The holy herb is quite undemanding. Nevertheless, care mistakes can occur, which can cause enormous damage to the otherwise robust perennial.
Santolina is a relatively rare guest in our gardens. The daisy family is an attractive ornamental plant that requires relatively little maintenance. With its bright yellow flowers, the holy herb conjures up Mediterranean charm in your garden. The plant is not only easy to care for, but also extremely frugal. Even on barren soil, the holy herb will show off its charms and give the previously dreary garden bed a very special charm. Find out now how the holy herb grows and thrives with appropriate care, blooms profusely and is spared from diseases and pests.
Water the holy herb properly
The holy herb is used to dry locations and therefore has a relatively low moisture requirement. In normal weather conditions, the plant will be able to obtain sufficient moisture from the rain. Dry and hot summers can often be accompanied by longer periods of drought. In this case, the holy herb should also get water from time to time. The soil should not dry out completely. However, water moderately and carefully so that the liquid does not accumulate in the soil and the roots are attacked. This can quickly lead to the death of the plants.
You can prevent waterlogging by…… do not water too often
… create drainage in the soil
… make sure the soil is permeable
Tip: If you plant the holy herb, you have to be careful, young plants need more moisture and should therefore be watered regularly during the growth phase.
Coming soon:
-
- Water young plants regularly
- Only water older plants if the drought persists
- water moderately
- Avoid waterlogging
Fertilize holy herb correctly
The undemanding plants do not need regular fertilization. When planting, some mature compost can be added to the soil so that theProvide plants with organic nutrients when they need them.
Potted plants have a higher need for nutrients and should therefore be given a dose of organic fertilizer between April and June. Until the end of the flowering period, the saint's herb as a container plant continues to receive commercial liquid fertilizer in low concentrations at 14-day intervals.
Coming soon:
-
- Fertilization not necessary outdoors
- Provide potted plants with organic fertilizer
- give liquid fertilizer in the bucket during the growing season
Introduced some types of saint's herb
The genus Santolina first appeared in "Species Plantarum" in 1753 and was described by Linnaeus. The genus includes 24 recognized species, which are mainly recorded in two different collective species.
Santolina chamaecyparissus
The gray holy herb grows as an evergreen dwarf shrub and reaches a maximum height of half a meter. The leaves are covered with a white felt and have a strong aromatic scent. The gray holy herb blooms bright yellow in the months of July and August. The plant comes from the Mediterranean region. This species mainly grows in Italy, Croatia, France or on the Balearic Islands. The plants have been cultivated since the 16th century and serve as ornaments for rock gardens, dry stone walls and borders. Some varieties are characterized by a particularly compact growth habit.
Santolina rosmarinifolia ssp. Canescens
This grey-green plant species is particularly striking and decorative. The plant is also commonly referred to as rosemary heather. The plant grows upright and is between 30 and 50 centimeters high. The sun-yellow flowers are about one centimeter in size and appear between July and August. The shape of the narrow leaves is reminiscent of needles. In summer, the plant exudes a slightly sweet, aromatic scent.
Santolina rosmarinifolia ssp. Rosmarinifolia
The plant grows persistently and reaches a maximum height of 40 centimetres. The green holy herb has narrow, serrated leaves. The yellow flower heads appear between July and August. In winter, the plant needs a little protection because it can only cope with severe frost to a limited extent.
Other species and their range
| Holy Herb Art | Area of distribution |
|---|---|
| Santolina pectinata | Spain,Algeria, Morocco |
| Santolina ligustica | Italy |
| Santolina villosa | France and Spain |
| Santolina melidensis | Spain |
| Santolina Neapolitana | Italy |
| Santolina magonica | Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza |
| Santolina impressa | Portugal |
Cutting the saintwort
After the flowering period, the annual pruning of the sacred herb takes place. This cutting measure is conducive to the bushy growth of the plant. The plants tolerate pruning very well. You can therefore also cut the shrub into shape.
Pruning after flowering
To cut back after flowering, the entire perennial is shortened considerably. All dried branches are removed. At the same time, this ensures that the plant is thinned out. This stimulates the formation of new shoots.
Tip: If you fail to cut back regularly, the plants will become bare and lose their bushy growth.
Use the holy herb as a dried flower
If you want to use the holy herb in a bouquet of dried flowers, the flowers must be cut when fully bloomed. Leave a longer stem attached to the flower so the flower heads tie together and dry well. For this purpose, the flowers tied into bouquets are hung upside down in an airy location.
Tip: Holy herb is also attractive as a cut flower. In addition, mosquitoes can be reliably driven away with a bouquet.
Care tips for the holy herb at a glance
| Care measure | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Casting | • Young plants should be watered regularly so that they can grow well. • Older plants usually get their water from rain and only need to be watered when the drought persists. • Container plants must be supplied with water regularly. • The permeability of the soil must be ensured so that waterlogging does not occur. |
| Fertilize | • Plants do well in poor soil and do not require additional fertilization outdoors. • Container plants should be given a moderate concentration of liquid fertilizer during the growth phase. |
| Cut | • Holy herb tolerates pruning well. • After flowering, pruning is a good idea. • This promotes bushy growth of thePlant. • The flowers are used as both cut flowers and dried flowers. |
Recognize diseases and pests in holy herb
The plants are rich in essential oils. The somewhat idiosyncratic scent keeps pests away from the plant. Slugs and snails also avoid the sacred herb.
What can cause long-term damage to the plant, however, are incorrect care. If the location is too dark and too humid, the holy herb does not get it at all. The plants wither and die.
Wintering the Holy Herb
The perennial plants are quite frost hardy. However, the frost hardness can only be assessed as conditional. The plants should be provided with winter protection against severe frosts. Put a layer of sticks or leaves on the ground. If the plants are in the bucket, it should be wrapped in foil or garden fleece. Since plant pots can easily freeze completely, it is advisable to place the pot on a base made of wood or styrofoam so that the frost does not reach the roots.
Moisture can also become a problem for the plant in winter. Winter wetness can damage the roots. Protection must also be provided against frost. Potted plants are therefore best overwintered in a bright and frost-free location in the stairwell or basement.