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Gardening
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Great Design Plant: Lavender Cotton
Sun-loving shrub can take the summer heat, brightening up any garden style with bursts of yellow blossoms
Intense summer sun can leave plants scorched and depleted by late summer, making for a tired-looking garden once the mercury settles down and we can get out to appreciate the outdoors. For lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus), it’s the opposite. Bring on the sun, because this plant can take the heat.
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by WBLA_Corky
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| Botanical name: Santolina chamaecyparissus Common name: 'Lavender cotton' USDA zones: 6 to 9 (find your zone) Water requirement: regular water to establish root system; occasional once established Light requirement: Full sun Mature size: 2 feet tall, 3 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Tolerant of deer, drought, heat, wind and coastal conditions; firewise planting Seasonal interest: Flowers in mid to late summer; evergreen When to plant: Plant seedlings in early summer; divide in spring or fall |
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| Distinguishing traits. Lavender cotton is a sun lover, and its appearance conjures everything bright — from the bleached gray foliage to its sunny yellow button flowers. It’s a densely clumping and mounding shrub with narrow divided leaves, resembling lavender. While lavender cotton is not a lavender species, aromatic foliage is enhanced when disturbed or bruised. (Note: Bruised foliage can irritate skin.) Several cultivars exist, ranging in size and color. |
| How to use it. Lavender cotton is a landscape workhorse, bringing color, texture and an easy space filler to the garden. Notice how it fills out the bank alongside orange snake flower shrubs (Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark') in this design by Eileen Kelly. Popular in native Mediterranean gardens, lavender cotton's dusty foliage and vibrant flowers complement light-toned Spanish architecture. Trailing edges cascade effortlessly over terra-cotta paths and courtyard edges. In addition, lavender cotton has seen heavy use in formal Tudor knot gardens. Depending on your garden style, lavender cotton can adapt to nearly anything — simply prune or let it grow wild. |
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| Planted en masse alongside ornamental alliums (Allium spp) and lavender shrubs (Lavandula spp), lavender cotton's bright yellow flowers just peek above the surrounding foliage. Planting notes. Cotton lavender is a typical Mediterranean native — it is tolerant of full sun, full heat and needs sandy, well-drained soil. Cotton lavender does better when regularly pruned. To maintain a healthy dense appearance, cut the shrub back before spring growth emerges every year. Otherwise, it has a tendency to become woody and sparse. You can trim the edges or cut the plant nearly to the ground. After shoots have flowered, deadhead to encourage more blooms. If the entire plant becomes too woody, you can remove and start again. In colder regions, the plant may freeze to the ground, but if the roots remain undamaged, it should survive. |
Comments
Becky Harris Wow that is gorgeous! I especially love that picture with the astilbes.
9 months ago · Like
Carle Aldrete Just the curb appeal I was looking for.
9 months ago · Like
Dig Your Garden Landscape Design Nice article Annie, and thanks for including one of my gardens!
9 months ago · Like
Dig Your Garden Landscape Design Lavender Cotton is one tough plant. I love the scent of the foliage and the charming little yellow flowers. I use it often in my low-water garden designs. As Annie indicated, Lavender Cotton does tend to get woody. I recommend trimming it after it blooms and when the foliage gets a little overgrown. In Spring and Summer it bounces back beautifully. Note: After trimming it can be a little unsightly. To remedy that, I sometimes like to have it placed a little further back in the garden and also have a lower growing/evergreen plant placed in front of it!
9 months ago · Like
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greengirl I've been looking for a replacement for stachys gray color. Do you know if this does well in SW Fl? Most people here have only annual artemesias.
6 months ago · Like
Barbara Loyd Another plus is that deer don't eat this one.
4 weeks ago · Like
Ideabook published on Aug. 27, 2012.
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