Santolina rosmarinifolia

Santolina rosmarinifolia, the holy flax,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, native to south western Europe. It is a dense, compact evergreen shrub growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall and wide, with narrow, aromatic green leaves and tight yellow composite flowerheads carried on slender stalks above the foliage, in summer.[2]

Santolina rosmarinifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Anthemideae
Genus:
Santolina
Species:
S. rosmarinifolia
Binomial name
Santolina rosmarinifolia

The specific epithet rosmarinifolia describes the leaves' passing resemblance to those of rosemary, a distantly related group of plants.[3]

In cultivation it is useful as groundcover or as an edging plant for sunny, well-drained situations. It dislikes winter wetness, and can be short-lived. The cultivar ‘Lemon Fizz’[4] and the dwarf cultivar S. rosmarinifolia subsp. rosmarinifolia 'Primrose Gem'[5] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6]

Also known as olive herb or Wadi tops, the leaves of S. rosmarinifolia can be used in Mediterranean dishes and cocktails to add an olive-like flavour.[7]

References
  1. "Plants for a future - Santolina rosmarinifolia". Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  2. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  3. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  4. "RHS Plantfinder - Santolina rosmarinifolia 'Lemon Fizz'". Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  5. "RHS Plant Selector - Santolina rosmarinifolia subsp. rosmarinifolia 'Primrose Gem'". Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  6. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 94. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  7. Porteous, Fiona (29 March 2018). "Unexpected Edibles". The District Bulletin. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  • J. Rodriguez-Oubiña and S. Ortiz (2008). A new subspecies of Santolina rosmarinifolia L.(Asteraceae) from serpentine soils in Central Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula), Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 111 Issue 4.
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