Akaroa Daisy

Botanical name: Celmisia mackaui

Synonyms: None

Common name(s): Akaroa Daisy, Banks Peninsula Daisy

About:
A striking mountain daisy endemic to Banks Peninsula. It forms loose mats of large rosettes with bright green leaves and produces masses of white daisy flowers that are often flushed pale violet when first opening. Unlike most mountain daisies, the undersides of the leaves are completely hairless and glaucous green.

Natural habitat:
Damp rocky places, waterfalls, seepages, south-facing bluffs, cliff faces, sheltered rocky outcrops and areas amongst harakeke.

Growing environment:
Thrives in cool, moist, free-draining soils in shaded or semi-shaded positions. Prefers reliable moisture, good air circulation and protection from excessive heat and humidity.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand. Restricted to Banks Peninsula in Canterbury.

Height:
30–65 cm

Width:
Up to 50 cm

Flowering:
October–February

Fruiting:
December–May

Uses:

• Native garden feature plant
• Woodland gardens
• Damp rock gardens
• Streamside plantings
• Conservation and restoration projects
• Container specimen plant

Appearance:

Growth habit:
Woody-based perennial herb forming loose mats of numerous rosettes arising from a creeping multicipital rootstock.

Leaves:
Large lanceolate to narrow-elliptic leaves, 10–70 cm long. Upper surfaces are bright to dark green with prominent veins. The lower surface is glaucous green and completely hairless. Leaf stalks are often deep purple.

Flowers:
Large daisy flowers up to 5 cm across with yellow centres and 60–70 creamy-white ray florets. Flower buds and newly opened blooms are often pale violet, fading to white as they mature.

Fruit:
Produces ribbed achenes equipped with a pappus that enables wind dispersal.

Ecology:
Occupies damp rocky habitats where it helps stabilise soils and seepages. Flowers provide nectar and pollen for native insects. Regenerates best in open habitats and can decline as surrounding vegetation develops into taller forest.

Associated habitats:

• Waterfalls and seepages
• South-facing bluffs
• Rocky cliff faces
• Harakeke wetlands
• Tussock grassland margins
• Sheltered rocky outcrops

How to grow:
Plant in fertile, moist but free-draining soil in a cool, shaded or semi-shaded position. Protect from drying winds and prolonged drought. Suitable for woodland gardens, shaded borders and damp rockeries.

Propagation:
Easily grown from fresh seed. Seed should be sown as soon as possible after collection. Established plants may also be divided carefully.

Cultural use:
An iconic component of Banks Peninsula flora and a species strongly associated with the region’s unique botanical heritage. It was named by French botanist Étienne Raoul after Ange René Armand de Mackau, Minister of the French Navy.

Garden value:
One of New Zealand’s most attractive mountain daisies. Its lush green foliage, purple stems and abundant white flowers make it an outstanding specimen for cool, shaded gardens. Widely cultivated and particularly effective when mass planted beneath light tree cover or beside streams and waterfalls.