Lavender Cotton 'Edward Bowles'

'Edward Bowles' is a sophisticated version of the common Lavender Cotton, featuring finely-dissected, feathery foliage that is a cool cream-grey colour. This evergreen sub-shrub forms a dense, billowy mound that provides a fantastic texture in a Mediterranean planting scheme. In mid-summer, it produces long-stalked, button-like flower heads of a pale, creamy-yellow, which are much more subtle than the bright yellow of other Santolinas. In the UK, it thrives in poor, well-drained soil and needs a very sunny, open position to keep its foliage silver and its habit tight. It is excellent for silver-themed borders, gravel gardens, or as a low-informal hedge. To maintain its attractive shape and prevent it from flopping open in the centre, it should be cut back hard in early spring. It is highly drought-tolerant and stands up well to coastal conditions. The foliage has a herbal scent and stays attractive throughout the winter months.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, poor soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.