Holy Flax Santolina rosmarinifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Santolina virens
- Phonetic Spelling
- san-toh-LY-nuh rose-ma-ree-nee-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Green Santolina is an evergreen, rounded, fragrant shrub from the Mediterranean. It needs well-drained soil in the full sun and is quite drought tolerant. Prune the plant back severely in late winter or spring to keep it from getting too leggy, woody or splitting apart. The leaves are fragrant and add a fine texture to the garden. The yellow spring flowers are showy. It is fairly short-lived.
Use this shrub in a rock garden, on a slope, a border or in small groups.
Fungal root and basal crown rot is possible if the soil is poorly drained.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lemon Fizz'
yellow-green leaves, more compact - 'Olivia'
Bright green leaves
- 'Lemon Fizz'
- 'Lemon Fizz', 'Olivia'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lemon Fizz'
yellow-green leaves, more compact - 'Olivia'
Bright green leaves
- 'Lemon Fizz'
- 'Lemon Fizz', 'Olivia'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Santolina
- Species:
- rosmarinifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Dried leaves used in sachets and potpourris. Foliage historically used as an insecticide. It can also be used medicinally on insect bites as pain relief. Extracted oils used in perfume.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Iberian Peninsula, S.W. Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Tight yellow composite flower head blooms in mid to late spring.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Pinnatifid
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 1.5 inch deep green scale-like leaves are highly pinnatifid and aromatic.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender green flower stems
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
