Celmisia holosericea

Botanical name: Celmisia holosericea
Synonyms: None known
Common name(s): Mountain Daisy, Silky Mountain Daisy

About:
Celmisia holosericea is a large and striking mountain daisy endemic to Fiordland. It forms robust clumps of broad, leathery leaves with glossy green upper surfaces and dense silky-white undersides. During summer it produces large white daisy flowers held well above the foliage. Its combination of bold foliage and impressive flowers makes it one of Fiordland’s most attractive alpine daisies.

Natural habitat:
Coastal to lower subalpine rocky sites, grasslands, herbfields and open mountain habitats.

Growing environment:
Thrives in cool, moist environments with excellent drainage. Prefers permanently moist soils, good air circulation and protection from prolonged heat and humidity.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand. Restricted to Fiordland in the south-western South Island.

Height:
15–60 cm including flower stems

Width:
30–60 cm

Flowering:
November–January

Fruiting:
December–March

Uses:

• Alpine and rock gardens
• Native alpine collections
• Feature foliage plant
• Scree and gravel gardens
• Conservation and botanical collections

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A robust tufted perennial herb forming dense clumps from a stout central stem surrounded by overlapping leaf sheaths.

Leaves:
Large leathery leaves 12–30 cm long and 2.5–6.5 cm wide. Upper surfaces are green and largely hairless, while the undersides are densely covered in silky white tomentum. Leaves taper to a pointed tip and have finely toothed margins.

Flowers:
Large white daisy flowers 5–7 cm across with yellow centres. Flowers are carried on stout stems well above the foliage and are among the largest produced by Fiordland mountain daisies.

Fruit:
Produces wind-dispersed seeds equipped with silky pappus hairs.

Ecology:
Provides nectar and pollen for alpine insects and helps stabilise soils in exposed mountain environments. The dense foliage offers shelter for small alpine invertebrates.

Associated habitats:
Fiordland herbfields, coastal bluffs, mountain grasslands, rocky slopes, alpine meadows and lower subalpine communities.

How to grow:
Plant in full sun or light shade in a cool position with excellent drainage. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. It performs best where roots remain cool and humidity is low.

Propagation:
Usually grown from fresh seed, though germination can be slow and variable. Established plants may occasionally be divided, but divisions can be slow to establish.

Cultural use:
An iconic member of New Zealand’s alpine flora and one of the characteristic mountain daisies of Fiordland’s herbfield communities.

Garden value:
Highly valued for its bold foliage, silvery leaf undersides and large white flowers. It is an outstanding specimen for alpine gardens, rockeries and cool-climate native plantings where its dramatic foliage provides year-round interest.