Plant of the Day: Santolina chamaecyparissus

My favorite plant today is Santolina chamaecyparissus, commonly called Lavender cotton.
Though it is not related to lavender, both are branching perennial shrubs native to the Mediteranean with silver-gray foliage and high concentrations of aromatic oils.
It has wooly stems and foliage and bright yellow button-like flowers. They kinda looks like Kix cereal puffs! Santolina belongs to the Asteraceae family. Daisies and sunflowers are flowers typical of this family.

Santolina's little golden puffs accompanied by purple-blue spires of salvia make for a fantastic contrast. It's minute leaves and sweet mounding habit (18" tall & wide) make it perfect for rock gardens or low hedge.

Lavender cotton is a historically popular plant used in knot gardens because because of it's tight stout growth and ease in hedging.
It is a choice plant for SD, growing in almost any well draining soil and requiring little water after established. Absolutely boombastic fantasticwhen planted en mass.

Cut off spent flowers after bloom and cut back to a few inches in spring to keep it from becoming leggy.