Rock Everlasting Daisy

Botanical name: Anaphalioides hookeri
Synonyms: Anaphalis rupestris, Gnaphalium trinerve, Gnaphalium hookeri
Common name(s): Rock Everlasting Daisy

Plant facts:
A hardy mat-forming native everlasting daisy with trailing woody stems, silvery foliage, and papery white flowers with yellow centres. This alpine and rocky ground cover spreads by rooting along its stems and is well adapted to exposed, free-draining environments.

Natural habitat:
Commonly found in open rocky habitats, alpine grasslands, gravel fields, fellfields, and exposed mountain slopes with sparse vegetation.

Growing environment:
Frost, Sun, Wind, Drought & Free draining tolerant.
Thrives in exposed conditions with excellent drainage and poor to moderately fertile soils.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand.

Height:
Approximately 5–15 cm tall with stems spreading up to 1 m long

Flowering:
Spring to summer
Produces papery white everlasting flowers with yellow centres held above the foliage.

Uses:

• Ground cover
• Alpine gardens
• Rock gardens
• Gravel gardens
• Erosion control
• Dryland planting

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A prostrate evergreen perennial with woody trailing stems that root along the ground and form spreading mats.

Leaves:
Leaves are small, obovate, and grey-green with white felted undersides. Upper surfaces become smooth with age while the lower surfaces remain densely covered in fine white hairs.

Flowers:
Flowers are solitary and daisy-like with bright yellow centres surrounded by papery white bracts. Flower stems are reddish-brown and softly hairy.

Seeds:
Seeds are small and lightweight with fine pappus hairs that aid wind dispersal.

How to grow:
Best grown in full sun with very free-draining soil or gravelly conditions. Ideal for alpine troughs, rock gardens, retaining walls, and dry exposed sites. Tolerates drought, wind, and frost once established. Can be propagated from seed, cuttings, or division of rooted stems.