Lavender Cotton

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Reduce watering once established. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a neat appearance, shear annually after flowering. Pruning time: late winter or early spring.

This makes a lovely edging for the herb garden or English-style border. Combine with the all green species into a checkerboard groundcover. A valuable source of solid gray foliage in Mediterranean style planting. It can be sheared for a more formal look, which will also keep the growth more dense.

Contrast the mounding silver-gray foliage of this Cotton with a vertical form, such as Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica). Or, combine with the sword-like foliage of Bronze New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax 'Atropurpureum Compactum'). For good color contrast, add the deep-purple foliage of Royal Purple Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple') to the planting.

This drought resistant species is a native of the Mediterranean where aromatic foliage protects it from browsing wildlife. It came into cultivation early on as a natural pesticidal herb but later became popular in Tudor knot garden pattern making. Its name translates to holy flax, even though this relates to no aspect of its use.

In France this plant was known as garde robe, because sprigs were used in closets and trunks to repel moths.