This compact evergreen shrub brings a burst of colour to sunny planting schemes, with finely cut, aromatic foliage forming a soft, mounded shape that gently spreads over time.
The foliage is slender, divided and blue-green to bright green, releasing a light, herbal scent when brushed, making it a great choice for edging paths or seating areas where you’ll catch it in passing. In midsummer, Santolina rosmarinifolia sends up slender stems topped with cheerful, yellow button-like flowers that hover just above the foliage, adding contrast and a light, airy feel.
Perfect for well-drained soil in full sun, it works brilliantly in gravel gardens, rockeries, borders or pots, where its tidy habit and drought tolerance really shine. It’s also a practical choice, being modest in maintenance, easy to shape, and even useful in the kitchen, with leaves that can add a subtle subtle olive-like note to Mediterranean-style dishes and drinks.
