Egmont Mountain Daisy

Botanical name: Celmisia major var. brevis

Synonyms: None

Common name(s): Egmont Mountain Daisy

About:
A distinctive mountain daisy restricted to the upper slopes of Taranaki Maunga. This naturally uncommon variety forms dense tufts of narrow silvery-green leaves and produces white daisy flowers above the foliage. It is one of the few celmisias that adapts reasonably well to cultivation.

Natural habitat:
Subalpine and alpine herbfields on Mt Taranaki.

Growing environment:
Prefers cool conditions with moist, free-draining soil and partial shade. Requires reliable moisture, excellent drainage and good air circulation. Dislikes humidity and may be short-lived in warmer climates.

Endemic distribution:
Endemic to New Zealand. Restricted to Mt Taranaki (Egmont) in the North Island.

Height:
20–30 cm

Width:
20–40 cm

Flowering:
October–February

Fruiting:
November–April

Uses:

• Alpine gardens
• Rock gardens
• Native plant collections
• Container growing
• Conservation plantings

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A compact tufted perennial arising from a simple or multi-crowned rootstock. Forms dense clumps with a short pseudostem.

Leaves:
Narrow linear leaves 10–15 cm long, tapering gradually to a sharp tip. Upper surfaces are dark silvery-green to grey-green with a thin pellicle, while the undersides are densely covered in silvery-white satiny hairs. Leaf margins are strongly recurved.

Flowers:
White daisy flowers 2–4 cm across with yellow centres. Flower stalks are stout and bear narrow bracts. Flower heads are produced above the foliage during spring and summer.

Fruit:
Produces slender ribbed achenes with a silky pappus that assists wind dispersal.

Ecology:
A specialised alpine daisy confined to the herbfields of Mt Taranaki. Its seeds are dispersed by wind, allowing colonisation of open alpine habitats.

Associated habitats:

• Alpine herbfields
• Subalpine grasslands
• Volcanic mountain slopes
• Open alpine communities

How to grow:
Plant in a semi-shaded position with moist, free-draining soil. Avoid hot, humid conditions and do not allow plants to dry out completely. Suitable for alpine houses, rockeries and cool-climate gardens.

Propagation:
Best grown from fresh seed sown as soon as it ripens. Germination is generally reliable under cool conditions.

Threats:
Although naturally uncommon due to its restricted distribution, it remains abundant within Mt Taranaki and is not currently considered threatened by major environmental pressures.

Garden value:
An attractive compact alpine daisy valued for its neat silvery foliage and white flowers. Particularly suited to rock gardens and specialist collections of New Zealand alpine plants.