View Larger Gray Santolina

Planted at Mount Vernon

Planted at Mount Vernon Lower Garden

  • Lower Garden

  • Hardiness Zones

    6 6 7 7b 8 8b 9 9b USDA basemap

    Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005

    map legend 6 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

    Soft silvery foliage, which somewhat resembles French lavender, gives this plant its common name of lavender cotton. It is a good edging plant in sunny, well-drained spots. Santolina was commonly used medicinally and can be used to ward off insects.

    Latin Name

    Santolina chamaecyparissus


    Family

    Asteraceae


    Also Known As

    Lavender Cotton


    Type of Plant

    Shrubs Shrubs
    Herbs Herbs

    Bloom Season

    July - August


    Seasons

    Fall Fall
    Spring Spring
    Summer Summer
    Winter Winter

    Specifications

    Max height Max Height: 2'
    Max spread Max Spread: 3'

    Uses

  • Herb
  • Hedge
  • Flower Border

  • Sunlight Exposure

    Full Sun Full Sun

    Tolerances

  • Drought

  • Colors


    Native Range

    Western and Central Mediterranean


    History

    Santolina has been in use since the middle ages as a medicinal herb and is a staple of Colonial Revival gardens.


    Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility.   Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.

    Bring Washington's Garden Home

    Purchase our historic seeds, collected from plants grown at Mount Vernon and plant them in your own garden.

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