Westringia fruticosa
Common names
coastal rosemary, morning light, McKain’s puzzle
Biostatus
Exotic
Conservation status
Not applicable
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Flower colours
Violet/Purple, White
Habitat
In New Zealand this species has been collected four times from the Auckland Region. Twice from hard gumland clay within a cemetery (Waikumete) and in a coastal subdivision (Greenhithe) and twice from joints within basalt lava flows (Mt Albert, Western Springs). These situations appear to be examples of genuinely wild plants. This species is widely cultivated in New Zealand.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Year naturalised
1997
Origin
Western Australia
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Tolerances
Very drought resistant
Life cycle and dispersal
Long-lived perennial shrub. Apparently strictly dioecious. No seed has been observed in any New Zealand wild gathering but this plant is turning up naturalised, so some seed must be produced. Dispersal by gravity and possibly birds.
Other information
Etymology
fruticosa: Shrubby