Lavender Cotton (Santolina): Growing, Uses & Medicinal Benefits

Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus) is a compact, aromatic evergreen subshrub (to 2 ft tall/wide) with silver-gray foliage and bright yellow button flowers in summer. Hardy zones 5–10. Thrives in full sun, poor soil, drought, and cold. Perfect for herb gardens, rockeries, edging, and knot gardens.

Key Traits

• Perennial evergreen; mounded habit.
• Fragrant foliage (flowers less so).
• Well-drained soil essential; no wet feet.
• Propagate by seed or summer cuttings.
• Prune to globe shape after flowering.

Uses

• Ornamental: herb gardens, hedges, rock gardens, borders.
• Cut/dried flowers: bouquets, potpourri.
• Wildlife: attracts bees, butterflies, small birds.
• Medicinal (traditional):
  • Digestion: 7 flower heads in boiling water for gastritis, flatulence, heartburn.
  • Hair loss prevention: decoction of 50–60g flowers in 1L water.
  • Intestinal worms: traditional vermifuge.

Low maintenance, high reward. A complete package for sunny, dry spots.