Daisy Bush

Botanical name: Brachyglottis greyi
Synonyms: Senecio greyi
Common name(s): Daisy Bush

About:
Rare grey-green coastal shrub with silvery foliage and masses of bright yellow daisy flowers. Hardy and tolerant of hot sun, wind, poor soils, and coastal exposure.

Natural habitat:
Coastal rock outcrops, bluffs, exposed cliffs, river gorges, and dry rocky slopes.

Growing environment:
Coastal tolerant, Wind tolerant, Drought tolerant, Frost tolerant, Poor soil tolerant, Free-draining soil tolerant, Full sun.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to the southern North Island of New Zealand from near Flat Point south to the mouth of the Ōrongorongo River.

Height:
Typically 1–1.5 m tall, occasionally up to 2 m

Width:
Approximately 1.5–1.8 m wide

Flowering:
Summer (December–March)

Fruiting:
Summer–Autumn (December–April, occasionally to July)

Uses:

• Coastal gardens
• Native shrub borders
• Dry exposed gardens
• Rock gardens
• Erosion control plantings
• Pollinator gardens
• Native revegetation projects

Appearance:

Growth habit:
Spreading evergreen shrub with stout branches and softly tomentose stems forming rounded mounds.

Leaves:
Leathery oblong to ovate-oblong leaves with glossy green upper surfaces and dense white tomentum beneath giving the plant a silvery-grey appearance. Margins slightly wavy or shallowly sinuate.

Flowers:
Large loose clusters of bright yellow daisy-like flower heads with spreading ray florets carried at the ends of branches.

Fruit:
Small grooved achenes topped with fine barbed pappus hairs aiding wind dispersal.

Ecology:
Adapted to harsh coastal and exposed rocky habitats. Woolly leaf undersides help protect against drying winds, salt spray, and intense sunlight.

Associated habitats:
Often associated with coastal shrublands, cliff vegetation, rocky bluffs, and exposed river gorge ecosystems.

How to grow:
Thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Very tolerant of coastal exposure, drought, and poor soils once established. Avoid wet or poorly drained conditions.

Propagation:
Very easy from fresh seed, semi-hardwood cuttings, or layering. May hybridise readily with other Brachyglottis species if grown nearby.

Cultural significance:
An important component of southern North Island coastal shrublands and valued in native horticulture for its resilience and ornamental foliage.

Garden value:
Highly regarded as a hardy low-maintenance native shrub with attractive silver-backed foliage and long-lasting bright yellow flowers. Excellent for coastal and dry exposed gardens.