About
An upright shrub up to 2m high with oblong to narrowly obovate, aromatic leaves 3-4cm long with shallowly toothed wavy edges, grey-green above, densely covered with white or grey-white wool below, and many clusters up to 7cm across of flowerheads, each 3cm across and with mid-blue ray-florets and yellow centres, so that they look like shrubby Michaelmas daisies, but flowering in spring and early summer.
About the genus
Olearia can be evergreen shrubs, small trees or herbaceous perennials, with simple, leathery, toothed or entire leaves and corymbs of daisy-like flower-heads
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageEvergreen
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Wildlife gardens
FragranceFoliage
Care notes
CultivationGrow in a sheltered position in well-drained soil in full sun
PruningPruning group 8 (early-flowering evergreen shrubs)
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer, by heeled hardwood cuttings of lateral shoots in a cold frame in early autumn, or by softwood cuttings treated with rooting hormone and rooted in a closed case or under mist in spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free but may be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)