Native & adapted

Trailing rosemary

Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostratus'

Also known as Creeping rosemary · Prostrate rosemary · Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus'

An aromatic, cascading rosemary that softens walls and slopes while providing edible foliage and cool-season flowers for pollinators.

Edible herbPollinatorEvergreenLow water

Landscape layersGround cover

Mature size

1–2 ft. tall × 4–8 ft. wide

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b · High desert · USDA 6a–8b

Special categories

POLLINATOR ATTRACTING · EDIBLE

Hardiness guidance

USDA zones 8–11; established plants tolerate typical Valley frost

Typical harvest

Clip tender stem tips year-round; strongest growth and bloom usually arrive in cooler weather

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardiness

Hardy here

Hardy to about 15°F, so Phoenix frost is no problem. No protection needed.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 15°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Takes full sun, west side included, as long as the soil drains well. Soggy soil kills it faster than heat does.

Sources:

amwua.org , extension.arizona.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Trailing rosemary grow at your Arizona property?

Excellent on a wall, terrace, or slope where stems can cascade. Give it air movement and sharp drainage rather than a low, soggy basin.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b, High desert · USDA 6a–8b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun is best. In the hottest reflected courtyards, relief from late-afternoon sun can improve appearance.

Water

Irrigation

Low to moderate. Allow the root zone to drain between deep irrigations; rosemary declines in chronically wet soil.

Harvest

How to use it

Use fresh or dried leaves for savory cooking, infused oils, and aromatic garden edges.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Trailing rosemary thrive

1
Plant slightly high in well-drained soil and keep the crown clear of wet mulch.
2
Harvest or tip-prune regularly to encourage dense new growth without cutting hard into leafless wood.
3
Avoid overhead watering late in the day and do not combine it with high-water plants on the same valve.
4
Let some blue flowers remain for bees before the next shaping prune.

Read the horticultural reference ↗