Lavender Cotton

Every regular garden has its share of flowers and grasses. What if you had one plant that was so distinct from all the others, not only in the looks department, but also in other aspects. And while being different from the others, what if it offers you so much more than your regular plants? Intrigued, aren't you? Well then, without further ado, let's just tell you what we're talking about shall we? It is one of the most popular plants to use for landscaping or simply to spruce up the exteriors of homes. It is the lavender cotton herb plant. In this article, we will tell you all that you need to know about this lovely plant. Then let's see if you can resist buying it.

Characteristics
The scientific name of the lavender cotton plant is Santolina chamaecyparissus. It is most widely used just as an ornamental plant for gardening. It is also called the green lavender cotton plant. Given below is some general information on this plant, that you will need to know before actually planting it.

• This plant falls under the shrubs and bushes category, because it reaches a maximum height of around two feet.
• It is a very hardy plant and can grow well in almost any type of soil.
• As far as weather requirements are concerned, this plant can grow well anywhere between the hardiness Zone 5 to Zone 10.
• It requires a lot of sunlight to grow, but can adjust and grow well even in shade or less sunlight.
• It is classified as a perennial, evergreen plant, because it can grow throughout the year.
• The soil that this shrub is planted in should be moist and well drained. It does not require excessive watering. So make sure that the soil is just moist to touch. Excessive watering may spoil its chances of growing properly.
• Vertically, it can grow up to 2 feet. And since it is a bush, its horizontal growth is also somewhere around 2 feet as well.
• The branches of this plant are very close together. This gives it a very clustered appearance.
• It has a deep gray foliage that adapts well to pruning. The most complementing shape to give this shrub is a globular one.
• The plant blossoms in summer, and the flowers borne by this plant are a shade of bright, sunny yellow, and have a button-like appearance.
• This plant is propagated by its seeds generally. However, in summer, when the plant is in full bloom, you can use its cutting for propagation.

Lavender Cotton Uses

• A lavender cotton plant can make a herb garden look very pretty, especially in summer, when the plant is in full bloom. The bright yellow punctuations in the middle of otherwise green plants will look beautiful.
• Apart from a herb garden, this plant can also be used effectively as a hedge or edging plant. You can come up with various garden edging ideas, in which you can incorporate this plant.
• The lavender cotton plant will adapt well to winter gardening as well, because it is drought and cold tolerant.
• If you're on the lookout for some rock garden plants to adorn your rock garden, then this is the one to pick.
• The flowers can be dried completely and used for potpourri.
• These flowers are often used in bouquets and other flower arrangements for decoration.
• The foliage of this plant, unlike other plants, is fragrant. Its flowers do not really have any fragrance.
• The plant is an excellent choice if you want to attract small birds, bees and butterflies into your garden. The bright yellow flowers do this job efficaciously.
• Medicinally, the flowers of this plant can be used to ease digestion problems like gastritis, flatulence, heartburn, etc. (7 flower heads added to a cup full of boiling water).
• It is also known to help prevent baldness (make a decoction using 1 liter of water and about 50-60 grams of the flowers).
• They are also used to cure people of intestinal worms.

As you can see, the lavender cotton plant is easy to grow, easy to maintain, looks gorgeous, is not very fussy, has medicinal properties, and is an awesome ornamental plant as well! It is the complete package to say the least, everything that one can hope for in a plant. So what are you waiting for? Get one for yourself, today!