Cotton lavender

Santolina chamaecyparissus

Layer 3 · Shrubs
Pest repellent

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the Mediterranean region, it is a small evergreen shrub with aromatic silver foliage and yellow flowers. In a food forest, it acts as an excellent companion plant, helping to repel unwanted herbivorous insects due to the strong presence of essential oils. It is extremely drought-tolerant and thrives in locations with full sun exposure and well-drained soils.

See which trees cotton lavender grows well with

Pick the central tree on your land and see the full guild.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Compact shrub (40 to 60 cm)
Mature diameter: 0.8 m
Soils: Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Hot, dry Mediterranean, Mountain / cold

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Planting
May
June — Harvest
July — Harvest
August — Harvest
September
October — Planting
November — Planting
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Digestive infusion and traditional vermifuge.

Where to buy

Grows well with

Central trees this plant has already been paired with.

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.