Santolina spp.
lavender-cottons
Overview
Santolina spp. is a genus of about 10-24 species of small, aromatic, evergreen subshrubs in the daisy family (Asteraceae), native to the Mediterranean region. Plants form dense, rounded mounds 8-24 inches (20-60 cm) tall and 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) wide, clothed in finely divided, often grey-white or green foliage that is strongly aromatic when bruised. In summer, slender leafless stalks rise above the foliage carrying solitary, button-like flower heads 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) across in yellow, cream, or pale yellow; the heads lack ray florets, giving a rounded, rayless shape. Santolina spp. grows wild on dry, sunny slopes, rocky ground, and garrigue, and tolerates heat, drought, and lean soils. In cultivation the foliage colour and compact form persist year-round, though plants grow open and woody at the base with age and are short-lived on heavy or wet soils. S. chamaecyparissus has grey foliage and yellow heads, while S. rosmarinifolia has green foliage; both are clipped for low hedging.
Native Range
Native to the Mediterranean basin, from Iberia and North Africa through southern Europe to the Balkans and Turkey. Plants grow on dry, sunny hillsides, rocky slopes, and garrigue scrub, on free-draining, often calcareous soils.Suggested Uses
Used for low clipped hedging, knot gardens, edging, and gravel and Mediterranean plantings, with plants set 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart for a continuous low hedge. The aromatic grey or green foliage suits herb gardens and dry, sunny banks. Dried stems and flower heads are used in sachets and arrangements.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread2' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in summer, mainly June to August, when bare stalks lift the rounded yellow or cream heads above the foliage. The display lasts several weeks; the flower stalks of grey-leaved forms are often removed to keep a tighter foliage mound. A light second flush may follow shearing.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow to creamFoliage Description
grey-white to green, aromaticGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Santolina spp. are grown in full sun in light, sharply drained, low-fertility soil, including sandy, rocky, and chalky ground. They withstand heat, drought, and salt spray once established and need little or no supplemental water. Rich soil, shade, or winter wet causes open, floppy growth and root rot, which shortens the plants life. Hardiness reaches about USDA zone 6 for S. chamaecyparissus, with some species a little tenderer. Plants are kept dense by hard shearing each spring. Propagation is from semi-ripe cuttings, which root readily.Pruning
Plants are sheared hard in early to mid spring, cutting back into the previous year growth but above the bare old wood, to keep a tight mound. Removing the flower stalks after bloom, or shearing lightly then, maintains a compact shape. Old, woody plants respond poorly to cutting into bare stems and are usually replaced.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing