Plant of the Week 11/10/2010: Santolina chamaecyparissus

(Asteraceae) Common name: Cotton Lavender.

Culture: Santolina chamaecyparissus soft greyish-silver woolly foliage provides the perfect foil for red foliaged plants and is one of the best performing spill-over rockery plants for Sydney. Santolina chamaecyparissus suits secondary and tertiary coastal salt zones (Köppen climate zones 9 - 11).

Position: Originating from the Mediteranean on chalky soils, Santolina chamaecyparissus prefer an open sunny position.

Flowers: The cute bright yellow pom-pom flower heads are usually pruned off to maintain the effect of a neat spillover or small hedge.

Care: Santolina chamaecyparissus are not particularly fussy plants provided they receive plenty of light and the occasional drink during the very hottest days of Summer.

Propagation: Take firm cuttings in Spring, strip back the foliage to a few leading leaves and strike in moist propagating sand.