Rosemary is a staple in many kitchens and herb gardens, and it can also be cultivated as a hanging plant. While traditionally grown as an upright shrub, there’s a lesser-known yet popular variant called trailing or creeping rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus ‘Prostratus’). Ideal for those with limited space, this version allows you to maximize vertical gardening potential with this aromatic herb.
Trailing rosemary can grow to approximately 2 feet tall, although the exact height varies by cultivar. It continues to grow even after reaching this height, cascading over the edges of containers and potentially reaching the ground from a second-story window. With its year-round green foliage and lovely purplish-blue flowers, trailing rosemary is a low-maintenance plant that withstands heat well and doesn’t require frequent watering, fertilizing, or pruning. However, since it’s native to the dry, sunny Mediterranean climate, it needs specific conditions to thrive.
How to Grow Trailing Rosemary
Like other rosemary types, trailing rosemary is easiest to cultivate from cuttings rather than seeds. Young plants can often be found in gardening stores. You’ll need a generously sized hanging basket, at least 1 foot wide, to accommodate a mature trailing rosemary plant.
Rosemary requires abundant sunlight, ideally six to eight hours of direct exposure daily. It thrives in slightly acidic, sandy, or loamy soil, but well-draining soil is essential to prevent issues like powdery mildew and root rot due to excess moisture. Ensure your pot has adequate drainage.
Highly heat-tolerant, trailing rosemary excels in high temperatures, but it’s less cold-resistant. It’s hardy only in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11, and prolonged frost can stunt or even kill it. Container plants are particularly susceptible to cold, so in colder zones, find a sunny indoor spot for your trailing rosemary and consider using a grow light to provide at least six hours of sunlight during winter.
Harvesting and Pruning Trailing Rosemary
One of the joys of growing rosemary at home is having fresh sprigs available year-round. Trailing rosemary offers ample foliage without taking up much space. Avoid cutting into old wood, and feel free to harvest at any time, especially during the flavorful summer growth. To encourage more leaf production, prune the plant after it finishes flowering, typically around April in warmer zones. Pruning also helps control the plant’s shape and size, and this is an optimal time for fertilizing.
Rosemary’s distinct flavor and aroma have additional benefits. Its wonderful scent deters insects, making it a great choice for planting near garden gates. It is also unappealing to deer and rabbits but attracts beneficial pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. American goldfinches might also visit to enjoy the seeds.
Some notable trailing cultivars include ‘Blue Rain,’ known for its vigorous cascading and blue flowers, and ‘Majorca Pink,’ which features pretty pink flowers and a less pronounced trailing habit. With sufficient sunlight, trailing rosemary can also serve as a fragrant ground cover that helps repel pests.
