Santolina

( san - toh - LEE - nuh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs, commonly called Cotton Lavender or Lavender Cotton, needs full sun and little or no water to moderate water, making them a good choice for water-wise gardens. They are native to the Mediterranean and have fragrant foliage and profuse blooms of yellow flowers in summertime. They are great as groundcovers, informal edgings, bank covers, or low sheared hedges.

Santolina Species and Varietals

The genus Santolina includes about 20 species, and is a member of the Daisy family (Asteraceae). The  best growing zones for Santolina vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Santolina chamaecyparissus (Santolina incana) (Lavender Cotton)
This species of Santolina grows well in zones 2-24, H1 and H2, and reaches 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Stems are woody and pretty brittle, leaves are rough and white-grey. Varieties include 'Nana' (to 1 foot tall and 2-3 feet wide), 'Pretty Carol' (16 inches tall and just as wide), and 'Lemon Queen' (to 2 feet tall and wide, with creamy-yellow flowers).

Santolina pinnata (Santolina ericoides)
This species does well in zones 3-24 and reaches 2-2.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide with dark green narrow leaves and cream-colored flowers. Variety Santolina pinnata neapolitana reaches 12-15 inches tall with silvery foliage and bright yellow flowers.

Santolina rosmarinifolia (Santolina virens)
Best in zones 3-9 and 14-24, this species reaches 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with green leaves resembling those of Rosemary. Flowers are bright yellow. Variety 'Morning Mist' has a similar look to it but is more compact.

Caring for and pruning santolina shrubs

Plant your Santolina shrub in full sun (it should be getting between 6 and 8 hours of sun daily). Plant in well-draining soil that is at least moderately fertile. Sandy or loamy soils are great for Santolina's root system. These drought-tolerant plants need water regularly when they are young. At maturity, they need few waterings (allow the soil to dry out between waterings). Prune Santolina before spring growth begins each year. It can be cut back at this time to just a few inches. After bloom fades, shear off the flowering shoots. Plants that have become woody will need replacing, there is not a great way to encourage a more herbaceous growth habit after this occurs. In cooler areas, these plants can die to the ground in cooler temperatures, but will grow back from the roots when warmer weather returns.

Propagation

Santolina can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Santolina by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots. 
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Santolina by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Santolina by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost, gloves and other protective wear (to prevent skin contact) and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in spring or fall (after the plant has entered dormancy and been cut to the ground, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every four to five years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
  1. Dawn your protective gear and gather your materials. Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the tuber roots. Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
  2. Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick tuberous section.
  3. Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divided tubers about an inch under the soil surface and water thoroughly. 
  4. Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout.
Dried Santolina flower heads.

Problems and Pests

Santolina shrubs are generally pest and disease resistant, but they are susceptible to the following common garden issues:
  • Aphids
  • Whiteflies
For information on these issues, including how to eradicate them, see the following pages:
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Gallery

Plant Santolina shrubs amongst other low water-use plants.
These subshrubs can form rolling mounds of light green foliage.
The shape of Santolina shrubs make them ideal candidates for patterned shrubberies.

Videos

All about Santolina shrubs.
Using Santolina in container plantings.
Evergreen Santolina shrubs for the garden.
How to grow and care for Santolina.

Resources

Santolina Herb Plants - How to Use Santolina in the Garden
Santolina (Lavender Cotton)​
Wikipedia: Santolina
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 591, Santolina
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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