Lavender Cotton
Santolina chamaecyparissus
Also listed as Santolina marchii
Also known as Cotton Lavender
Climate Match for your location
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A compact evergreen shrub with silvery, finely divided foliage and small button-like yellow flowers. Highly drought-tolerant and excellent for Mediterranean gardens, borders, and containers.
Why grow it
Santolina chamaecyparissus offers finer, more silvery foliage than many Mediterranean shrubs of similar size, making it particularly useful where textural contrast is desired in dry borders. It tolerates poor, well-drained soils where many ornamentals struggle, and its compact habit (typically 60 cm tall) suits smaller spaces and container cultivation better than larger alternatives like rosemary or santolina virens. The button-like flowers attract pollinators and support integrated pest management in perennial plantings.
Watch out for
Plants may become woody and sparse in the center after several years, requiring occasional hard pruning to maintain density, though recovery can be slow. In humid climates or poorly drained soils, root rot becomes a significant risk despite drought tolerance in ideal conditions. The foliage can bleach or fade if grown in deep shade, diminishing the ornamental appeal that makes the species worth cultivating.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Mediterranean region
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A compact evergreen shrub with silvery, finely divided foliage and small button-like yellow flowers. Highly drought-tolerant and excellent for Mediterranean gardens, borders, and containers.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Lavender Cotton grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Santolina chamaecyparissus offers finer, more silvery foliage than many Mediterranean shrubs of similar size, making it particularly useful where textural contrast is desired in dry borders. It tolerates poor, well-drained soils where many ornamentals struggle, and its compact habit (typically 60 cm tall) suits smaller spaces and container cultivation better than larger alternatives like rosemary or santolina virens. The button-like flowers attract pollinators and support integrated pest management in perennial plantings.
Watch out for
Plants may become woody and sparse in the center after several years, requiring occasional hard pruning to maintain density, though recovery can be slow. In humid climates or poorly drained soils, root rot becomes a significant risk despite drought tolerance in ideal conditions. The foliage can bleach or fade if grown in deep shade, diminishing the ornamental appeal that makes the species worth cultivating.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native Range
Mediterranean region
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
pH Range
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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