Blue Ice Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia 'Blue Ice'
Height: 8 inches
Spread: 12 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Description:
A very small shrub for detail use in gardens, small coarse blue leaves and small soft pink bell flowers in spring; very fastidious as to growing conditions, needs ample consistent moisture and highly organic soils, will not tolerate alkaline soil
Ornamental Features
Blue Ice Bog Rosemary features dainty nodding white bell-shaped flowers with shell pink overtones at the ends of the branches from mid to late spring. It has attractive powder blue deciduous foliage. The needle-like leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall colour.
Landscape Attributes
Blue Ice Bog Rosemary is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Blue Ice Bog Rosemary is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- General Garden Use
Planting & Growing
Blue Ice Bog Rosemary will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.
This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils, and is subject to chlorosis (yellowing) of the foliage in alkaline soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species.