Blue Ice Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia 'Blue Ice'
Blue Ice Bog Rosemary
Andromeda polifolia 'Blue Ice'
How are the heights measured?
All tree, and nothin' but the tree! We measure from the top of the soil to the top of the tree; the height of the container or the root system is never included in our measurements.
What is a gallon container?
Nursery containers come in a variety of different sizes, and old-school nursery slang has stuck. While the industry-standard terminology is to call the sizes "Gallon Containers", that doesn't exactly translate to the traditional liquid "gallon" size we think of. You'll find we carry young 1-gallons, up to more mature 7-gallons ranging anywhere from 6 inches to 6ft.
How does the delivery process work?
All of our orders ship via FedEx Ground! Once your order is placed online, our magic elves get right to work picking, staging, boxing and shipping your trees. Orders typically ship out within 2 business days. You will receive email notifications along the way on the progress of your order, as well as tracking information to track your plants all the way to their new home!
Why are some states excluded from shipping?
The short & sweet answer is: "United States Department of Agriculture Restrictions." Every state has their own unique USDA restrictions on which plants they allow to come into their state. While we wish we could serve everyone, it's for the safety of native species and helps prevent the spread of invasive disease & pests. We've gotta protect good ole' Mother Nature, after all.
About Me
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The Blue Ice Bog Rosemary is a rare and very desirable small evergreen shrub for acid soil, that forms a broad spreading mound up to 18 inches tall and 36 inches across. The narrow leaves resemble rosemary, but they are a striking blue-green color with white undersides. It grows into a neat, dense shrub. In spring it is smothered in beautiful pink flowers, like clusters of small hanging urns. It is an ideal companion for other acid-loving plants like azaleas, and also suitable for damp, acid soil in northern regions.
- Striking blue-green foliage resembling rosemary
- Low, spreading neat mound of evergreen foliage
- Beautiful display of pink urn-shaped flowers in May
- Excellent choice to accompany other acid-loving plants
- Incredibly hardy even in zone 2
Plant the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary in places from full sun in cold zones to partial shade or light full shade in warmer areas. It grows well even in zones 2 and 3. The soil should be moist and acidic, even boggy, but with good drainage and not in stagnant water. The pH value should be 5.5 or less, or grow it in a pot in soil blended for acid-loving soils. It normally has no pests or diseases and it is left alone by deer. Mulch regularly with peat moss, and do not allow it to become dry. No trimming is needed.
- Plant Hardiness Zones 2-7
- Mature Width 1.5-3
- Mature Height 0.5-1.5
- Sun Needs Full Sun, Partial Sun
Unique plants are what makes a garden special, and with the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary, unique is what you get. Not some short-lived novelty number, but a durable and very desirable plant, this plant is always hard to find. This is the perfect low-growing plant for moist, partly-shaded parts of your garden, and it is a striking addition. The evergreen foliage really does resemble the herb rosemary, and it is truly blue – an extraordinary color that makes it a stand-out feature year round. The only time the foliage is not a feature is in spring, when it is smothered in beautiful hanging pink bells, a true garden highlight. If you have acid soil or that low-fertility sandy ground that makes growing many plants difficult, this is one plant that will love your soil. Even if you don’t have acid soil it is worth creating a special pocket in a rock-garden, or growing it in a pot, because this is such a charming and special plant. It would make a great gift for a keen gardener – especially if that gardener is you.
Growing the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary
Size and Appearance
The Blue Ice Bog Rosemary is a low growing evergreen shrub that typically stays about 9 inches tall, but can in time rise to as much as 18 inches tall. It spreads out to about 18 inches wide, reaching 3 feet across in time. It has a dense, twiggy growth, covering the ground very effectively as a broad, compact and neat mound. The slender leaves are about 1 inch long and a ¼ inch wide, with a leathery texture and they do resemble the leaves of the rosemary plant. The color is a striking blue-green, with the emphasis on ‘blue’ rather than on ‘green’, and the underside of the leaves is covered with a dense coating of short white hairs. New growth is particularly striking. In May clusters of several small flowers form at the ends of every branch, covering the bush entirely. The flowers are bright pink, and one-third of an inch long, like small upside-down urns, and the effect is very charming.
Using the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary in Your Garden
This plant is a perfect addition to a garden for acid-loving plants, used in the foreground of beds, as an edging, or in pockets of soil among rocks and on slopes. Both for its year-round foliage and its lovely spring display of flowers, plants like this are valuable for their unique beauty and special quality.
Hardiness
Despite its evergreen foliage, this plant is amazingly hardy, living even in zone 2, with temperatures below minus 40 degrees. It thrives in cooler zones – where plant choices are relatively limited – but it has good resistance to summer heat and will grow through zone 6, and into zone 7 in areas where summers are not too hot and humid.
Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions
The Blue Ice Bog Rosemary has remarkable tolerance of different light conditions, from full sun to considerable partial shade or even light full shade, so it can be used in many parts of the garden. Reduce the amount of sun as you move into warmer zones, with afternoon shade preferred. It grows best in soils that are constantly moist and even boggy, but not in waterlogged areas that do not have drainage. The soil should be acidic, with a pH value below 5.5. It prefers lighter sandy soil, not heavy clays. If you don’t have suitable soil it can be grown in a pot, using soil for acid-loving plants and watering regularly. It will survive in a pot outdoors all year round from zone 4 to zone 6 or 7.
Maintenance and Pruning
The Blue Ice Bog Rosemary needs almost no maintenance, at the most it could have dead flowers pinched off. Older plants could be lightly trimmed after blooming, but most people will want to let it grow ‘as nature intended’. Mulch regularly with peat moss. It rarely has pests or diseases and it is usually left alone by deer.
History and Origin of the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary
Bog Rosemary, Andromeda polifolia, grows naturally in northern regions all around the north pole, in North America, Scandinavia, the British Isles and Siberia. It is characteristic of peat bogs and areas where acid soils are found. We don’t know where or when the variety called ‘Blue Ice’ was found, although northern Canada is a possibility.
Buying the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary at the Tree Center
We love having unique and special plants like the Blue Ice Bog Rosemary in stock, for lovers of unique quality plants. If you love beauty in special plants, you will love this one, and enjoy growing it in your garden. Order now, as we only have a small stock of this hard-to-find specialty plant, and it will very soon be sold out.
