Rosemary as boxwood replacement in formal garden?

9 years ago

Greetings fellow gardeners,

I'd like to put a formal garden in my front yard, and I'd like to use rosemary in lieu of English boxwood and shape it into a hedge. Can anyone tell me how that hedge would look in the middle of a Maryland winter? I'm not sure if rosemary would maintain its appearance, die back completely, or die back in patches, so the hedge would look like it had mange.

Thanks,
Eric

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Comments (3)

bossyvossy
9 years ago
I think rosemary is hardy to z8a so I doubt it will survive your winters. Besides, for a formal setting, I would consider rosemary's growth pattern a little too messy. Personally, I don't have a suggestion for something other than boxwood, plus I live in a warmer zone. But I do longer formal gardens
fatamorgana2121
9 years ago
The more hardy rosemary varieties like "arp" survive in zone 7 though I'm not sure how hedge-like some of the more hardy varieties are.

FataMorgana
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Would lavender do the job? Similar leaf shape and more easily clipped into a hedge.

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Rosemary as boxwood replacement in formal garden?

Comments (3)

bossyvossy

fatamorgana2121

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

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