Pronounciation: San-to-LEE-na ros-mar-in-i-FOL-i-a

Hardiness zones
Sunset All as annual, perennial in zones 8-24
USDA All as annual, perennial in zones 6-11

Landscape Use: Low border or edging, oasis landscape design themes, containers, sensory gardens.

Form & Character: Mounding, free spirited, pungent, green.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, woody, perennial subshrub, slow to 3-feet tall with a greater spread, but can be maintained at 1.5- to 2-feet tall with light shearing.

Foliage/Texture: Sessile, small highly pinntified aromatic, green leaves to 1.5-inches long; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Yellow button flowers on 6- to 12-inch peduncles in spring, not necessarily attractive.

Seasonal Color: None

Temperature: Cold tolerant to 0^oF and heat tolerant to 110^oF.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant with one caveat....soils must be well drained!

Watering: Infrequent once established, more frequent during summer months.

Pruning: Periodic light shearing will maintain a dense and rounded habit. Otherwise green santolina plants will become 'floppy'. Also, shear off flowers in late spring to promote a tight growth habit.

Propagation: Cutting and seed.

Disease and Pests: Fungal root and basal crown rots if soil is poorly drained.

Additional comments: A serviceable aromatic perennial sub-shrub for oasis gardens. Said to be fire and deer resistant. 'Primrose Green' and 'Lemon Fizz' are two named cultivar that are dwarf in form and habit. The gray-leaf cousin, Santolina chamaecyparissus is a better choice for Phoenix landscapes.

Santolina neapolitana has similar characteristics to green santolina, but is larger, more upright and shrub-like.