Santolina etrusca is a Mediterranean subshrub with silvery-gray, finely pinnate foliage. From June through August, numerous cream-white to pale yellow flower heads adorn the upright stems, creating a beautiful contrast to the decorative foliage. These aromatic plants are attractive throughout the gardening season and lend an elegant air to gravel gardens and sparse, sunny beds. This low-maintenance plant prefers a sunny location and well-drained, somewhat dry soil. Thanks to its high tolerance for drought, it is ideal for natural and Mediterranean-style plantings and also provides a valuable food source for numerous insects. Pruning it back by about one-third immediately after flowering maintains its compact form and increases the number of flowers the following year.
