Santolina

Cotton lavender. From dry, rocky areas of the Mediterranean and one of the mainstays of our dry Gravel garden. All are highly valued for their evergreen aromatic foliage forming low bun shaped plants to contrast with taller verticals.  The flowers too are attractive displaying button like centres surrounded by looser outer florets. All benefit from a trim over after flowering and a harder prune in the spring otherwise the plants rapidly become straggly.

A member of the daisy family, Santolina has only disc-flowers without the showy rays of many other members of the family. However it is these flowers that are richest in nectar and pollen, and as a result they are extensively visited by small bees and flies. Particularly in their native Mediterranean habiats, the leaves are eaten by the larvae of a range of specialist micromoths, but wherever they are they are an essential part of any waterwise garden. Some species, especially S. chamaecyparissus, are now appearing in the wild in Britain, especially along the coast or in cities, and while there is no concern as yet about impacts on natural habitats, it would be prudent to take steps to avoid them growing outside the confines of gardens.