Kitchen Garden Forum

I bought a couple of Cotton Lavender plants a few weeks ago.... I'd read somewhere that they attracted bees and butterflies and also that once established can go for quite long periods without water.
Mine aren't in flower as yet, but the silky-grey leaves have a lavender/aniseed scent. Really lovely.
Does anyone here have this plant already established in their garden and if so, would they agree with above?

Glory B

Good evening Glory B, Santolina or cotton lavender.
Your quite right they are drought tolerant and should flower mid to late summer.
Not sure if bee's and butterflies like them, but i think they will.
Have not got any established plants, but just potted on seventy that i have grown from seed.
One thing they do need is free draining soil, so dig some grit into the planting holes if your ground is a bit on the heavy side.
Prune lighty in the sping, just take about one and a half inches off all over, with a pair of shears to keep a nice shape.
Hope this helps a little.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

We will always get some sort of weather.

They sound lovely - were they easy to grow from seed, Old H?

Hello Zena, they are very easy to grow from seed, infact it said there were sixty seeds in the packet and seventy came up.
The plants look really quite posh so i don't know if they will fit into your garden.

Kind regards the cheeky Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

That was a quick reply!

On reflection, Old H, you're probably right. But a girl can dream....

Any suggestions for what might be suitable for a garden in common old Northants, then?

Only joking Zena, i'm sure they will look absolutely perfect in your garden.
Don't forget about the gritty soil though.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

It will either rain or get dark.

Good morning to you Oldherbaceous....oh just the seventy then?

According to instructions they should be planted in full sun and as you say Old H well-drained soil.
Well, one I have planted in full sun, the other is in semi-shade for majority of day, and yet it is the latter that is doing better.
Early days I know at the moment.
I'm looking forward to them flowering and hoping that they do in fact attract the bees and butterflies, I shall let you know.

Glory B

All Santolinas are fragrant and attractive to insects, particularly ladybirds who use them as a hotel over winter. Just watch out for them getting a bit woody and leggy after the first year; unlike ordinary lavender you can cut them back pretty ruthlessly into old wood and they will sprout again, and you can take cuttings easily if you ever need any more; 70 plants!!! That would make a great little hedge!

The ones i have grown are Santolina Santa.
I bet by the end of the year there will be one or two in every garden in the village.
Glory B thats typical of a plant doing well were it's probaly not meant to be.
It's also good what Deb P said about the insects, and especially the ladybirds. Deb P actually sounds quite intelligent, don't you think.
Lets hope we get a warm summer to test them out.

Kind regards the Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

So anyone know where can I get some seed from?

Old H, I promise to only grown them in a corner of the garden where no one else will see them. I don't want people thinking I'm getting ideas above my station!

Hello Zena, i procured my seeds from [that means got them from] Chiltern seeds.
Website www.chilternseeds.co.uk
This is a really good catalogue with loads of rare and unusual seeds.
I don't no if it will be much good for you though Zena, as it does not have any pictures.
If you can't find any seed, you could always pinch some out of my neighbours gardens.

Kind regards the Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an od fool.

Thanks,Old H.,I'll look at the web site ASAP.

I'm beholden to you,also, for the philanthropic furtherance of my modest vocabulatory proficiency.

Would you like me to offer an equivalent service for your spelling & punctuation??

(that's a sesquipedalion question, by the way !)

Philanthropic, sesquipedalion, ever had that feeling your out of your depth, well i'm having one now.
Wheres that dictionary when i need it.
Think i might have met my match here we will see.

Kind regards the cotton lavender growing Old Herbaceous

When i'm not fishing i'm mending my nets.