Botanical name:

Aciphylla glaucescens

Common name(s):

Blue Spaniard, Spaniard

About:

This striking spaniard boasts rigid, spear-like blue foliage and golden flower spikes in summer. It thrives in environments ranging from coastal areas to low alpine regions. Hardy and easy to grow, it's an excellent choice for landscaping and home gardens, often used as a boundary deterrent.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to Low-alpine (up to 1400m) stream-sides, wet and shady banks or depressions, mixed tussock-scrub and grassland.

Growing environment:

Frost, sun, drought, salt, wind & coastal tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

North and South Islands, Mount Hikurangi south to Dunsdale

Height: 1.5m

Flowering:

November – January with a gold coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December – February (-June)

Uses:

Riparian plantings & Pioneer Plantings 

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed.

** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though