Haast’s Alpine Daisy

Botanical name: Brachyglottis haastii
Synonyms: Senecio haastii
Common name(s): Haast’s Alpine Daisy

About:
Hardy alpine perennial shrub with leathery grey-green leaves and bright yellow daisy flowers carried above silvery foliage. Well adapted to exposed mountain environments and dry free-draining soils.

Natural habitat:
Lowland to subalpine grasslands, alpine herbfields, rocky slopes, and open mountain environments.

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

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to the South Island of New Zealand, mostly east of the Main Divide from Arthur’s Pass to the Blue Mountains.

Height:
Flowering stems up to 35 cm tall

Width:
Forms spreading clumps and colonies over time

Flowering:
Summer (December–March, occasionally into April)

Fruiting:
Summer–Autumn (January–April, occasionally into May)

Uses:

• Alpine gardens
• Rockeries and scree gardens
• Native alpine collections
• Dry exposed landscapes
• High-country restoration plantings
• Cold-climate native gardens

Appearance:

Growth habit:
Compact perennial alpine shrub with leafy basal growth and slender flowering stems rising above the foliage.

Leaves:
Leathery oblong to broad-oblong or nearly circular leaves with dense white tomentum when young. Mature leaves often become greener and less hairy above while retaining pale woolly undersides.

Flowers:
Bright yellow daisy-like flower heads borne on slender branched stems above the foliage. Flower heads large and conspicuous against the silvery-grey leaves.

Fruit:
Small linear cypselae topped with fine barbellate pappus hairs aiding wind dispersal.

Ecology:
Adapted to harsh alpine and subalpine conditions including frost, wind, drought, and intense sunlight. Dense leaf hairs help reduce moisture loss and protect foliage from cold exposure.

Associated habitats:
Commonly associated with alpine grasslands, herbfields, rocky slopes, screes, and open mountain shrublands.

How to grow:
Best grown in full sun with sharply drained soil. Thrives in alpine gardens, rockeries, raised beds, and cool dry climates. Avoid humid or poorly drained sites.

Propagation:
Usually propagated from fresh seed or careful division of established clumps.

Cultural significance:
An important component of New Zealand’s alpine flora and valued for its resilience and striking mountain appearance.

Garden value:
Highly prized as a hardy alpine native with attractive silvery foliage and bright yellow flowers. Excellent for rock gardens, scree plantings, and exposed cold-climate landscapes.