Plant Details

Santolina rosmarinifolia

Holy Flax

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Santolina rosmarinifolia.

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Common names

14 names · 8 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Holy Flax
  • Holy-flax[1]
  • Rosemaryleaf lavender-cotton[1]
Other languages (7)
Dutch
  • Groene heiligenbloem[1]
  • heiligenbloem
  • Heiligenkruid
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Olijvenkruid
French
  • Santoline petit-cyprès
  • Santoline à feuilles de romarin[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 迷迭香叶银香菊[1]
Finnish
  • viherhopeayrtti[1]
Polish
  • Santolina rozmarynolistna[1]
Russian
  • Сантолина розмаринолистная[1]
Slovak
  • santolina rozmarínolistá[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Santolina rosmarinifolia — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Holy-flax — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • Santoline à feuilles de romarin — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • Сантолина розмаринолистная — results[1].names[3]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • Santolina rozmarynolistna — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • 迷迭香叶银香菊 — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • Rosemaryleaf lavender-cotton — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • viherhopeayrtti — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • santolina rozmarínolistá — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.
  • Groene heiligenbloem — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 82634; Santolina rosmarinifolia.

General information

Scientific name: Santolina rosmarinifolia
Accepted name (Kew): Santolina rosmarinifolia L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Asteraceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Santolina (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Holy Flax
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.46–1.07 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Evergreen
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Mounding, Rounded

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Flowers, Tea
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
None

Description

Leaves are used in savory Mediterranean dishes and cocktails to add an olive-like flavor. Even small amounts can give sweet dishes a subtle olive taste. The flowers are often used to flavor herbal tea.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/07
Harvest ends: 15/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 557877; name ID 3133515; Santolina L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 524812; name ID 3112427; Santolina rosmarinifolia L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Santolina rosmarinifolia

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 2659155, ID 79K4L: Santolina rosmarinifolia L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Santolina rosmarinifolia — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 6 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .