Italian Cotton Lavender Santolina etrusca
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- san-to-lLEE-nah ee-TRUSS-kah
- Description
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Italian cotton lavender is an evergreen sub-shrub native to Italy in the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Its native habitat includes nutrient poor grasslands and roadsides.
Grows best in full sun in a somewhat sheltered location. Unlike the majority of plants, it will be at its best in poor, fine soil. It's not tolerant of clay based locations. Makes an excellent choice for borders, edging, dry locations and containers.
A low maintenance specimen only needs a light trim in the fall after flowering has completed. Once established, they can be cut back in the spring.
Makes an attractive, low hedge.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally disease and insect free.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Santolina
- Species:
- etrusca
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Italy
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Buffer
- Easy to Grow
- Fragrance
- Edibility:
- Can be used as culinary herb.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Pale creamy-white flowers bloom in mid-summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Feathery, attractive, fragrant gray-green foliage.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
