Description
Ozthamnus –
There are about 50 species of mostly evergreen shrubs and woody based perennials, with a few being herbs, in this genus. They occur in New Zealand, Australia, and New Caledonia in rocky places and on heath land form the coast to the mountains. They are grown for their often aromatic, even quite resinous and sticky in some species, small, scale like, alternate leaves, and for their solitary or corymb like flowers, displaying daisy like, white, yellow, dark pink flowers. Grow larger species in a shrub border, smaller species are good in a trough, or rock garden.
Grow in moderately fertile, well drained, neutral to acidic soil in a sheltered site in full sun. Protect from excessive winter moisture.
O. selago – Helichrysum selago – This dense, upright shrub from New Zealand grows 15″ tall and 10″ wide. From rigid shoots which are densely covered in tiny, triangular, aromatic leaves, 1/8″ long, pressed flat to the shoots. The leaves upper surface is shiny green but the undersides are clothed in dense white hairs. In summer it bears terminal, solitary cream flowers, to 1/4″ across. Needs gritty, sharply drained soil.
Zones 9-10
