Botanical name:

Brachyglottis greyi

Common name(s):

About:

This species is naturally limited to a specific region of the Wellington coastline. It features appealing oblong greyish-green leaves with white felted undersides, which accentuate the crimped edges. During summer, it produces bright yellow daisies that can be removed if the plant's foliage is the primary focus. It reaches a height and spread of 1-1.2m and is highly valuable as a garden plant, responding well to clipping. It is advisable to prune it after flowering to maintain its shape. This plant serves well for low hedges and provides shelter, thriving in dry soils and exposed locations, making it especially suited for coastal areas due to its high tolerance for wind and salt-laden breezes.

Natural habitat:

Primarily a coastal species of rock outcrops and bluffs but may extend inland up river gorges and in suitably exposed bluff habitats

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Coastal, Salt, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Confined to New Zealand’s southern North Island from near Flat Point south to the mouth of the Orongorongo River.

Height: 1.2m

Flowering:

December-March with a yellow coloured follower/s

Fruiting:

December-April (-July)

Uses:

Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Riparian plantings & Flowers.

How to grow:

Very easy from fresh seed or semi-hardwood cuttings. Layers readily as well. Will hybridise with most other Brachyglottis, so if pure seed is wanted plant specimens well away from other species in this genus

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