2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Santolina (Latin Santolina) - a genus of low-growing shrubs of the Asteraceae family, or Astrovye. Natural habitat - Mediterranean. The genus includes 24 species, of which only 8 species are used in culture.
Characteristics of culture
Santolina is an evergreen shrub or semi-shrub up to 60 cm high. The leaves are simple, oblong or pinnate, often covered with soft short silvery hairs. The flowers are yellow or bright yellow, collected in rather dense spherical baskets, reaching a diameter of 2-3 cm. Inflorescences are located at the tops of the stems.
In culture, the most common species is considered to be Santolina chamaecyparissus (Latin Santolina chamaecyparissus) and its numerous varieties, a distinctive feature of which is the color of the foliage. Cypress santolina is presented in the form of evergreens up to 60 cm high, forming slightly curved and raised shoots during growth, which form a dense round bush. Stems and leaves are covered with thick tomentose hairs over the entire surface. Inflorescences are yellow, in the form of button-shaped baskets, do not have marginal flowers. Peduncles are branched, thin, ribbed. Cypress Santolina blooms in late May - mid-June to mid-late August.
Growing conditions
For growing santolina, sunny areas with loose, moderately moist, poor, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soil are chosen. Waterlogged and fertile soils are not suitable. On fertile soils, plants form abundant green mass to the detriment of flowering, in addition, the bushes lose their compactness, falling apart on the sides. Soils with a high nitrogen content are not tolerated by the culture. Drainage is a must. You can grow santolina in pots and containers. Plants need protection from cold, piercing winds.
Landing
Santolina is planted with seeds or seedlings purchased from specialized nurseries. Planting is carried out in the spring, since the culture does not tolerate cold temperatures. Santolina is cultivated as a perennial crop. However, when using the plant as a background, where abundant foliage is important, rather than flowers, it is cultivated as an annual.
Santolin is grown mainly in seedlings. Seeds are sown without preliminary preparation in seedling containers in late March - early April. In open ground, seedlings are planted in the third decade of May, immediately after the threat of frost has passed. Sowing in open ground is also not prohibited, this procedure is carried out in early May under a shelter. In both cases, the seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks. You can propagate the culture with green cuttings in the summer.
Care
One of the main treatments for santolina care is formative pruning. Immediately after flowering, the shoots of plants are shortened to make the bushes compact and decorative. Sanitary pruning is done in the spring. For the winter, the plants are covered with spruce branches, and the near-stem zone is mulched with a thick layer of foliage or needles. The culture does not need additional fertilizing, although the introduction of complex mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content in minimal quantities is not prohibited.
Usage
Santolina is ideal for landscaping gardens. It looks harmoniously in single and group plantings in rocky gardens and other types of flower beds. The culture is also used to form hedges. Great allies of Santolina are sage, catnip and lavender. Santolina is grown in containers that decorate balconies, terraces and patios.
The flowers of plants have a pleasant, pronounced aroma, which is due to the presence of essential oils in them, which are widely used in the perfumery industry. Fragrant shoots are a great addition to fresh and dry bouquets. Wreaths collected from Santolina shoots are used to repel moths.
