Family Asteraceae
Originating from W and S Mediterranean

A compact, rounded, evergreen shrub with silver/white leaves and a mass of small bright yellow pom-pom flowers on slender stalks, from mid to late summer. The tiny, white, woolly leaves crowd the felty stems making this quite possibly the whitest of any shrub. Its aromatic foliage is pleasant when brushed and the oils are used in perfume making. A few branches hung in the wardrobe are supposed to repel moths.
Often thought of as a cottage garden style plant it combines brilliantly with spiky yuccas in a gravel garden with its contrasting, cushiony round mounds, and is essential in Mediterranean style plantings. It will also make a low compact hedge, perhaps for a herb garden. Pruning is essential to prevent it becoming straggly and untidy. Cut back hard in early spring and trim again after flowering (or before if you don’t want flowers).
Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates poor, chalky soils.

Mature height and spread after 1 – 2 years 1m x 1m