Zena is a popular cultivar of the Coastal Rosemary, prized by Australian gardeners for being naturally more compact and tidy than the standard Westringia species. It features the classic narrow, grey-green leaves that are soft to the touch and arranged in neat whorls. Throughout the year, and most heavily in spring, it produces a profusion of small, dainty white flowers that provide a subtle but beautiful contrast against the silvery-green foliage.
Growing to approximately 90 centimetres in height and width, Zena is the perfect size for gardeners who want a native shrub that won’t outgrow its space. It is incredibly tough, maintaining its neat, rounded shape with very little intervention. Its dense foliage makes it an excellent choice for low hedging or as a filler plant that provides year-round structure and colour in a water-wise garden.
Care Tips
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Position: Performs best in full sun. While it can tolerate light shade, the plant will be at its densest and produce the most flowers when grown in a bright, sunny spot.
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Climate: Highly resilient across most of Australia. It is exceptionally salt-tolerant, making it a first-class choice for coastal gardens. It is also frost-hardy and copes well with the dry heat of inland regions.
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Soil: Requires well-drained soil. It is very adaptable to different soil types, including sandy or poor soils, as long as water does not pool around the roots.
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Watering: Once established, it has very low water requirements and is highly drought-tolerant. Water regularly during the first summer to ensure it develops a strong root system.
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Fertilising: Apply a native-specific, low-phosphorus fertiliser in early spring. This variety does not require heavy feeding to look its best.
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Pruning: While it naturally grows in a compact mound, it responds beautifully to clipping. It can be easily shaped into formal spheres or a low, tight hedge.
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Maintenance: This is a very low-maintenance plant. Aside from occasional pruning to maintain a specific shape, it requires very little attention once established.
