Santolina rosmarinifolia: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Dried leaves used in sachets and potpourris. Foliage historically used as an insecticide. It can also be used medicinally on insect bites as pain relief. Extracted oils used in perfume.
Plant Profile: Santolina rosmarinifolia
Taxonomy: Santolina rosmarinifoliaNames
Green Lavender Cotton, Green Santolina, Holy Flax
Phonetic Spelling:san-toh-LY-nuh rose-ma-ree-nee-FOH-lee-uh
Genus:Santolina
Species:rosmarinifolia
Family:Asteraceae
Green Santolina is a fragrant, evergreen shrub characterized by its rounded shape, native to the Mediterranean region. It thrives in well-drained soil and requires full sunlight, demonstrating good drought resistance. To prevent the plant from becoming overly leggy, woody, or splitting, it is advisable to prune it back significantly during late winter or early spring. The aromatic leaves contribute a delicate texture to the garden, while the vibrant yellow flowers that bloom in spring add a striking visual element. However, this shrub has a relatively short lifespan.
This plant is ideal for use in rock gardens, on slopes, as part of a border, or in small clusters. Be cautious, as poorly drained soil can lead to fungal issues such as root and basal crown rot.
Santolina rosmarinifolia Feature Summary
Santolina rosmarinifolia Image Gallery
Tags
#fragrant
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#shrub
#yellow flowers
#fragrant leaves
#deer resistant
#fantz
#dry soils tolerant
Similar Plants
Santolina rosmarinifolia is often confused with:
Santolina rosmarinifolia Feature Summary
Attributes
Dried leaves used in sachets and potpourris. Foliage historically used as an insecticide. It can also be used medicinally on insect bites as pain relief. Extracted oils used in perfume.
Iberian Peninsula, S.W. Europe
Deer resistant
Woody
Seed
Stem Cutting
Flowers
Tight yellow composite flower head blooms in mid to late spring.
Gold/Yellow
Spring
Leaves
1.5 inch deep green scale-like leaves are highly pinnatifid and aromatic.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Simple
Pinnatifid
1-3 inches
Fragrant
Stem
Slender green flower stems
Green
Smooth (glabrous)
Straight
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Broadleaf Evergreen
Rounded
Mounding
Medium
Medium
Fine
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Garden for the Blind
Border
Small groups
Drought
Deer
Lawn
Small Space
Slope/Bank
Coastal
Santolina rosmarinifolia Image Gallery
Santolina rosmarinifolia Attributes
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Country Or Region Of Origin
Iberian Peninsula, S.W. Europe
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Wildlife Value
Deer resistant
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Santolina rosmarinifolia Flowers
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Flower Description
Tight yellow composite flower head blooms in mid to late spring.
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Santolina rosmarinifolia Leaves
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Leaf Description
1.5 inch deep green scale-like leaves are highly pinnatifid and aromatic.
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Leaf Color
Green
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Santolina rosmarinifolia Stem
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Stem Description
Slender green flower stems
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Stem Color
Green
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Stem Form
Straight
Zig Zags
Santolina rosmarinifolia Whole Plant Traits
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Santolina rosmarinifolia Cultural Conditions
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Available Space To Plant
12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet
Santolina rosmarinifolia: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Santolina rosmarinifolia: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Santolina rosmarinifolia Landscape
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Santolina rosmarinifolia: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
