Santolina chamaecyparissus
Lavender Cotton
Description
This ground cover/small shrub will grow to 2' tall and has small, grayish silver leaves with yellow flowers that bloom in the summer.
Maintenance Tips
Santolina chamaecyparissus is a Mediterranean native that can be found in many California gardens. It is very drought tolerant and is very low maintenance if it is planted in a location where it can reach its full mature size of 2’ tall to 3’ wide. This plant is susceptible to root rot or fungal diseases if the soil is too wet or doesn’t drain easily. If the plant develops fungal issues, allow the soil to dry out and treat with a systemic fungicide. This plant usually blooms in the summer, and the plant will continue to bloom if you deadhead the spent flowers. In the late winter or early spring, you can cut back the foliage by one-third of the current size to maintain the size and encourage new growth.
Plant Type
Shrub, Ground cover
Height Range
1-3'
Flower Color
Yellow
Flower Season
Summer
Leaf Color
Grey, Silver
Bark Color
n/a
Fruit Color
n/a
Fruit Season
n/a
Sun
Full, Half
Water
Low
Growth Rate
Fast, Moderate
Soil Type
Sandy, Loam, Rocky
Soil Condition
Average, Poor, Dry
Soil pH
Neutral
Adverse Factors
n/a
Design Styles
Meadow, Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Wild Garden
Accenting Features
Showy Flowers, Unusual Foliage
Seasonal Interest
Summer
Location Uses
Entry, Perennial Border, Parking Strip, Patio, Park, Parking Lot, Raised Planter, Swimming Pool, Walkways, With Rocks
Special Uses
Container, Erosion Control, Filler, Mass Planting, Fire Resistant
Attracts Wildlife
n/a
Water Saving Tip:
Mulching and adding compost to soil can minimize evaporation and help soil absorb and store water.