Botanical name:

Celmisia mackaui

Common name(s):

Banks Peninsula daisy, Akaroa daisy

About:

Confined to Banks Peninsula, this coastal celmisia is an accessible plant for cultivation. Its long, narrow, pointed leaves display a green to bluish-green hue, lacking the distinctive felted undersides characteristic of other species. Clumping up to 45cm tall, it produces flowering stems measuring between 30 and 60cm. The daisies have a diameter of 5-7cm, occasionally aging to pinkish tones. It thrives in shaded areas and prefers well-drained soil, making it suitable for rock gardens. However, similar to some other Celmisia species, it is susceptible to sudden collapse.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane. Usually found in damp, rocky places, especially along precipitous south-facing bluffs and waterfalls. Occasional extending into tussock grassland, and on sheltered rocky outcrops. Occasional found in seepages amongst Phormium.

Growing environment:

Frost, Shade, Coastal, Wind & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s South Island on Banks Peninsula only

Height: 60cm

Flowering:

October – February with a white, yellow coloured flower/s

Fruiting:

December – May

Uses:

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

How to grow:

Easily grown from fresh seed. Celmisia mackauii is widely cultivated in many parts of New Zealand. It does best in a shaded, moist but free draining soil. Like most Celmisia it dislikes humidity and will not tolerate drying out.

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