Is santolina a lavender?

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).

How do you care for a santolina plant?

Regular pruning every one or two years—cutting mounds back severely in late winter or spring just above lower buds—maintains a neat outline and keeps santolina from becoming too leggy, woody, or splitting apart in the middle.

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.

Can I cut back cotton lavender?

Once the plant has flowered, don’t be afraid to cut it back fairly hard to keep it in good shape. It’s not a particularly demanding plant but, as with all plants of Mediterranean origin, it needs a sunny position in well drained soil.

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.

Can Santolina be hard pruned?

But I do know that you can prune it back quite hard and it will resprout easily from the base of the plant. Do this in late winter just before it starts to put on a lot of new growth. You can start by pruning 1/3 of the branches or alternatively cut the entire plant back to 1/2 the height.

Is Santolina a herb?

A popular colonial herb for repelling insects it is still popular among the Pennsylvania Dutch. Native to the Mediterranean, like so many of today’s herbs, it was especially common in North Africa. It was a traditional herb for eye health.

Is lavender cotton a perennial?

The name is deceiving, though, because the plant is neither lavender nor cotton….Lavender Cotton.

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.

Should I cut back leggy lavender?

Cutting the lavender back too harshly is often the cause of leggy lavender so ensure that you trim just the top third of the green growth. If you do not prune in the spring with the goal of a mound shape the lavender will be more susceptible to splitting, look leggy and untidy.