Westringia fruticosa Smookie

Westringia fruticosa 'Smookie' is a small decorative shrub all year round thanks to its compact, rounded and dense habit, and its fine, evergreen, variegated, bright foliage. Commonly known as Australian Rosemary, its foliage is not aromatic. A discreetly elegant plant, it belongs to the same family as the Lamiaceae, and produces small bilabiate flowers, white with some violet hues, which bloom from April to September and are delightful to bees. It is not very hardy and is best planted by the seaside. However, it adapts very well to pot cultivation in cold regions, bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to the terrace throughout the summer before being protected from frost in winter.

Westringia fruticosa is native to eastern Australia and southern New South Wales. It prefers well-drained, dry and preferably acidic soil. This shrub has a rounded, slightly spreading habit, supported by stiff, square-sectioned branches. Its growth is quite rapid in moist soil. An adult specimen will reach an average of 1.2 m (4 ft) in all directions, but depending on the richness and freshness of the soil, it can reach 2 m (7 ft) or even more in favourable climates.

The 'Smookie' variety differs from the type species with its green foliage beautifully margined with white. As is often the case with variegated plants, growth is less vigorous than in the type species (due to the smaller chlorophyll surface area of the foliage), so it will form a pretty ball of approximately 1 m (3 ft) in all directions, or at most 1.2 m (4 ft) if allowed to grow freely. As it tolerates pruning well, its dimensions can be reduced, especially when grown in pots in climates too cold for planting in the ground.

Its evergreen foliage in winter consists of narrow, linear leaves, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm (1 in) long. They are slightly stiff, but less leathery than rosemary leaves, and arranged in whorls of 3 to 5. They are a beautiful slightly greyish-green colour, with a white margin running along the edge of the leaf blade. Visually, the plant appears almost silver. Flowering occurs from April to September, with solitary white bilabiate flowers that emerge from the axils of the leaves at the terminal part of the branches. The flower diameter ranges from 8 mm (0.3 in) to 15 mm (0.6 in), with a pale violet hue towards the centre, and the flowering period is more remarkable for its duration than its abundance. It is attractive to bees and butterflies, thus promoting biodiversity in the garden. 'Smookie' is not very hardy: down to about -5 °C (23 °F). 

Variegated Australian Rosemary is an elegant shrub that blends perfectly with other visually appealing plants to create high-class beds in coastal gardens. Its naturally rounded and very dense habit makes it a perfect subject for contemporary designs, where its distinctive appearance will be highly appreciated. When combined with a Cordyline australis Cherry Sensation, it provides a contrast of both forms, with the long strap-like leaves of this perennial, and colours, with the grey of the Westringia contrasting with the dominant warm tones (pink, red, etc.) of the Cordyline. Acacia cognata Limelight, a dwarf Mimosa with extremely fine, tender green foliage, will also be a great companion. As will a Mexican Fan Palm (Brahea edulis) with large, bright green palmate leaves.