Santolina pinnata subsp neapolitana Edward Bowles

The Edward Bowles Santolina, also known as Santolina pinnata subsp neapolitana, is a persistent and very hardy Mediterranean shrub, both opulent and lightweight. In summer, it is covered with small, very bright creamy white heads that sway above feathery, silver-grey foliage, which is highly fragrant when crushed. The plant develops into a dense cushion, forming beautiful ground cover. It tolerates pruning well and can be used to create architectural borders. It is perfectly adapted to drought and rocky soils. Provide it with a dry and poor slope, plenty of sunlight, and lots of warmth.

The Edward Bowles Santolina is an undershrub native to Italy. This woody perennial belongs to the asteraceae family. It forms a rounded tuft 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in) tall and 40 to 80 cm (16 to 32in) in diameter, sometimes much larger depending on the growing conditions and soil type. Its woody and prostrate stems readily root upon contact with the ground, allowing it to form beautiful cushions covered with persistent and fragrant foliage, exuding a scent reminiscent of olive oil and turpentine. The leaves are finely cut, in long feathery lace, very downy and silvery. The inflorescences appear in summer, from June to August. These are small round and domed heads, 1 to 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter, resembling small caps made of creamy white lace. It is best to prune the plant after flowering to maintain a compact habit.

This lovely rockery undershrub and plant for poor soils is perfectly adapted to drought. It particularly dislikes heavy, rich, and moist soils. Create a bed to accompany your santolina, evoking the scrubland, by mixing the foliage and scents of rock roses, lavenders, rosemarys, thymes, and salvias. Add some Californian poppies and dry terrain euphorbias for a bit of dynamism in your composition. Santolines tolerate pruning very well and it is necessary to maintain a compact habit. They can be planted along pathways, kept as low hedges, or placed in the middle of a rockery as a silver touch. They are very good ground covers that prevent the germination of weeds.

Properties:

Santolines have insecticidal properties. Like lavenders, they were used in the past to repel moths in closets.