The Santolina is a beautiful plant that, in addition to having a very interesting ornamental valuehas medicinal properties that cannot be ignored. It is very easy to care for and maintainso much so that it is not only suitable for beginners but, if it is planted in the ground, from the second year on it will hardly need any attention.
If you are liking what you are reading, you have to know that there is still more. This wonderful plant keeps secretsbut we are going to reveal all of them in this special article.
Origin and characteristics of Santolina
Our protagonist, whose scientific name is Santolina chamaecyparissusis a subshrub belonging to the Asteraceae family. Probably, this name does not sound like much to you, but perhaps these tell you something else: female abrotano, cypress, worm grass, box, wardrobe, manzanillera, ontina of cabezuelas, Aragón tea, or Mahón chamomile.
It grows naturally in southern Europe, North Africa and in North America, on clay or stony slopes. It is an easy plant to distinguish: grows to a height of between 20 and 70cm, and has numerous thin stems from which the leaves grow, which are grayish-green. These are narrow, linear, divided, and very aromatic. Its smell is similar to that of chamomile, although it is not very unpleasant. During the summer, hemispherical heads with yellow flowers sprout.
Care you need
To have a perfectly healthy Santolina, the following must be taken into account:
Location
It is important to get direct sunlightideally throughout the day. In semi-shade it could have poor growth. It is also not recommended to have it indoors, except if you have a room in which a lot of natural light enters.
Soil or substrate
Regardless of whether you want to have it in a pot or in the garden, the land has to have good drainage. In the event that this is not the case, that is, the water that we add takes more than 2 minutes to filter, it must be mixed with perlite, pumice or any other similar material in equal parts.
Irrigation
Infrequent. It will be enough once or twice a week. If we have a plate underneath, we will remove the excess water ten minutes after watering.
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As it is a plant that can be used as medicinal, it is advisable to pay it using Organic fertilizersLike guano, manure o humus. If it is potted, we recommend using them in liquid format so as not to hinder drainage.
Planting or transplanting time
In springwhen the risk of frost has passed.
Pruning
Act quickly. remove withered flowers, go trimming the branches so that the plant can look very pretty.
Multiplication
If we want to get new copies, we can do it from tender cuttings in spring and mature cuttings in fall. We impregnate the base with rooting hormones, and plant them in a pot with porous substrate, like black peat mixed with perlite in equal parts.
Pests
It is susceptible to attack by aphidswhich can be fought with neem oil.
Rusticity
It can be grown without problems outdoors in areas where frosts of up to -5ºC.
Uses of santolina
Santolina has several uses for humans, which are:
Ornamental
Can be planted in gardenseither to delimit paths, together with other plants that grow to the same height, or to give a different color. In a pot it can be decorated on the terrace, balcony or any corner.
Medicinal
This is a very interesting plant that helps us protect our health, for example fighting worm infectionsthat is to say, worms and worms. It is a natural dewormer that we cannot stop having, as it will control and eliminate all types of parasites.
In addition, it can be used as a complementary treatment for anorexia, since it’s aperitif. As well prevents wounds from becoming infectedserving as a curative.
Another of the medicinal suso that it has is like decongestant and expectorant. An ally when we have a cold or have a cold . But there is even more: it helps to regulate menstruation and reduce period pain, the latter because it has a slight sedative effect.
If we have vision problems, such as eyestrain, conjunctivitis or inflammation, we can use it to improve.
How is it used?
It can be used in three different ways, depending on what we need it for:
- Infusion: 5 to 8 flowers are boiled in a cup of water. To improve digestion and as a dewormer, take up to 3 cups a day.
- Essence: take 3 to 4 drops in a small spoonful 3 times a day. It is the best to eliminate internal parasites.
- External use: 5 to 8 flowers are boiled in a cup of water, a cotton ball is moistened and then drained well to later place it on the inflamed areas or on the eyes.
Do you have side effects?
A high consumption can cause poisoning. The recommended doses should not be exceeded.
And with this we end the special on santolina. Did you find it interesting?
