Santolina chamaecyparissus (syn. S. incana), known as cotton lavender or lavender-cotton,
Nomenclature
The specific epithet
chamaecyparissus means "like
Chamaecyparis" (ground cypress), though it is not closely related to that plant.
It is also not closely related to either
cotton or
lavender, despite its common name "cotton lavender".
Recognized varieties or subspecies are
-
var. etrusca Lacaita ≡ S. etrusca (Lacaita) Marchi & D'Amato
-
subsp. magonica O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts. ≡ S. magonica (O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts.) Romo, = var. teucrietorum O. Bolòs & Vigo
-
var. pectinata f. insularis Gennari ex Fiori ≡ S. insularis (Gennari ex Fiori) Arrigoni
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var. vedranensis O. Bolòs & Vigo ≡ S. vedranensis (O. Bolòs & Vigo) L. Sáez, M. Serrano, S. Ortiz & R. Carbajal
Description
It is a small
evergreen shrub growing to tall and broad. Densely covered in aromatic, grey-green leaves, in summer it produces masses of yellow, button-like
pseudanthium flowerheads, held on slender stems above the foliage. The disc florets are tubular and there are no ray florets.
Cultivation
This plant is valued in cultivation as
groundcover or as an edging plant for a hot, sunny, well-drained spot, though it may be short-lived. Once established, plants can tolerate dry and poor soils. Its compact shape can be maintained by cutting back in spring.
Numerous have been produced, of which 'Nana', a dwarf form growing to , has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Uses
In cosmetics it is used as a
Herbal tonic.
It is an effective fumigant
Pathogens
==Photo gallery==
External links
