Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Lemon Queen'

RHS Plant Profile

lavender cotton 'Lemon Queen'

Synonyms

Santolina virens 'Lemon Queen'
Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. rosmarinifolia 'Lemon Queen'

Shrubs

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An evergreen mound-forming shrub with silver-grey, finely divided, woolly aromatic leaves. In summer it produces pale yellow pompom-like flowers on thin stems, which are held above the foliage.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H5
Drought Resistance: Yes

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Santolina are aromatic, dwarf evergreen shrubs with entire or pinnately dissected leaves and dense, button-like flower-heads in summer
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny sheltered position on free-draining soil. Drought tolerant once established. Cut back previous years growth in spring or trim soon after flowering to keep plant compact and bushy

Propagation

Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer. Branches can also be layered.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Low Maintenance

Pruning

Pruning group 10

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility