Santolina rosmarinifolia

Santolina rosmarinifolia is an interesting botanical Santolina, which forms a beautiful dense cushion ornamental throughout the seasons and well adapted to dry conditions. This shrub naturally forms a low dome, slightly wider than it is tall, with thin leaves of a beautiful bluish-green. This natural ground cover is covered in summer with an abundant flowering of small yellow pompoms, highlighted by the glaucous foliage. This persistent and hardy Mediterranean shrub is adapted to drought and rocky soils, it tolerates pruning well and can handle limestone. It only dislikes excess water and extremely cold temperatures and is perfect in a natural garden as well as in a contemporary environment.

Santolina rosmarinifolia is an undershrub native to Spain, Portugal, and southern France. This woody perennial belongs to the Asteraceae family (formerly Composites), the second most important after Orchids, with more than 1600 genera and 23000 species!
Sometimes wrongly confused with Santolina viridis, it can be distinguished by its bluish-green foliage, sometimes even greyish, rather than bright green. It forms a rounded, more or less regular clump, 50 cm (20in) in height and 60 cm (24in) in width, occasionally more, depending on the growing conditions and soil. Its dense vegetation consists of woody and erect stems, covered with fine, persistent foliage, fragrant when crushed. The small linear leaves, alternately arranged on the greyish stems, are not toothed, unlike other similar species, and evoke those of Rosemary. The inflorescences form in June and July, and stand above the mass of foliage. They are small round and bulging heads measuring 1 to 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter, reminiscent of small golden buttons. It is advisable to prune the plant after flowering to maintain a compact habit and prevent it from opening in an unsightly manner.
Due to its botanical origin, this plant has inherited a very good resistance to drought and sunlight. It also tolerates limestone very well, requiring well-drained soil, which can be stony, sandy, and poor. Although it comes from the south, it has a decent hardiness, down to -12°C (10.4°F) or even -15°C in good conditions. It will easily withstand heatwaves while tolerating average winters.

A beautiful undershrub for rock gardens and poor soils, the Santolina with rosemary-like leaves perfectly meets the changing habits of gardeners, who are aware that water has become scarcer and more unpredictable in summer in many regions. A low-maintenance plant, it will find a place in contemporary gardens, where its sculptural shape will be appreciated, as well as in rockeries and natural gardens. It will be easy to create a Mediterranean scene in more northern areas by associating it with other plants that share the same qualities. Cistus corbariensis, with its pretty simple white flowers and rough dark green foliage, Corsican Spurge (Euphorbia myrsinites), which thrives in the sun with a range of chartreuse and golden green, and Acanthus mollis, whose foliage shape has inspired acanthus leaves in architecture, are all southern plants that will add character to your flower bed.

Properties: Santolinas have worming and insecticidal properties. Like Lavenders, they were once used to repel moths in closets.