The newly planted Santolinas (Lavender Cotton) were petite 1-gallon plants two years ago, but look at them now! These Mediterranean natives do well in Sunset zones 2-24 and grow about 2 feet tall and three feet wide as you can see in the second photo. I’m glad we gave them plenty of room to grow because they filled in beautifully and have a soft “frothy” and airy look now. Both the gray and  green Santolina incana sport bright yellow flower heads.  To keep Santolina from getting too woody, cut it back yearly before spring growth begins. Enjoy the scent and don’t be afraid to experiment with whimsical patterns like this checkerboard design!