False Rosemary
The flowers on the evergreen shrub.
By LYNN ARTZ and DAVID RODDENBERRY
False rosemary (Conradina canescens) is a small evergreen shrub with showy lavender flowers and gray-green foliage. This lovely shrub grows to 3 feet tall and wide. Native mainly to the western panhandle of Florida, it thrives in dry, sandy soil in full sun. False rosemary blooms mainly in the spring but continues to bloom through the summer and fall. The charming flowers attract many pollinators, especially bees. This member of the mint family has needle-like leaves with a mint fragrance when crushed. Sometimes called wild rosemary or beach rosemary, this long-lived shrub should be used more in home landscapes. Plants can be purchased at the Sarracenia Chapter tent at the Worm Gruntin’ Festival in April. False rosemary is blooming now in the northwest gardens at Sopchoppy Depot Park.