Cushion bush

Sun

Full sun.

Water

Low once established; water young plants regularly while roots develop, then let the soil dry between waterings. Containers need more frequent checks.

Soil

Very well-drained sandy, gritty or gravelly soil; tolerates poor soil and coastal conditions but not prolonged winter wet.

Height

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m)

Spread

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m)

Flowers

Small, rounded cream to pale yellow flower heads in summer; less conspicuous than the silver stems.

Foliage

Evergreen. Tiny, scale-like silver leaves pressed closely against a fine network of silvery-white stems.

Growth

Moderate.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.7 ft (0.52 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.8 ft (0.54 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.8 ft (0.56 m)

5. After 5 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in full sun with the crown at soil level, avoiding low spots where water collects.
• Water thoroughly after planting, then allow the soil to dry between waterings.
• Use a gritty container mix and a pot with unobstructed drainage holes; empty standing water from saucers.
• Feed sparingly; plants in the ground usually need no fertilizer.
• Keep organic mulch away from the crown; a thin gravel mulch is better suited to its dry-growing needs.
• In cold or persistently wet winters, move pots into a bright, frost-free place and water sparingly.

Pruning. Lightly trim the soft outer growth in spring, after frost risk has passed, to maintain a compact mound. Avoid hard cuts into old, bare wood, which may not regrow.

Spring

Plant once frost risk has passed, choosing a sunny site with excellent drainage.

Late spring

Lightly trim uneven growth without cutting into bare woody stems.

Summer

Check containers regularly and water when the mix has dried; water established garden plants only during prolonged dry spells.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Move container plants under bright, frost-free cover where winters are cold or very wet.

Winter

Keep sheltered plants on the dry side and check that outdoor plants are not sitting in saturated soil.

• Repeat rounded plants along a gravel path for a low, silver edging.
• Pair with lavender and other drought-tolerant plants in a sunny Mediterranean-style border.
• Use in simple containers against dark walls or paving to emphasize its pale, wiry structure.
• Plant among rocks and low coastal shrubs where its compact form contrasts with coarser foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Australian native, Dry gravel garden, Mediterranean, Contemporary minimal and Moon garden.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rosemary, Blue fescue, Sea thrift, Rock rose and Kangaroo paw.

Wildlife: The small flower heads can attract small pollinating insects, but this is primarily a foliage plant rather than a major wildlife resource.

• Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and keep the crown clear of damp mulch; replace badly affected plants.
• Frost damage: protect containers before freezing weather and delay trimming damaged tips until spring growth shows what is alive.
• Open, leggy growth in shade or rich soil: move to full sun, stop unnecessary feeding and trim lightly while stems are still leafy.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific toxicity information is limited, so do not treat the stems, leaves or flowers as edible or allow pets to chew large amounts.

• Lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus)

  Has obvious, finely divided aromatic leaves and bright yellow button flowers on longer stalks; cushion bush has tiny, tightly pressed leaves and a wiry silver framework.

• Dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima)

  Has broad, deeply lobed, felted silver leaves rather than cushion bush's nearly leafless-looking network of fine stems.

Leucophyta comes from Greek words meaning white plant, brownii honours botanist Robert Brown, and cushion bush describes its rounded habit.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a gritty, free-draining medium with bright light out of strong direct sun. Keep the medium lightly moist, not wet.

Accepted botanical name

Calocephalus brownii Leucophyta brownii is an older name for Calocephalus brownii.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.