Lavender Cotton

Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus) is a compact silver grey shrub, about 40cm high and 60cm wide, that makes one of the neatest low hedges for a sunny, poor soil garden. Fine grey foliage holds its colour all year and little yellow button flowers dot it through the warmer months. It is frost hardy, drought tolerant and needs just one clip a year.

Why you'll love it

• Silver all year. The fine grey foliage lifts the green plants around it and looks good in every season.
• Yellow buttons in summer. Small, round yellow flowers appear in the warmer months and contrast neatly with the grey.
• Tough as they come. It is frost hardy to about minus 10C, drought tolerant once established and happy in poor soil.
• A hedge that stays low. At 40cm it makes a tidy low hedge or edging without competing with taller plants.
• One haircut a year. A clip after flowering keeps it bushy, and that is about all the maintenance it asks for.

Where it works best

Low hedging and edging. Plant 40cm apart in a single row and clip after flowering. It outlines beds, paths and herb gardens neatly.

Mass planting and waterwise beds. Plant 50cm apart in a drift for a silver carpet that needs little water. It pairs well with lavender, rosemary and other Mediterranean plants.

Pots and containers. The compact size suits a large pot or trough in full sun with a gritty potting mix.

Growing Lavender Cotton in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun. It is a Mediterranean plant that loves heat and light, and it is frost hardy to about minus 10C, so it suits cool temperate gardens as well as warm ones. In humid districts with wet summers it can sulk, so give it your sunniest, airiest spot.

Soil. Light, free draining soil. Poor, stony or alkaline ground is fine, but heavy wet clay is not, so raise the bed or use a pot there.

Water and feed. Mulch and water well during dry periods while the plant is establishing, then let it manage on rainfall in most gardens. Skip rich feeding, which makes growth soft and floppy.

Pruning. Clip over after flowering to maintain bushiness and encourage new growth, and trim to shape whenever it needs it.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Lavender Cotton as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. For a hedge, a pack of ten covers about 4m at 40cm spacing. Plant out soon after delivery, water in well and mulch the soil.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse hedging and screening plants
• Drought tolerant plants
• Lavender for a matching silver and purple look
• Low hedge plants under 1 metre

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge?

Plant 40cm apart in a single row, then clip after flowering to keep it dense.

Is it the same as lavender?

No. Lavender Cotton is a different plant, with finely cut grey foliage and yellow button flowers rather than purple spikes. The two look good together in a dry garden.

Will it grow in a humid climate?

It can, but its Mediterranean origins mean it prefers dry air. On humid coasts, choose a sunny, open position with sharp drainage.