Celmisia hookeri

Botanical name: Celmisia hookeri Celmisia hookeri
Synonyms: None known
Common name(s): Hooker’s Mountain Daisy

About:
Celmisia hookeri is one of New Zealand’s most impressive mountain daisies, producing some of the largest flower heads in the genus. It forms dense mats of large rosettes with broad leathery leaves, distinctive purple-tinted leaf bases and prominent creamy-white undersides. Despite belonging to an alpine genus, it naturally occurs from sea level to low montane habitats, particularly on rocky bluffs and cliffs in Otago and Southland.

Natural habitat:
Rocky coastal headlands, limestone bluffs, cliffs, steep gullies, rocky outcrops and boulder fields.

Growing environment:
Prefers free-draining, fertile soils in sunny to lightly shaded positions. Thrives in cool climates with low humidity and good air circulation. Particularly suited to rock gardens and dry slopes.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand. Found in eastern and northern Otago, extending into parts of Southland. Most populations occur between Moeraki, Shag Point, Macraes Flat, the Horse Range and the Mataura Valley.

Height:
30–50 cm including flower stems

Width:
Up to 1.5 m across when mature

Flowering:
September–December

Fruiting:
October–April

Uses:

• Feature plant for rock gardens
• Native alpine and dryland gardens
• Cliff and bank stabilisation plantings
• Botanical and conservation collections
• Architectural foliage specimen

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A stout, woody-based perennial forming extensive mats of densely packed rosettes arising from a partially buried rootstock.

Leaves:
Large leathery leaves 12–40 cm long and 4–9 cm wide. Upper surfaces are yellow-green to dark green and become mostly hairless with age. Undersides are densely covered in silky cream to pale buff hairs. Leaf sheaths and midribs are often flushed greenish-purple, a distinctive feature of the species.

Flowers:
Produces solitary white daisy flowers with bright yellow centres on stout purplish stems. Flower heads can reach an impressive 10 cm across, making them among the largest in the genus Celmisia.

Fruit:
Produces wind-dispersed seeds equipped with a tuft of fine hairs.

Ecology:
Provides nectar and pollen for native insects and contributes to the stability of rocky cliff and bluff habitats. Its large rosettes offer shelter for small invertebrates.

Associated habitats:

• Coastal bluffs and headlands
• Rocky gorges and escarpments
• Limestone outcrops
• Grey scrub margins
• Open rocky hillsides
• Dry lowland and montane grasslands

How to grow:
Plant in full sun or light shade in fertile, free-draining soil. Avoid humid sites and excessive summer watering. Once established it is more tolerant of garden conditions than many alpine daisies but still requires excellent drainage.

Propagation:
Usually propagated from fresh seed. Germination can be slow and irregular. Established plants may occasionally be divided, though care is required. Best planted while young as mature plants dislike root disturbance.

Cultural use:
Named in honour of the renowned botanist Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, whose work greatly advanced knowledge of New Zealand’s flora.

Garden value:
One of the finest large-leaved mountain daisies for cultivation. Its huge flowers, broad cream-backed foliage and adaptability make it an outstanding specimen for rockeries, dry banks, native gardens and alpine collections. Unlike many alpine Celmisia, it can perform surprisingly well in suitable lowland gardens with good drainage and low humidity.