National Collection of Santolina

We started our collection of Santolinas, also known as ‘Cotton Lavenders’, almost by accident. We had been growing these easy going trouble free sub-shrubs in my nursery Botanica for many years and We had - without realising it - most of the species and cultivars available.

 

While on holiday in the Lake District one year the Jon the owner of Botanica bought a  Santolina Lemon Fizz, for him an awful sounding name, but it stirred him into looking at other cultivars. Having referenced the RHS Plant Finder he realised there was no one with a National Collection. By this time, He had rather fallen in love with these much-overlooked shrubs that he decided to start collecting rather more seriously and so the collection began.

 

The smell of their foliage always reminds us of the Mediterranean, which is indeed of course from where they originate. Though Santolinas are from sunny climes they are perfectly happy in our British garden climate. They tolerant quite a degree of dry shade but they are happiest in a sunny spot and are not demanding on cultivation. They thrive if they are not overfed and drainage is good. They make excellent formal edging with a long flowering period of button like flowers which range in colour from bright golden yellow to the most delicate pale yellow and cream. Unlike lavender they respond well to the occasional hard pruning back. Regular trimming as new growth begins and again after flowering is all that’s needed to keep them looking neat and tidy.

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Exciting times for our Santolina Collection 

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Delighted to announce that they have won silver gilt for their National Santolina Collection display at RHS Hampton Court this year.

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Nursery Manager Jess Dighton and her team have worked hard over the last few months to design and develop her stand for the show. Apprehensive to begin with, she was heartened by the feedback from show veterans and Plant Heritage as she set up her stand for the judges to cast their critical eyes over.

Her efforts paid off and she was just short of the top Gold medal, but very proud to be awarded Silver Gilt.

She said afterwards “It’s a fantastic reward for all our hard work and recognition for Botanica on the national stage.”

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Jess has been greeted with tremendous interest and attracted the attention of BBC Gardeners World. She was filmed on Wednesday 2nd July, with a clip aired on BBC 2 at 8.00 on Friday 4th July.

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After the Hampton Court stand is deconstructed, the prize winning display will be continued at its permanent home at the nursery at Campsea Ashe at Botanica’s Santolina open week w/c 7th July. Visitors are welcome to view and buy their own plants to take home. Santolinas make a vibrant display with their attractive silver and green foliage along with masses of button sized flowers which range in colour from lovely creamy white to bright vivid yellow. They are an ideal plant for dry and sunny conditions and well suited to our ever warmer climate.

 

Plant Heritage members and the public are very welcome to visit and see progress of the site chosen for the collection​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.​

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