Monrovia : Learn

A beautiful carpet of deep blue flowers backed by fragrant foliage forms a small, attractive spreading ground cover.  Useful in erosion control. Foliage can be used as a flavorful spice in cooking.  Good shrub for cascading from planters and over retaining walls. Evergreen. Fast growing 1 to 2 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide. Full sun.  Cutting grown.

Performance and Requirements

Light needs: Full sun

Watering Needs: Once established, needs only occasional watering.

Pruning Time: Spring after flowering

Growth Rate: Fast Growing

Growth Habit: Spreading

Design Information

Companion Plants

GRAHAM`S SAGE
Salvia grahamii (S. microphylla)

FRENCH LAVENDER
Lavandula dentata candicans

PINK CHINTZ THYME
Thymus 'Pink Chintz'

BROWN-EYED ROCK ROSE
Cistus ladanifer maculatus

TREE MALLOW
Lavatera maritima

BALLERINA CRANESBILL
Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina'

DWARF ENGLISH BOXWOOD
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'

BOXLEAF EUONYMUS
Euonymus japonicus 'Microphyllus'

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Companion Plants (Description): Pair with sun loving Mediterranean plants and other herbal cooking varieties like Lavender, Sage, and Thyme. Other ornamentals that will compliment this Mediterranean setting include Rockrose, Tree Mallow and Cranesbill. For a formal parterre, plant on the interior of low hedged Boxwood or Euonymus.

Design Styles: This is an excellent ground cover for sunny banks or along paths. It is also a fine addition to containers, where it will spill over the edges.  Plant in a Mediterranean or culinary garden in the foreground of hedges or the interior of parterres. 

Care Information

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. As a ground cover, space plants 5 ft. apart, (closer for faster coverage). Control weeds with mulch until the plants cover the area.

Background Information

History: Rosemary is a valuable Old World aromatic shrub from Europe through Asia Minor. It is native to much of the Mediterranean region and most specifically in the south of France. It was classified by Linnaeus into the mint family and he named its genus from the Latin for sea-dew because it is commonly found on the chalk hills along the seacoast. There are only two species grown, and this one was the primary plant used in the herbal pharmacoepia. It remains today a valuable culinary herb and dryland garden plant. This cultivar behaves much like the traditional ground hugging mat, R. o. 'Prostratus'  but with improved habit and flower color.

Botanical Pronunciation: rohs-ma-RY-nus o-fis-i-NAY-lis

Catalog Description: A beautiful carpet of deep blue flowers backed by fragrant foliage forms a small, attractive spreading ground cover.  Useful in erosion control. Foliage can be used as a flavorful spice in cooking.  Good shrub for cascading from planters and over retaining walls. Evergreen. Fast growing 1 to 2 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide. Full sun.  Cutting grown.