Santolina chamaecyparissus
(Cotton Lavender)
Family - Asteraceae
Category - Sub-shrub
Origin - Mediterranean
Year of Introduction - 1596
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Hardiness - H5
Height - 50cm
Width - up to 1m
Description: A Dwarf, Evergreen sub-Shrub with a rounded, mound-forming habit. Aromatic leaves are narrowly oblong in shape and pinnatisect. The foliage is silver when young and matures to silver-grey. The upright stems are covered in silver felt. Small tubular Disc florets are bright yellow and held in button-like flowerheads atop long stems. The Blooms are produced from mid to late summer but this plant is more often grown for the attractive foliage and growth habit.
Synonym - Santolina incana
Additional common name - Lavender Cotton
Flower:
Small tubular disc florets are bright yellow. The flowers are held above the foliage in button-like capitula on long stems. The blooms are produced in July and August.
Flower colour: Yellow
Flower shape: Tubular disc florets in capitula
Flowering time: July, August
Foliage:
Aromatic leaves are narrowly oblong and pinnatisect. The foliage is silver, nearly white when young and turns to silver-grey with maturity. The leaves are Alternately arranged on silver-felted upright stems.
Foliage Senescence: Evergreen
Foliage Shape: Oblong, pinnatisect
Propagation:
Cultivation:
Best in full sun in soil that is well drained.