Santolina chamaecyparissus

The specific epithet chamaecyparissus means "like Chamaecyparis" (ground cypress), though it is not closely related to that plant.^[5] It is also not closely related to either cotton or lavender, despite its common name "cotton lavender". Recognized varieties or subspecies are

• var. etrusca Lacaita ≡ S. etrusca (Lacaita) Marchi & D'Amato
• subsp. magonica O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts. ≡ S. magonica (O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts.) Romo, = var. teucrietorum O. Bolòs & Vigo
• var. pectinata f. insularis Gennari ex Fiori ≡ S. insularis (Gennari ex Fiori) Arrigoni
• var. vedranensis O. Bolòs & Vigo ≡ S. vedranensis (O. Bolòs & Vigo) L. Sáez, M. Serrano, S. Ortiz & R. Carbajal^[6]

It is a small evergreen shrub growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall and broad. Densely covered in aromatic, grey-green leaves, in summer it produces masses of yellow, button-like composite flowerheads, held on slender stems above the foliage. The disc florets are tubular and there are no ray florets.^[7]

This plant is valued in cultivation as groundcover or as an edging plant for a hot, sunny, well-drained spot, though it may be short-lived. Once established, plants can tolerate dry and poor soils. Its compact shape can be maintained by cutting back in spring.^[8]

Numerous cultivars have been produced, of which 'Nana', a dwarf form growing to 25 cm (10 in), has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.^[9]

In cosmetics it is used as a tonic.^[10] It is an effective fumigant^[11]

• Phytophthora tentaculata^[12]

• 
  Foliage
• 
  S. chamaecyparissus 'Lime Fizz'
• 
  In the UBC Botanical Garden