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Santolina rosmarinifolia is often confused with:
Santolina chamaecyparissus Santolina chamaecyparissus
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Berberis thunbergii Japanese barberry
Nerium oleander 'Hardy Pink' Flowers - Sept. 15 - Wake Co., NC
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis

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', 'Olivia'
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#fragrant leaves#deer resistant#fantz#dry soils tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Lemon Fizz'
    yellow-green leaves, more compact
  • 'Olivia'
    Bright green leaves
'Lemon Fizz', 'Olivia'
Tags:
#fragrant#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#shrub#yellow flowers#fragrant leaves#deer resistant#fantz#dry soils tolerant
  • 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:
    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