Repotting guide

When & how to repot Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus')

Also called Creeping Rosemary, Trailing Rosemary, Prostrate Rosemary.

More about creeping rosemary

About Creeping Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Prostratus' · also called Creeping Rosemary, Trailing Rosemary · herb

A low-growing, ground-hugging rosemary cultivar that spreads horizontally to form a fragrant, evergreen carpet or cascades dramatically over walls and retaining banks. Reaches only 30–60 cm tall but spreads 90–150 cm wide. Produces pale lavender-blue flowers in late winter through spring. Excellent for slopes, containers, and hanging baskets.

Mature size: 30–60 cm tall (12–24 in), 90–150 cm spread (36–60 in)

Watch for — Root rot from poor drainage: The low-growing prostrate stems hold moisture near the crown, making 'Prostratus' more vulnerable than upright varieties. Plant on slopes or raised banks where water drains away from the crown, and never in flat, clay soils.

How to tell creeping rosemary needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For creeping rosemary, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot creeping rosemary

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Creeping Rosemary's growth habit — prostrate, ground-hugging to cascading evergreen shrub with trailing, arching stems; very low-growing — sets the pace. A low-growing, ground-hugging rosemary cultivar that spreads horizontally to form a fragrant, evergreen carpet or cascades dramatically over walls and retaining banks. Reaches only 30–60 cm tall but spreads 90–150 cm wide. Produces pale lavender-blue flowers in late winter through spring. Excellent for slopes, containers, and hanging baskets.

What size pot to step creeping rosemary up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Creeping Rosemary stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot creeping rosemary

Spring or summer, while creeping rosemary is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting creeping rosemary

Repot dry. Do not water creeping rosemary for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty poor to moderately fertile, sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or gritty soil, ph 6.0–8.0 ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set creeping rosemary at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep creeping rosemary completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for creeping rosemary

Creeping Rosemary wants poor to moderately fertile, sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or gritty soil, ph 6.0–8.0. Superior drainage is the single most important soil requirement. Works very well in sloped beds, gravel gardens, and raised beds where water drains freely. Avoid clay and moisture-retentive soils. Add grit liberally to heavy soils. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting creeping rosemary — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot creeping rosemary?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for creeping rosemary. Repot creeping rosemary every 2–3 years into a snug pot of poor to moderately fertile, sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or gritty soil, ph 6.0–8.0, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does creeping rosemary need?

When is the best time of year to repot creeping rosemary?

Should you water creeping rosemary after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot creeping rosemary into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise creeping rosemary after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting creeping rosemary. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.