olive herb - syn. Santolina rosmarinifolia
green lavender cotton
This compact evergreen shrub brings a burst of colour to sunny planting schemes, with finely cut, aromatic foliage forming a...
9cm pot
available to order from summer
3 × 9cm pots
available to order from summer
1
Delivery options
Plant description
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.
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.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun
Rate of growth
Average
Soil
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
How to care for Santolina rosmarinifolia olive herb:
Ensure good drainage in the pot or soil area when planting by incorporating grit and working the ground on particularly heavy soils. Remove the faded flower-heads along with any straggly shoots in autumn. In early spring cut back the flowered shoots to within 2.5cm (1in) of the old growth.
GOES WELL WITH
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