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Cotton Lavender Wikimedia Commons
Asteraceae

Cotton Lavender

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Protection and purity.

Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Santolina
Native to
Mediterranean region
Bloom season
Summer
Type
evergreen subshrub
Height
1-2 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
dry, poor, well-drained soil
Water
low
Hardiness
6-9
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Despite its name, cotton lavender is neither a cotton nor a lavender; it is actually a member of the daisy family.
  • The strongly aromatic silvery foliage has been used as a moth repellent in linen closets since medieval times.
  • Cotton lavender was a favorite edging plant in Elizabethan knot gardens, valued for its compact, clippable form.
  • The species name 'chamaecyparissus' means 'ground cypress,' referring to the foliage's resemblance to miniature cypress branches.
  • In traditional Mediterranean herbalism, dried santolina was hung in homes to ward off fleas, lice, and other insects.

Color meanings

0

cleanliness

1

guarding against harm

Uses

  • herb garden edging
  • natural insect repellent