Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 2m
Eventual Spread: 2m
Hardiness: 8a, 8b 9a 9b, 10a, 10b
Family: Asteraceae
Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ is an evergreen shrub free with an erect, rounded habit. Its grey/ green leaves are lanceolate with entire margins, have white hairs on their undersides and are up to 6.5cm long and 2cm broad. Its white flowers are daisy like, are up to 2cm across and appear in terminal umbels.
Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ Flower (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Olearia ‘Waikariensis’, commonly known as Daisy Bush, is derived from New Zealand. It is a hybrid of unknown origin. Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ is synonymous with Olearia oleifolia ‘Waikariensis’
The etymological root of the binomial name Olearia named for Johann Gottfried Olearius (1635-1711), a German theologian and botanist.
The landscape architect may find Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ useful as a free flowering shrub for sea side locations, as it it tolerant of salt laden winds. It may be grown as an informal hedge.
Ecologically, Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ is attractive to pollinating insects.
Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ Leaf (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Olearia ‘Waikariensis’ requires little maintenance.
