Santolina: varieties, planting & propagation

Santolina enthrals with its fragrance and deters pests at the same time. Lovers of rock gardens will be delighted with this Mediterranean herb, as poor, dry soil suits it particularly well.

Santolina (Santolina) is easy to care for, and its evergreen leaves provide a beautiful accent all year round. Its attractive yellow flower heads appeal not only to our eyes but to bees as well. If that were not enough, santolina delights our sense of smell and taste with its aromatic scent as well. Read on to find out how to plant the Mediterranean herb correctly and how to propagate santolina from cuttings.

Santolina origin and properties

The genus Santolina belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae) and includes 24 species that are native to the western Mediterranean region and are widely distributed. Three santolina species feel at home in our gardens given Mediterranean-like conditions are provided.

Santolina species differ from each other in their growth habits and heights as well as leaf colour and shape. Depending on the species, the plant grows bushy and upright, as a low-lying ground cover, or sometimes with an overhanging habit. Santolina can reach 10 to 70cm tall.

Santolina leaves usually have a narrow and finely pinnate blade that varies in colour from silver-grey to green depending on the species. The stem and leaf surface are often felted, protecting the plant from evaporation and sun damage.

A characteristic feature of the santolina is its flowers. From July to August, all species produce many small, spherical capitula that are white-yellow to golden-yellow. From the santolina flowers form one-seeded fruits called achenes. The tart, aromatic scent of the flower and leaves is another trademark of all santolina plants.

The most beautiful santolina varieties

These are the three most commonly grown santolina varieties:

• Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus): also called cotton lavender, is a 15 – 50cm tall, evergreen dwarf shrub with a dense growth habit. Its leaves are needle-like, slightly pinnate and grey felted. Between July and August, it displays beautiful yellow button-like flowers. The leaves and flowers give off a sweet aromatic fragrance.

• Holy flax (Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. canescens): is a 30 – 50cm tall, evergreen shrub with an erect growth habit. Its foliage is grey-green, narrow and needle-shaped. Yellow flower heads appear between July and August. The leaves and flowers have a slightly sweet scent.

• Green lavender cotton (Santolina viridis): also called green santolina and olive herb, is a 25 – 60cm tall, evergreen shrub with a branched, bushy growth habit. Its leaves are needle-like, pinnate, light to dark green and have terminal buds. Small, light yellow flower heads bloom between May and June. The leaves and flowers of this variety have a spicy, olive-like scent.

Planting santolina

As a Mediterranean plant, santolina is ideal for planting in rock gardens and on roofs. It thrives in poor, well-drained soil with a high pH value and sandy or stony subsoil.

Santolina needs a warm, dry and sunny location. Avoid moist, humus-rich and shady areas or it will die. Make sure santolina’s location is dry and well-draining to avoid root rot. You can mix some sand or fine gravel into the garden soil to improve drainage.

Plant santolina seedlings in small holes approx. 30cm apart. Make the small planting holes 1.5 times the size of the plants’ root systems. Place the santolina plant in the hole and fill with soil. Cover lightly around the base of the plant with gravel and water in to ensure that the santolina seedling develops well. Santolina plants can be planted at any time of year, but it is best to plant them in spring on frost-free days.

Tip: as santolinas are tolerant to pruning, they are ideal for edging beds.

Santolinas get along with other Mediterranean plants that have similar preferences. Feel free to place the yellow splendour of flowers with companion plants such as lavender (Lavandula spec.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and sage (Salvia officinalis) to form a colourful carpet of flowers. As a welcome bonus, Santolina’s scent helps keep pests away from its neighbours.

To grow santolina in a pot, choose a container with a diameter of at least 25cm. Santolina will only truly thrive in suitable soil. So, be sure to use a peat-free compost that does not retain much water. Our peat-free Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost is low in nutrients, which helps strengthen santolina, especially, in its aroma and root development. Mix 50% sand or gravel into the seedling compost so that santolina does not get too many nutrients or root rot.

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Santolina plant care

The undemanding santolina hardly needs any care. Moderate fertilising of santolina is sufficient to support the development of the aroma. In nutrient-rich locations, santolinas need almost no fertiliser. However, if no new shoots appear despite pruning, it is good to feed santolina with an all-purpose fertiliser. Our organic Plantura All Purpose Plant Food has a balanced NPK ratio to encourage santolina’s roots to grow, which promotes the herb’s aromatic development in the long term. Still, santolina grows best with little nutrients, so only use half the recommended dose of our food.

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In addition, you rarely need to water your santolina, even in dry summer periods. Less water means less likelihood of root rot, and the dryness promotes a more aromatic harvest.

To prevent santolina’s growth from sprawling and losing its shape, regular pruning is recommended. Pruning santolina maintains its compact branching and keeps it bushy. Prune santolina before the growing season, preferably before the end of May. But be careful! Do not cut back old, thick and woody stems or the shrub may not sprout again.

If your santolina does not flower, the amount of water or light available may be the problem. Try varying the watering and wait to see if flowers appear the following year. Otherwise, move your santolina to a sunnier and drier spot.

Is santolina hardy?

Santolina is hardy, provided it is placed in a sheltered location. If your santolina is in an exposed area, cover the surrounding ground and the plant with brushwood in winter. Good drainage and shelter will protect the plant from winter dampness.

Bring potted santolina indoors or into a shed in winter, as it is more susceptible to frost damage. Overwinter your santolina in a bright and cool place with a temperature that does not exceed 10 °C − the plant must not get too warm in winter. Alternatively, if left outside, wrap a jute bag around the pot and place on some wood to keep it off the ground.

Propagating santolina

It is easy to propagate santolinas with cuttings from spring to summer:

• Between spring and summer, cut off about 15 – 20cm of a non-woody shoot and remove its lower leaves.
• Put the cuttings in a pot with coarse, sandy, nutrient-poor soil.
• Water and cover the cuttings with transparent film.
• Place the cuttings in a warm and bright place at approx. 21 – 25 °C.
• Keep the soil moist and wait for roots and shoots to form.
• From mid-May, plant the young plants in a sunny and dry location with poor soil.

For santolina seeds, sow in spring or autumn:

• Lightly press seeds into pots with sandy or stony substrate and a little potting soil.
• For germination, place the pot in a bright place with a temperature of about 20 °C and moisten the seeds regularly.
• Plant the seedlings in a sunny and dry place with poor soil next spring.

Effects and uses of santolina

With its bright button-like flowers and fragrance, santolinas have been beloved in the garden since the 17th century. Santolinas are also useful and medicinal plants. Their essential oils, tannins and bitter substances drive away unwanted insects. Santolina can also be used as a mosquito repellent against and against moths in the wardrobe.

Although they are unpopular with pests, santolina herbs are not poisonous. They are safe to touch and handle and can even be eaten by adults and children as well as by dogs and cats. Due to its spicy aroma, lavender cotton is even used in cooking. Young springs of santolina add a tasty touch to spreads and salads.

Santolina is also said to have medicinal properties. Its essential oils, such as myrcene and cineole, are said to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Santolina leaves, flowers and seeds are often made into tea, which is said to alleviate gastrointestinal infections and flatulence, among other things.

Santolina plants are best suited to rock gardens. Find out how to create a rock garden at home.