for accentuating gateways, entrances, or driveways as manicured shrubs or hedges. A waterwise Australian shrub, it thrives in both coastal and arid inland climates, tolerating wind, sea spray, and the wet soils often associated with bioswales.
A cultivar of Westringia fruticosa, 'Smokey', also known as Westringia rosmariniformis 'Smokie' or Gray Variegated Coast Rosemary, is similar to ‘Morning Light’ but has a more upright form and a greyer appearance. Its white flowers bloom in spring and resemble rosemary flowers but are slightly larger. The grey-green leaves, edged with creamy-white variegation, give the plant its distinctive smokey look. While the common name "coast rosemary" refers to the leaf shape’s resemblance to Rosmarinus, Westringia leaves are neither edible nor fragrant like common rosemary.
