Dusty daisy bush

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light partial shade, usually with fewer flowers.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Once rooted, water during prolonged dry spells; avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Heavy clay needs drainage improvement or a raised planting position.

Height

4-10 ft (1.2-3 m)

Spread

3-7 ft (0.9-2.1 m)

Flowers

Spring to early summer; usually white daisies with yellow centres, with pink or mauve flowers in some forms and cultivars.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, often toothed, grey-green to dark green leaves with pale, felted undersides; aromatic when rubbed.

Growth

Moderate to fast in suitable conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• 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

   3 ft (0.9 m)

3. After 2 years

   4 ft (1.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.7 m)

5. After 5 years

   7 ft (2.1 m)

   full size

About 4 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

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply during the first growing season, letting the soil surface dry slightly between waterings.
• Plant where winter rain drains away readily; do not leave the roots sitting in water.
• Apply a light mulch in spring, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Protect young plants from cold, drying winds and severe frost.

Pruning. Trim lightly immediately after flowering to keep the shrub dense, shortening flowered shoots without cutting deeply into bare old wood. Remove dead or frost-damaged growth in spring once new growth shows what has survived.

Spring

Plant after severe frost has passed, and water thoroughly.

Spring

Check for winter damage, remove dead shoots and refresh mulch.

Late spring

Watch new shoots for aphids and wash off small colonies.

Early summer

Trim after flowering to maintain a compact shape.

Late summer

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

Winter

Check drainage and protect young plants during severe cold.

• Use as an informal flowering hedge in a mild, sheltered garden.
• Place behind lower perennials so its pale-backed foliage provides a quiet backdrop after flowering.
• Combine with grasses and silver-leaved shrubs in a sunny coastal border away from the harshest wind.
• Include in an Australian native mixed border for spring flowers and evergreen structure.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Coastal, Cottage garden, Pollinator garden, Dry gravel garden and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Westringia, Bottlebrush, Lomandra, Kangaroo grass, Lavender and Catmint.

Wildlife: The open flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees, hoverflies and other visiting insects; dense growth can offer shelter for small birds.

• Root rot and dieback in waterlogged soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised position; avoid frequent watering of established plants.
• Frost scorch: choose a sheltered site and use temporary frost fleece on young plants; delay removing damaged growth until spring.
• Aphids on soft shoots: wash them off with water and encourage natural predators; use insecticidal soap if colonies persist.
• Sparse, woody growth: trim lightly after flowering each year; replace badly neglected plants rather than relying on hard pruning into bare wood.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific information is limited, and no part should be treated as edible.

• New Zealand daisy bush (Olearia × haastii)

  Usually has smaller, leathery, oval leaves with smooth edges and flowers later in summer; dusty daisy bush generally has more noticeably toothed leaves.

• New Zealand holly (Olearia macrodonta)

  Has much larger, holly-like leaves with conspicuous sharp teeth and develops into a larger shrub or small tree.

The epithet phlogopappa refers to the flame-coloured pappus hairs on the fruits, while 'dusty' describes the pale, felted appearance of the foliage.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer and root them in a free-draining propagation mix under cover. Seed can be sown in spring, but seedlings may vary; use cuttings to preserve a named cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Olearia phlogopappa

Native range

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Measured

Average height 140 cm.

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