How to Grow Westringia 'Smokie'
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Westringia 'Smokie'
Westringia fruticosa 'Smokie'
shrubWestringia 'Smokie' is a compact, ornamental Australian shrub with fine, needle-like foliage and delicate lavender-blue flowers. It is a cultivar of rosemary-like Westringia that offers excellent drought tolerance and a refined, mounding growth habit. This shrub is prized for landscaping, container gardening, and adding texture to coastal and Mediterranean-style gardens.
When should you plant Westringia 'Smokie' in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Westringia 'Smokie' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Westringia 'Smokie'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Westringia 'Smokie'
Around Oct 14≈ 180 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Westringia 'Smokie' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9b-11; frost-tender and best grown in warm, temperate to subtropical climates
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Get my Westringia 'Smokie' timeline →Growth Stages
Propagation & Establishment
4-8 weeksSoft to semi-hardwood cuttings develop roots; young plants establish shallow root systems.
Use well-draining propagation mix; maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging. Apply hormone rooting powder to cuttings. Provide bright, indirect light until rooted.
Vegetative Growth
8-12 weeksFoliage expands; fine, needle-like leaves develop in whorls along stems; plant forms mounding shape.
Water moderately; pinch back growth to encourage bushiness and branching. Provide full sun. Fertilize lightly every 4-6 weeks with balanced, low-nitrogen formula.
Flowering
12-16 weeks (spring through fall in warm zones)Delicate lavender-blue, tubular flowers appear in leaf axils and along stems; blooms occur in cycles throughout warm months.
Maintain consistent but moderate watering during flowering. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continued blooming. Avoid overfertilizing, which reduces flowers.
Maturity & Dormancy
Ongoing seasonal cyclePlant reaches full ornamental size and form; flowering slows in cooler months or winter. Growth slows significantly.
Reduce watering in winter; allow plant to dry between waterings. Minimal fertilizer needed. Prune lightly in late winter to maintain shape if desired.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray foliage with water to dislodge; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in severe cases. Improve air circulation.
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Prune heavily infested branches; apply horticultural oil in early season. Monitor regularly.
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use yellow sticky traps to monitor populations.
Uses
Ornamental Landscaping
HouseholdWestringia 'Smokie' is ideal for xeriscaping, Mediterranean gardens, coastal landscapes, and mixed borders. Its fine texture, mounding habit, and blue flowers add visual interest and softness to hardscape elements. [source]
Container & Patio Gardening
HouseholdIts compact, controlled growth makes it excellent for containers, pots, and raised planters. It thrives in container gardens on patios and balconies, providing year-round ornamental interest. [source]
Cut Flowers & Floral Design
HouseholdDelicate lavender-blue flower stems last well in water and are used in fresh and dried floral arrangements, adding soft color and texture. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeThe flowers attract bees, butterflies, and native pollinators, making it valuable for pollinator gardens and supporting local insect populations. [source]
Dried Arrangements & Crafts
CraftStems and flowers dry well and can be used in dried arrangements, wreaths, and other craft projects to add lasting botanical interest. [source]
Harvest Tips
Westringia 'Smokie' is ornamental and not harvested for food. Prune stems as needed for shape and size management in late winter or early spring. Cut flowers are long-lasting in arrangements and can be collected throughout the warm growing season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Westringia is native to eastern Australia and belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family, sharing the aromatic foliage characteristic of many of its relatives.
- 🌱 'Smokie' is a dwarf cultivar specifically bred to remain compact, making it superior to the species form for small gardens and containers.
- 🌱 The plant is extremely drought-tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardening in Mediterranean and arid climates.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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