Cumberland rosemary is a small native flowering evergreen perennial shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae). This plant is found near the Cumberland Plateau in the eastern portions of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee. It grows in sandy or gravelly stream banks in areas that experience seasonal flooding followed by somewhat dry summers. The shrubs grow 1 to 2 feet tall and equally as wide with a clumping or matting habit. The stems spread along the ground and can root at nodes. Its leaves are dark green, needle-like, and fragrant, and its flowers are pinkish-lavender. two-lipped with red spots. The genus name, Conradina, is in honor of an American botanist, Solomon White Conrad, from the 18th century. The specific epithet, verticillata , refers to the plant's flowers, which form a false whorl known as a verticillaster. Prefers well-drained sandy and poorer soil in full sun but will tolerate some shade. The soil should be medium to dry, and once established, the plant is drought-tolerant. Propagated by seeds and will reseed itself in ideal conditions. The fragrant leaves resemble culinary rosemary, and the fragrant lavender-pink flowers appear in May to June. Unfortunately, this plant has been listed as threatened by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It can not be sold in interstate commerce. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Has no serious insect or disease problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are dark green, simple, opposite, 3/4 inches long, stiff, linear, sessile, needle-like with entire margins, and resemble rosemary. Has a minty fragrance.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Solitary
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowers are fragrant, 0.5 inches in diameter, two- lipped, lavender-pink flowers with red spots. The flowers may occur singularly or in clusters. Flowers in May to June
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits are tiny, dry nutlets.
Bark color
Dark Brown
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Has shaggy red-brown stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
East Central United States (Appalachian Mountains)
Distribution
Kentucky and Tennessee/Cumberland Plateau/Piedmont areas.