Westringia fruticosa 'Grey box'

A bushy, compact, evergreen shrub growing to around 0.5m tall and 0.5m wide.

This compact shrub has small lance-shaped leaves deep green above and grey-silver beneath, stems are also grey in colour. White-lipped flowers with freckly throats are produced throughout summer on the ends of the stems.

Prefers full sun in well-drained soil.

Always choose healthy, well-grown plants. Planting after autumn rains when the soil is moist and warm allows plants to become established before winter. This enables them to withstand dry periods during the following summer. Before planting, ensure that the root-ball is saturated and remove planter bag pot or wrapping with the minimum of root disturbance. Trim any broken roots or branches and plant at the same level as in the container. 

Apply an organic mulch annually to help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Feed annually in spring with a balanced fertiliser such as blood and bone at a handful per square metre in spring as new growth begins. This shrub makes a neat compact, rounded shape but can be trimmed with shears to form a formal hedge. Trimming for use as a hedge can be done at any time of the year, just a little at a time will soon give a good, dense form.

Rock Garden