Rosemary officinalis ‘Irene’

Rosemary officinalis ‘Irene’

Known for being one of the best low-growing, spreading Rosemary on the market, ‘Irene’ has a mounding, cascading growth habit – growing 12-18 inches tall and spreading 2-3 feet per year. It’s perfect for rock gardens, garden beds and is particularly attractive cascading over rock walls. It puts on an exuberant display of bright lavender-blue flowers in autumn, winter and spring. The highly fragrant flowers and foliage attract Hummingbirds, Bees and Butterflies, however this same scent helps to deter predation by Rabbits and Deer.

This easy to grow perennial is drought tolerant and cold hardy to 15-20°F. The Sunset Western Garden Climate Zones are 4-24, H1, H2. ‘Irene’ was first discovered in 1991, by Garden Designer and Rock Wall Artist, Philip Johnson. It was growing in a cleft of a dry-stack retaining wall in one of his client’s gardens. He named this newly discovered plant after his beloved Black Labrador, Princess Irene – who was also known as Renzels. A U.S. Plant Patent# 9124 was granted in May 1995 - and expired in April 2014 – under the cultivar name ‘Renzels’. ‘Irene’ is the used name for marketing.

Plant ‘Irene’ in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil. We are currently growing Rosemary officinalis ‘Irene’ in one gallon containers. Visit our website www.clearwatercolor.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to what’s happening around the nursery.