This New Zealand daisy found at high altitude makes an excellent garden plant. A perennial which thrives in cool moist climates makes it ideal for the Aberdeen garden. The leaves of this plant are in fact evergreen, and I use the term perennial, in this case with a little uncertainty.
Celmisia Spectabilis has silver grey/green lance shaped leaves, the white daisy flowers with yellow centre are 5cm 2in across borne on whitish/green woolly stems. Looks great placed at the front of the border or between small shrubs. It is essential that you plant Celmisia in free draining soil with plenty grit added.
Normally flowers early/mid June, Flowers don’t last very long, cut back the stems as soon as they have faded and you will get a second flush in August.
If you have been planning a garden that looks good all year round, this one will have a place in your scheme.
Harsh Winters have had no adverse effect on this worthy plant. At one time because of the short flowering period I would not have entertained it, glad I have seen sense since then.
Hardiness – Fully Hardy
Soil – Humus Rich, Slightly Acidic
Position – Full sun/Partial shade
Height – 30cm/12in
Mail order – Celmisia.
© 2011, Alistair. All rights reserved.
This is really beautiful. Was it difficult to find? I’ve never seen in nurseries here.
True enough Jordan, they are not that easy to come by. Our Celmisia came from a friend when he was dividing the plant.
What a cute daisy! I bet it would hate my not-at-all cool, moist climate though. Maybe I’ll try it anyway.
Thanks for contributing your wisteria post for How to Find Great Plants! It’s up and running today.
Hello Eliza, your right, I really don’t think Celmisia would flourish in your climate.
This is really a pretty daisy. I have designed daisy gardens and they are some of my favorite plants. Such happy flowers and boy do they say summer.
Summer! ah well, better not wish my life away.
What a beautiful plant Alistair! I only bought mine last year, also from Kevock, and planted out last summer. It’s slowly bulking up and sailed through despite being covered in snow for two weeks. I can’t wait for it to attain that size and flower
Hello Mark, After a few years when they do bulk up, they are easy to divide.
I shall be keeping an eye for this as last winter I lost 30% of the plants in my West Midands garden, and I think this winter so far will have seen off a few more, so if this celmisia is as hardy as you say it could be a good replacement for those I have lost.
Still looking good here, on the coast we do not have quite the severe frost as inland areas. Also I noticed that in the past Celmisia where I did not incorporate a lot of gravel struggled.
You must be really good friends for him to choose you to get a division of such a lovely plant.
The gold leaf version of this plant (C. semicordata ssp. aurigans) is stunning and well worth getting too
Very interesting, I didn’t know there was a gold leaf Celmisia.