What is Santolina used for?

What is Santolina used for?

Grey santolina – also known as lavender cotton – is sometimes used in herbal medicine; and it has been used as a natural dye, in potpourris, as a moth repellent, and as the source of an essential oil. Since Elizabethan times it has been fashionable to keep Santolina clipped into tiny hedges for knot gardens.

Where does Santolina come from?

Santolina is a genus of plants in the chamomile tribe within the sunflower family, primarily from the western Mediterranean region. L. L. They are small evergreen shrubs growing 10–60 cm (4–24 in) tall.

Is Santolina a lavender?

Santolina herb plants were introduced to the United States from the Mediterranean in 1952. Today, they are recognized as a naturalized plant in many areas of California. Also known as lavender cotton, Santolina herb plants are members of the sunflower/aster family (Asteraceae).

What does Santolina look like?

Considered an evergreen sub-shrub for its lower woody stems, Santolina chamaecyparissus forms a rounded, dense, silvery gray mound up to 2 ft. high and wide. It has a compact cultivar ‘Nana’ that grows to only about 1 ft.; ‘Pretty Carol’ and ‘Lemon Queen’ with creamy yellow flowers are each a little taller.

What does santolina smell like?

Although this plant is commonly known as cotton lavender the aroma has little aromatic similarities to lavender. The top note is similar to smelling chamomile and yarrow with a fleeting red berry nuance. The heart notes through to dry down are more of a green herbal bouquet, with bitter and boozy character.

Can you eat cotton lavender?

Edible parts of Cotton Lavender: The aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring for broths, sauces, grain dishes etc.

Is santolina an evergreen?

Rosemary or green santolina and gray santolina are evergreen subshrubs that typically grow from 12 to 18 inches tall and spread out 3 to 5 feet to form a mounding groundcover.

What color is santolina?

Santolina or Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus), a favorite of Mediterranean gardens, is a beautiful evergreen shrub noted not only for its dense, fine, silvery gray-green foliage all year around but for its drought tolerance.

What color is Santolina?

Is santolina toxic to dogs?

Santolina ‘Pretty Carol’ has no toxic effects reported.

What is cotton lavender good for?

Santolina chamaecyparissus, or cotton lavender, is a Mediterranean shrub that makes a neat, rounded bush, with finely divided foliage. It’s ideal for using as groundcover, to fill gaps at the front of the border, and is also well suited to growing in pots.

How fast does santolina grow?

six months to one year
Santolina is an evergreen shrub that grows to a height of 0.3m, with a spread of 0.4m. It is fast growing, taking six months to one year to reach its mature size. Flowers bloom in early summer, from May to June. Requirements: Grows in full sun, and requires not too rich, but well-drained soil.

What to do with santolina after flowering?

Trim and clip santolina

1. trim back after the flowers have died to prevent plant becoming leggy.
2. trim in autumn or early spring to keep a neat shape and dense foliage.

What does Santolina smell like?

Is Santolina good for bees?

Santolina chamaecyparissus ‘Pretty Carol’ is a small cultivar. In summer it bears bright yellow pom-pom flowers, in contrast with silver, fragrant foliage. It’s extremely attractive to pollinators, including bees.

What does cotton lavender smell like?

Does santolina need full sun?

Santolina Plant Care The plants prefer full sun, but our largest santolina blooms each summer even though it now gets lots of afternoon shade from a nearby tree. Place the plant in well-draining soil. When temperatures reach 90 degrees, water your santolina every few weeks if you get no rain.

Can you take cuttings from santolina?

Santolina grow best in full sun and need little care and maintenance apart from deadheading the old flower stalks with the garden shears to tidy up and shape the mounds of foliage. Semi-ripe cuttings root extremely easily with bottom heat in summer, but the clumps are very easily divided with a spade.

Is Santolina toxic to dogs?

Is lavender cotton toxic?

Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Allergy to ragweed, daisies, and related plants: Lavender cotton may cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to the Asteraceae/Compositae plant family. Members of this family include ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, daisies, and many others.