Botanical name:
Olearia fragrantissima
Common name(s):
Fragrant tree daisy
About:
A well-branched shrub or small tree, reaching heights of approximately 8m. The branchlets exhibit a reddish-brown hue, while the slender leaves are pale green with a white tomentum underneath. During spring to early summer, it produces tiny rayless flower heads that are yellowish-green and emit a strong fragrance akin to peaches. This species is typically found in scrubland and on the margins of forests in specific areas along the eastern coast of the South Island, spanning from Banks Peninsula to Southland. It is capable of enduring dry conditions and can tolerate strong winds.
Natural habitat:
coastal to lower montane (0-300 m a.s.l.) usually in grey scrub, on forest margins or shrub-lands. Sometimes on the margins of estuarine or salt-marsh vegetation in places which would be subject to saline water in extremes of tide, also found on gravelly soils often on the margins of steep gullies, gorges and in boulder field.
Growing environment:
Sun, Shade, Wind, Coastal, Salt & Free draining tolerant.
Endemic distribution:
New Zealand’s eastern and south-eastern South Island from Banks Peninsula to Southland.
Height: 8m
Flowering:
October – February with a green - yellow to orange coloured flower/s
Fruiting:
November – May
Uses:
Bird food / Attractant, Bee food, Riparian plantings & Forests.
How to grow:
Easily grown from semi-hardwood cuttings that are best taken in autumn and held in a cold frame, and from fresh seed (seed has short-term viability). Seed responds well to 5-10 days cold treatment prior to sowing. An attractive shrub or small tree for the garden. Very tolerant of a range of conditions and once established drought tolerant. The deliciously apricot-peach scented flowers are rather notable and unique to this species.
** Seed germinates without pre treatment. 4 weeks cold stratification will help speed this up though
** Seed can be slow to germinate, taking 9 – 12 months, often with a low germination rate.