Product description
Santolina chamaecyparissus is a distinctive evergreen sub-shrub cultivated primarily for its striking, woolly, silver-grey foliage, which provides excellent texture and contrast in the garden. While the leaves are highly aromatic with a strong, pungent scent similar to chamomile and lavender, they are rarely used for culinary purposes; instead, the plant is historically valued for its use in moth-repelling sachets, potpourri, and as a natural insect deterrent.
This hardy plant typically grows as a dense, rounded bush that is ideal for creating low hedging, knot gardens, or edging sunny borders. It thrives in full sun, which is essential to maintain the intense silver colour of the leaves and prevent the plant from flopping. Highly drought-tolerant once established, it demands poor, sandy, or gritty soil with excellent drainage and will suffer quickly if planted in heavy, wet ground.
Please Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only - The plant will be supplied in a growers pot.
Cotton Lavender
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Santolina chamaecyparissus
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Product description
Santolina chamaecyparissus is a distinctive evergreen sub-shrub cultivated primarily for its striking, woolly, silver-grey foliage, which provides excellent texture and contrast in the garden. While the leaves are highly aromatic with a strong, pungent scent similar to chamomile and lavender, they are rarely used for culinary purposes; instead, the plant is historically valued for its use in moth-repelling sachets, potpourri, and as a natural insect deterrent.
This hardy plant typically grows as a dense, rounded bush that is ideal for creating low hedging, knot gardens, or edging sunny borders. It thrives in full sun, which is essential to maintain the intense silver colour of the leaves and prevent the plant from flopping. Highly drought-tolerant once established, it demands poor, sandy, or gritty soil with excellent drainage and will suffer quickly if planted in heavy, wet ground.
Please Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only - The plant will be supplied in a growers pot.
Give your plants the best start
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
When to plant
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
Santolina chamaecyparissus can become straggly and split open in the centre if left unpruned, so trim it back hard in spring to encourage fresh, tight silvery growth. Removing the bright yellow button flowers before they seed also helps maintain the plant's neat, rounded shape.
How to Water
Water young Santolina chamaecyparissus plants moderately to help them establish, but ensure the water drains away rapidly. Once mature, this Mediterranean native is exceptionally drought-tolerant and should be watered very sparingly, as excess moisture causes fungal diseases and root rot.
How to Plant
Plant Santolina chamaecyparissus in a hot, sunny position with poor, dry soil, adding grit or sand to the planting hole to maximize drainage. It is perfectly suited for rock gardens or gravel beds where the sharp drainage mimics its natural habitat and prevents the woolly foliage from rotting.
