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Italian Cotton Lavender Santolina etrusca

Phonetic Spelling
san-to-lLEE-nah ee-TRUSS-kah
Description

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:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#culinary#small shrub#fragrant leaves#medicinal#showy leaves#deer resistant#groundcover#pollinator plant#subshrub#evergreen shrub#clay soils intolerant#container plant#herb garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#culinary#small shrub#fragrant leaves#medicinal#showy leaves#deer resistant#groundcover#pollinator plant#subshrub#evergreen shrub#clay soils intolerant#container plant#herb garden
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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