Santolina - a little ray of sunshine

This little compact shrub has almost woolly aromatic foliage, and I've just planted this to form a low hedge/edging plant in a gravel border.  The soil is sandy with a little soil improver mixed in for a moderately fertile but well-drained environment that Santolinas prefer.

Santolina chamaecyparissus, known as cotton lavender,  is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the western and central Mediterranean, so it does like a sunny position and will be drought tolerant once established. 

​At this time of year it has lovely small and cheerful button-like flowers in bright yellow, contrasting beautifully with the purple hues of the Lavender and Nepeta.