Green Santolina (Santolina virens)
Ideal for arid sites, Santolina [san-toe-LEEN- ah] plants also grow in more temperate regions. A popular form, Green Santolina, has many uses in residential landscapes. Also known as Green Lavender Cotton, it is actually a perennial herb. It is at home in the yard as a groundcover or ornamental plant. It offers attractive foliage, small flowers, texture and durability. Properly located in the yard, it has no serious pest or disease problems.
Size: Green santolina typically grows from 12 to 18 inches tall. However it looks best if it is clipped to about 1 foot tall. A faster grower than its cousin, gray santolina, it is also more compact. A single plant is likely to spread 3 to 5 feet to form an uneven mound.
Foliage As its name suggests, green santolina has green foliage. Its finely divided linear leaves are up to 2 inches long, though only 1/16 inch wide. They have finely toothed edges and grow 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. Foliage may be dark to medium to light, bright green. Tightly massed on dense stems, this feathery foliage gives the green santolina plant a hazy appearance. It is sometimes described as looking like green smoke. When santolina foliage is crushed it releases a strong aroma, not universally regarded as a pleasant one. Although green santolina foliage is basically evergreen, it sometimes turns brown in areas that experience unusually cold winters. It is also fire retardant.
Flowers: Green santolina produces single, bright yellow button-like flowers in mid-summer. They appear at the top of 6 to 10 inch stalks that shoot above the foliage. A typical flower head may be 3/4 inch across.
Gray Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus)
Gray Santolina, has many uses in residential landscapes. Also known as Gray Lavender Cotton, this plant is actually a small shrub, but it acts like a groundcover and smells like an herb. It offers attractive foliage, small flowers, texture and durability. Properly located in the yard, it has no serious pest or disease problems.
Size: Gray santolina typically grows from 12 to 18 inches tall. However it looks best if it is clipped to about 1 foot tall. A moderately fast grower, a single plant is likely to spread 3 to 5 feet. As its branches grow longer and fall to touch the soil, they will take root.
Foliage: As its name suggests, gray santolina has gray foliage. Its finely divided leaves are 1/2 to 3/4 inch long, but because they grow in clumps along woody stems, they have a rough appearance. They are covered with silvery-gray hairs and are evergreen. When they are crushed they emit a strong aroma, but it is not regarded as a pleasant one.
Flowers: If it is not clipped, gray santolina produces yellow, buttonlike flowers in mid-summer. They appear in clusters at the top of stems which shoot up several inches above the foliage. A typical flower head may be 1/2 to 3/4 inch across. These blooms are quite showy.
Gray Santolina Choices
A dwarf form of gray santolina called `nana' grows to about 1 foot. It is much slower growing.
