Santolina chamaecyparissus is a handsome, evergreen, compact Mediterranean shrub with aromatic greyish-white, finely divided narrow leaves that can be sheared for a formal look as a low border or planted in mass for an attractive silvery ground cover on dry banks, rocky slopes or for edging. Small, bright yellow button-like flowers bloom in summer on 6 inch tall stalks. Gray Lavender Cotton grows well in coastal California gardens with little or no supplemental water and tolerates seaside conditions. Durable and long-lived use for formal or informal borders. Also great in containers. Cutback occasionally after flowering to prevent woody buildup.
