Celmisia discolor

Botanical name: Celmisia discolor
Synonyms: None commonly recognised
Common name(s): Mountain Daisy

About:
Celmisia discolor is a widespread South Island mountain daisy that forms extensive mats and low carpets of silvery foliage across alpine landscapes. Its attractive white daisy flowers and contrasting leaf surfaces make it one of the more distinctive species of the genus. The species name discolor refers to the different colours of the upper and lower leaf surfaces.

Natural habitat:
Subalpine to low alpine grasslands, herbfields, rocky slopes, screes, ridges and open mountain habitats.

Growing environment:
Thrives in cool alpine conditions with excellent drainage, high rainfall or reliable moisture, and good air circulation. Best suited to rock gardens, alpine houses and cool-climate gardens.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand. Widespread in the mountainous regions of the South Island, generally from 1,000–1,700 metres elevation. It is uncommon in the drier eastern regions and south of Canterbury.

Height:
10–20 cm in flower

Width:
30 cm to over 1 m across when mature

Flowering:
Summer

Fruiting:
Late summer to autumn

Uses:

• Alpine and rock gardens
• Scree and gravel gardens
• Groundcover for cool climates
• Native alpine collections
• Habitat restoration in alpine environments

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A mat-forming perennial with woody creeping stems that spread across the ground, producing dense rosettes of leaves at the tips of branches.

Leaves:
Oblong to spatula-shaped leaves, 2–4 cm long, dark green and often glossy above, with a dense silvery-white felted underside. Margins are finely toothed and the leaves form tightly packed rosettes.

Flowers:
White daisy flowers 2–3 cm across with yellow centres, held on slender stems above the foliage. Flower stems are often clothed in white hairs.

Fruit:
Produces small ribbed seeds equipped with a fine pappus that allows wind dispersal.

Ecology:
Provides nectar and pollen for alpine insects while helping stabilise mountain soils. The dense mats create shelter for small invertebrates and protect exposed alpine ground from erosion.

Associated habitats:
Alpine herbfields, tussock grasslands, rocky slopes, mountain stream margins, screes and subalpine shrublands.

How to grow:
Plant in a cool position with excellent drainage and consistent moisture. It performs best in gritty, humus-rich soils and benefits from protection from excessive summer heat and humidity. Avoid prolonged drought and waterlogged conditions.

Propagation:
Best grown from fresh seed sown into a free-draining alpine mix. Germination may be slow and irregular. Established plants can occasionally be propagated from cuttings, though success rates vary.

Cultural use:
A characteristic species of New Zealand’s southern alpine landscapes, representing the remarkable adaptations of mountain daisies to harsh high-country environments.

Garden value:
An attractive alpine groundcover with silvery foliage and neat white flowers. Its ability to form extensive mats makes it valuable for rock gardens, alpine troughs and cool-climate native plant collections.