Long-lasting flower

A small, erect and open shrub to about 1.5 metres but sometimes larger. Leaves linear, 10-15 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, apex reflexed, margins tightly revolute; lamina discolorous, upper surface green and scabrous, white woolly lower surface. Small flowers in clusters of 20 to 100 at the ends of the branches, usually white. Long-lasting cut flower. Ozothamnus from Greek ozo, to smell and thamnos, a shrub, referring to the smelly foliage diosmifolius having leaves like the genus Diosma.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Seed collecting and propagation

In summer, the minute fruit 1-2 mm long are topped by fine white hairs. Easily propagated and can be treated as an annual or biennial. Adaptable to most well-drained soils. Will grow in sun or partial shade. Propagation from seed without pretreatment.