Common name(s): rosemary
Description: evergreen shrub; a Scottish selection with a uniquely bushy prostrate form and bright blue flowers in autumn and winter. Foliage is relatively wide and dark green with silver-gray undersides. Very hardy.
Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.
Position: full sun and well-draining soil
Uses: culinary, medicine, cosmetics, landscaping
Winter Hardiness: to 10 F and below
Drought: Adapted to 4 months of summer drought
Notes: the following is an excerpt from an article we published in a 2006 edition of The Herb Companion:
"This is a rosemary plant that I acquired from Simon Charlesworth who owns Downderry Nursery in England. He has one of the national lavender collections in England as well as an ever increasing rosemary collection. He described this plant as a “real cracker of a plant” in his catalogue. I am not quite sure what he means by that epithet but I am impressed by this creeping or prostrate rosemary. It was first introduced about 2-3 years ago from Scotland but I haven’t as yet ascertained where it originally came from. The Scottish name ‘Capercaillie’ actually refers to an endangered wood grouse (Tetrao urogallus) which is endemic to Northern Europe and is described as having a dark plumage and fan-like tail. Certainly, the characteristics of this Scottish grouse are mimicked in this Rosemary’s habit of growth as 2-3 foot long, evergreen branches seem to emanate from the plant’s crown in a roughly fan-like manner. I can only surmise with much colder winter temperatures than are experienced in Oregon that the foliage and especially the woody stems would darken in color to resemble the “dark plumage” of the grouse.
I have grown my original plant in a raised flower box next to the house for two years now. It is planted in a full sun exposure in a very well drained amended soil. It is now about two feet high and over three feet in width. Just before Thanksgiving, the plant came into bloom with slightly larger than normal flower size for prostrate rosemaries with bright blue flowers (RHS color code 92 A/B) and contrasted nicely with its bright, deep green foliage color. In comparison to other prostrate rosemaries planted in the same window box, ‘Capercaillie’ appears the most lush looking with its brilliant foliage and bushy habit. After blooming which will last several weeks, I will trim off spent flower tips to maintain its attractive growth habit."