Santolina chamaecyparissus  Lavender Cotton

Asteraceae

From Mediterranean climates of Europe and Africa. Moderate growth round-headed evergreen shrub, dense and twiggy. Design height 1', design spread 3'. Mature height 2', mature spread is 6'. Gray 1" leaves, palmately compound and linear. Yellow flowers (heads), 3/4" in May and June. Brown fruit (achene) in fall. Prefers full sun, light to dry water, neutral, sandy and rocky soil. Tolerates drought, heat, poor soil, salt air and wind. Subject to aphids and black scales. Propagate by seed and cuttings. Flowers should be cut off after blooming period. The best time to prune is after flowering. Shrub will stump sprout if pruned severely; it also tolerates clipping and can be used as a formal hedge with a minimum height of 1'. Uses: border, container plant, facer, groundcover, clipped hedge, informal hedge, in narrow areas, near pools, rock gardens and on the coast. Low maintenance. 'Nana' is a dwarf, 18" tall. 'Plumosus' has foliage that is lacy and silvery-grey. Photos taken at Filoli. This specimen has been very tightly sheared.