Othonna cheirifolia (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Late summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 40cm
Eventual Spread: 1m
Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Family: Asteraceae
Othonna cheirifolia is an evergreen sub-shrub with a spreading habit. Its grey/ green fleshy leaves are spatulate with entire margins, up to 12cm long and 2cm broad. Its yellow flowers are daisy like and up to 4cm across. Its fruit are achenes with silky tufts.
Othonna cheirifolia Flower (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Othonna cheirifolia, commonly known as Barbary Ragweed, is native to northern Africa, including Algeria and Tunisia.
The etymological root of the binomial name Othonna is believed to be named after Marcus Salvius Otho (0032 – 0069), a Roman emperor. Cheirifolia is named after another genus Cherianthus and the Latin folium meaning ‘leaf’.
The landscape architect may find Othonna cheirifolia useful as an effective late flowering ground cover shrub suitable for poor gravelly soils. Once established this shrub is drought tollerant.
Ecologically, Othonna cheirifolia flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Othonna cheirifolia Leaf (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Othonna cheirifolia prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It dislikes wet soils.
Othonna cheirifolia requires little maintenance.