Celebrating Santolina: Our National Collection Takes Centre Stage

We’re excited to share that Botanica’s National Collection of Santolina will be on display at the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival from 1st–6th July. It’s a brilliant opportunity to see these beautifully aromatic, bee-friendly shrubs in all their glory – and to learn more about the passion and persistence behind this remarkable collection.

If you can’t make it to Hampton Court, don’t worry – we’re also opening up the collection during our Plant Heritage Open Week (7th–11th July) here at the nursery. You’ll be able to stroll through our landscaped display area, chat with our team, and enjoy one of the UK’s most complete living collections of this much-overlooked Mediterranean shrub.

What is Santolina?

Sometimes known as ‘Cotton Lavender’, Santolinas are small, evergreen shrubs that originated in the Mediterranean, stretching from Corsica to the Pyrenees. With their highly aromatic silver or green foliage and clusters of button-like yellow or cream flowers, they’re loved by pollinators and add real texture to gardens.

They’re also brilliantly tough – thriving in dry, sunny spots, forgiving of poor soil, and even making neat edging plants with a bit of regular trimming. Think of them as lavender’s hardier, low-maintenance cousin (but better at surviving our wetter seasons!).

Becoming a National Collection Holder

In 2017, our collection was officially recognised by Plant Heritage, the UK’s leading plant conservation charity. It was the result of five years of collecting and cultivating over 20 different varieties — some of which are now very rare and almost impossible to find elsewhere in the UK.

Becoming a National Collection holder isn’t just about owning a few plants. It’s about preserving diversity, sharing knowledge, and maintaining detailed records. For us, it’s also about celebrating the kind of plants that too often go under the radar.

A Personal Project – Jon’s Story

Botanica’s founder, Jon Rose, has been growing Santolinas for years – without even realising he was building a collection. But after a fateful purchase of Santolina Lemon Fizz on holiday (a name he still winces at!), his curiosity was piqued.

"I started looking into the different cultivars and realised that no one else was holding a National Collection,” says Jon. “That was the turning point. I’d already fallen in love with them — and from there, the collecting became quite serious.”

Jon’s affection for Santolina is infectious. “The scent always reminds me of the Mediterranean,” he says. “And although they’re sun-loving, they’re surprisingly well suited to British gardens. They’re tough, neat, and attract all the right kinds of wildlife.”

You can read Jon’s full account of curating the collection at the bottom of this page – including the varieties he’s still on the lookout for!

Come and See the Collection

We’d love for you to see the collection for yourself – either at Hampton Court (1st–6th July) or here at Botanica during our Open Week (7th–11th July). Whether you’re a Santolina enthusiast, a Plant Heritage member, or simply curious about these scented, pollinator-friendly plants, there’s something here to inspire.

And if you happen to have an old Santolina tucked away in your garden – especially the elusive S. benthamiana or S. chamaecyparissus Double Lemon – Jon would love to hear from you.