Scientific name: Santolina chamaecyparissus
Synonym: Chamaecyparissus africanus , Santolina incana
Family: ASTERACEAE
Common names: “Lavender cotton” “cotton lavender”
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 6-9
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Poor – moderately fertile soils with less clay
Moisture: Well drained with summer drought
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 20-30″ W 2-3′
Leaf and Stem shape: Narrow, silvery-woolly, much dissected arommatic leaves
Flower: Long-stalked, button-like bright yellow flowerheads 
Pruning: Annual shearing to maintain form in Feb/March, only cut into new growth leaving 1″ of green
Maintenance: Low, cut off spent flowers in Fall and cut back in early Spring
Landscape use: Mediterranean garden, low hedging, gravel garden, container
Propagate: By seed and cuttings
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
*Deer resistant
Comments: Native to the Mediterranean, may be a fire hazard if planted near flammable materials, the aromatic leaves can be used as a flavouring for broths, sauces and grain dishes
Cultivars: ~AGM winner: S. c. ‘Nana’ – dwarf version
S. rosmarinifolia – has green leaves
Vancouver Island Grows 