Description
Leucogenes – New Zealand Edelweiss –
There are 3 or 4 species of woody based, dwarf, hummock, mat, or clump forming perennials. They occur from screes or rocky fields in the mountains of New Zealand. They have obovate-wedge-shaped or linear to lance shaped, closely overlapping, intensely silver hairy leaves and, in summer bear small, flat yellow flowers surrounded by collars of white-woolly bracts. Effective in a rock garden, but difficult to grow in dry climates.
Grow in gritty, humus rich, moist but sharply drained soil in full sun or filtered sun. They grow best in cool, moist climates and resent a dry atmosphere in summer. Protect from winter moisture.
Prone to slugs and snails.
L. grandiceps – South Island Edelweiss – This mat forming perennial from New Zealand grows 4-6″ tall and wide. It produces closely overlapping, obovate-wedge-shaped, silvery downy leaves, to ½” long, that obscure the stems. In early summer it bears golden yellow flowers, to ½” across, each surrounded by a collar, ½” across, of densely white woolly bracts.
Zones 7-8
