Bloomipedia
False rosemary (Conradina canescens)
Photo: John P Friel via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

False rosemary

Conradina canescens

False rosemary (Conradina canescens) is a shrub in the Lamiaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly February–April across the U.S.

Native to Alabama

False rosemary is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Alabama it's most often seen in bloom in February–April.

3states where USDA records it
651AL sightings*
2,476U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alabama

Quick look

Conradina canescens, commonly called false rosemary, is a shrub in the mint family. It is native to the southeastern United States, where it is restricted to coastal areas of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Its natural habitat is sandhills, coastal scrub, and flatwoods.

  • It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Alabama. NatureServe
  • In Alabama, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in February–April. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 651 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #97 among the 167 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Alabama, most flowering sightings come in February–April.

Flowering records by month in Alabama (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (229 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MS (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records false rosemary in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Florida, Mississippi.

Alabama counties with USDA records: Baldwin, Escambia, Geneva, Mobile.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Conradina brevifolia, Conradina puberula.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 17 counties across 3 states; the most are in Florida (12), Alabama (4), Mississippi (1).

More from the Lamiaceae family (44 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, American beautyberry, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Lyreleaf sage, American germander.

More Alabama flowers

American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in AL: May–July
Lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata)

Lyreleaf sage

Salvia lyrata

Native

🌼 Blooms in AL: March–April
Henbit deadnettle (Lamium amplexicaule)

Henbit deadnettle

Lamium amplexicaule

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in AL: January–March

Sources