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Santolina rosmarinifolia

Santolina rosmarinifolia
Green Cotton Lavender

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A dense cushion with fine, bluish-green foliage resembling that of Rosemary, aromatic when crushed. In June and July, abundant small, bright yellow heads stand out against the green cushion. Native to the Mediterranean, this Cotton Lavender is highly resistant to very dry conditions and limestone soils. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, even if rocky or sandy. Perfect for dry and poor slopes under the sun, it is an easy-to-care-for and relatively hardy plant.
Flower size
1 cm
Height at maturity
50 cm
Spread at maturity
60 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil
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Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November
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Flowering time June to July
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Description

Santolina rosmarinifolia is an interesting botanical Santolina, which forms a beautiful dense cushion ornamental throughout the seasons and well adapted to dry conditions. This shrub naturally forms a low dome, slightly wider than it is tall, with thin leaves of a beautiful bluish-green. This natural ground cover is covered in summer with an abundant flowering of small yellow pompoms, highlighted by the glaucous foliage. This persistent and hardy Mediterranean shrub is adapted to drought and rocky soils, it tolerates pruning well and can handle limestone. It only dislikes excess water and extremely cold temperatures and is perfect in a natural garden as well as in a contemporary environment.

Santolina rosmarinifolia is an undershrub native to Spain, Portugal, and southern France. This woody perennial belongs to the Asteraceae family (formerly Composites), the second most important after Orchids, with more than 1600 genera and 23000 species!
Sometimes wrongly confused with Santolina viridis, it can be distinguished by its bluish-green foliage, sometimes even greyish, rather than bright green. It forms a rounded, more or less regular clump, 50 cm (20in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width, occasionally more, depending on the growing conditions and soil. Its dense vegetation consists of woody and erect stems, covered with fine, persistent foliage, fragrant when crushed. The small linear leaves, alternately arranged on the greyish stems, are not toothed, unlike other similar species, and evoke those of Rosemary. The inflorescences form in June and July, and stand above the mass of foliage. They are small round and bulging heads measuring 1 to 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter, reminiscent of small golden buttons. It is advisable to prune the plant after flowering to maintain a compact habit and prevent it from opening in an unsightly manner.
Due to its botanical origin, this plant has inherited a very good resistance to drought and sunlight. It also tolerates limestone very well, requiring well-drained soil, which can be stony, sandy, and poor. Although it comes from the south, it has a decent hardiness, down to -12°C (10.4°F) or even -15°C in good conditions. It will easily withstand heatwaves while tolerating average winters.

A beautiful undershrub for rock gardens and poor soils, the Santolina with rosemary-like leaves perfectly meets the changing habits of gardeners, who are aware that water has become scarcer and more unpredictable in summer in many regions. A low-maintenance plant, it will find a place in contemporary gardens, where its sculptural shape will be appreciated, as well as in rockeries and natural gardens. It will be easy to create a Mediterranean scene in more northern areas by associating it with other plants that share the same qualities. Cistus corbariensis, with its pretty simple white flowers and rough dark green foliage, Corsican Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites), which thrives in the sun with a range of chartreuse and golden green, and Acanthus mollis, whose foliage shape has inspired acanthus leaves in architecture, are all southern plants that will add character to your flower bed.

Properties: Santolinas have worming and insecticidal properties. Like Lavenders, they were once used to repel moths in closets.

Plant habit

Height at maturity 50 cm
Spread at maturity 60 cm
Habit Irregular, bushy
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time June to July
Inflorescence Flower head
Flower size 1 cm
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Evergreen
Foliage colour green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Santolina

Species

rosmarinifolia

Family

Asteraceae

Other common names

Green Cotton Lavender

Origin

Mediterranean

Product reference182361

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Planting and care

Santolina rosmarinifolia requires a perfectly drained, stony or sandy, poor, even limestone soil. Plant it after the last frost in the north, and in September-October in a hot and dry climate. It cannot thrive without sunlight, and likes to have warm roots. When planted in overly rich soil, it becomes limp and lacks rigidity. In poor and well-drained soil, it is hardy down to -12/-15°C (10.4/5°F) and will live longer. Plant it in a raised bed, enriched with gravel, in a rockery, in full sun against a south-facing wall, in a stony or sandy slope, or any substrate that does not retain moisture which would be fatal for it in winter or summer which is its vegetative resting period. The combination of heat and humidity can lead to the development of a fungus that attacks the collar of the plant and will cause its death as much as a Siberian cold. It is essential to prune the stems after flowering to maintain a compact shape.

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Planting period

Best planting time March, September
Recommended planting time February to May, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Container, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 3 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Chalky (poor, alkaline and well-drained), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Dry soil, well-drained, poor

Care

Pruning instructions Remove faded flowers and prune the young plant every year to maintain a compact habit.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time August to September
Soil moisture Dry soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground

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