The
specific epithetchamaecyparissus means "like Chamaecyparis" (ground cypress), though it is not closely related to that plant.[5] It is also not closely related to either
cotton or
lavender, despite its common name "cotton lavender".
Recognized varieties or subspecies are
var. etrusca Lacaita ≡ S. etrusca (Lacaita) Marchi & D'Amato
subsp. magonica O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts. ≡ S. magonica (O. Bolòs, Molin. & P. Monts.) Romo, = var. teucrietorum O. Bolòs & Vigo
var. pectinata f. insularis Gennari ex Fiori ≡ S. insularis (Gennari ex Fiori) Arrigoni
var. vedranensis O. Bolòs & Vigo ≡ S. vedranensis (O. Bolòs & Vigo) L. Sáez, M. Serrano, S. Ortiz & R. Carbajal[6]
Description
It is a small
evergreen shrub growing to 50 cm (20 in) tall and broad. Densely covered in aromatic, grey-green leaves, in summer it produces masses of yellow, button-like
composite flowerheads, held on slender stems above the foliage. The disc florets are tubular and there are no ray florets.[7]
Cultivation
This plant is valued in cultivation as
groundcover or as an edging plant for a hot, sunny, well-drained spot, though it may be short-lived. Once established, plants can tolerate dry and poor soils. Its compact shape can be maintained by cutting back in spring.[8]
^Álvarez, L. A.; Pérez-Sierra, A.; León, M.; Armengol, J.; García-Jiménez, J. "Lavender cotton root rot: a new host of Phytophthora tentaculata found in Spain". American Phytopathological Society. {{
cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (
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