Сантоліна

Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus, cotton lavender) is a small evergreen shrub native to the western and central Mediterranean. Despite its common name, it is not a true lavender. It is also not closely related to cotton. The genus Santolina belongs to the chamomile tribe of the sunflower family.

The plant grows to 50 cm tall and broad and is densely covered in aromatic, grey-green leaves. In summer it produces masses of yellow, button-like composite flowerheads on slender stems above the foliage. The disc florets are tubular and there are no ray florets.

The species name chamaecyparissus means 'like Chamaecyparis', the ground cypress, though it is not closely related to that plant. Santolina is a genus of small evergreen shrubs, 10 to 60 cm tall, found mainly in the western Mediterranean region. The leaves are simple and minute in some species and finely divided in others, often densely silvery hairy and usually aromatic. The yellow or white flowerheads form dense globe-shaped clusters 1 to 2 cm across, held 10 to 25 cm above the foliage on slender stems.

Santolina africana grows in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, S. corsica in Corsica, S. impressa in Portugal and S. pinnata in Tuscany, Italy.

In cosmetics Santolina is used as a tonic. It is an effective fumigant. In cultivation it is valued as groundcover or as an edging plant for a hot, sunny, well-drained spot, though it may be short-lived. Once established, plants can tolerate dry and poor soils. The dwarf cultivar 'Nana', growing to 25 cm, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Many species once placed in Santolina are now assigned to other genera, including Achillea, Anthemis, Matricaria and Tanacetum.

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