If your Santolina not flowering or the plant looks leggy, woody, or a bit tired, you’re not alone. Santolina is a hardy, sun-loving shrub, but small mistakes in pruning, watering, or soil can lead to a range of problems - from poor blooming to yellowing leaves, fungal issues, or loose, sprawling growth.
This page walks you through the most common problems of Santolina. You’ll find simple reasons behind each issue, how to fix them, and how to keep the plant compact, healthy, and blooming each season.
Branches Grow Leggy, Loose - Excess Water; Fertilizer
Santolinas respond to overfertilization and overwatering by overgrowing. They loose their characteristic compact habit and develop long branches. Do not fertilize them. Make sure that the soil drains well and allow them to make do with normal rainfall.
Stems Grow Woody, Coarse - Old Age
After several years of good growth and repeated clipping, santolinas may develop thick, woody stems. Often the foliage on these stems becomes thinner, showing the stems. The plant becomes coarser looking, more shrub-like. This is a normal result of aging. Many homeowners choose to replace plants when they develop this problem.
Santolina Rarely Have A Pest Or Disease Problem
Santolinas growing in full sun, under correct soil conditions rarely have any significant pest or disease problems. If they are in soggy soil and/or are overwatered they may develop a fungus on their stems and foliage. Leaves may wilt, and eventually turn black and die. Prune back leggy plants and remove any dead or dying stems.
Avoid crowding the plants so air can circulate around them. Dig up heavily infected plants together with any adjacent soil and discard them in the trash to prevent the spread of the fungus. Spray lightly infected plants with a garden fungicide available at the garden center. Use flowable sulfur or dust them with lime sulfur or Bordeaux mixture. Several applications may be needed to achieve control. Where possible improve the drainage of the soil by adding sand or gravel. Change the location of the plants to a sunnier spot.
Why does my Santolina not flower?
Your Santolina not flowering because it’s either not getting enough sun, pruned at the wrong time, growing in wet or heavy soil, or has become old and woody. Lemon Fizz and Lime Fizz varieties are especially sensitive to low light, overwatering, and late-season pruning.
Fix in 20 seconds:
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Give full sun (6–8 hours)
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Prune lightly in early spring
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Keep soil dry and well-drained
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Avoid fertilizer
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Rejuvenate woody plants by cutting back 1/3 in spring
How to Prune Santolina (The Right Way)?
Light yearly pruning keeps Santolina compact and helps prevent woody, loose growth. If pruning is done too late or too hard, the plant may skip flowering.
Fast fix:
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Trim lightly in early spring
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Snip back leggy tips after plants finish blooming
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Avoid cutting into old, hard wood
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For a full pruning guide, see: Caring for Santolina
Is Santolina Poisonous to Dogs?
Santolina is considered mildly toxic to dogs, mainly because its strong aromatic oils can irritate the stomach if a curious pet chews the leaves. Most dogs avoid the plant because of its scent, but if a pet ingests a large amount, you may see minor symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, or discomfort. Serious reactions are rare. The safest approach is to plant Santolina where pets don’t have a habit of grazing, and monitor young puppies who tend to explore by chewing. If any symptoms appear after ingestion, contact your veterinarian for guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Santolina
Does Santolina need full sun?
Yes. Santolina needs full sun to stay compact and to flower well. Less than six hours of light per day often leads to loose growth and fewer blooms.
Why is my Santolina turning yellow?
Yellowing usually comes from too much moisture or poor drainage. Let the soil dry, improve airflow, and avoid heavy watering or rich fertilizer.
How long does Santolina live?
Most plants stay attractive for 3–5 years before becoming woody in the center. Light yearly pruning slows this process, but very old plants may need replacing.
Can Santolina survive winter?
Yes, if the soil stays dry and well-drained. Winter rot is more common than cold damage, especially in wet, heavy soil.
Will Santolina grow back if cut too short?
It depends. If you cut into old, hard wood, it may not resprout. If you keep cuts in the green, flexible growth, it usually fills in well.
