Euryops evansii - Mountain Euryops

Euryops evansii, part of the "South African daisies" tribe, is an utterly adorable evergreen bush that charms with its silvery, silky foliage and its bright yellow daisy-like flowering. Compact and elegant, it is ideal for brightening up rockeries and borders and also adapts very well to pot cultivation on a sunny terrace. Low-maintenance but not very hardy (-5°C), it adds a Mediterranean touch to dry gardens.

Euryops evansii belongs to the Asteraceae family. Native to southern Africa, its natural range extends from Lesotho to the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa. In these regions, it primarily colonises rocky areas and mountain slopes, adapting to well-drained soils and local climatic conditions similar to those on the Mediterranean coast. It is a much rarer cultivated species than Euryops pectinatus, the savanna daisy. This evergreen has a compact, bushy habit, typically reaching a height and spread of around 30 cm at maturity. Its growth is moderate, with the plant reaching full size in 5 to 10 years. The stems are woody at the base and bear dense, silvery foliage. The finely divided leaves measure between 5 and 10 cm in length. They display a silvery hue due to the fine hairs covering them. The abundant flowering takes the form of solitary yellow, 2 to 3 cm diameter heads, composed of ligulate florets surrounding a central yellow disc. The flowering period mainly spans from spring to autumn, with intensity varying depending on climatic conditions. The fruits are achenes lacking a wing, promoting dispersal near the parent plant. The root system is taprooted, allowing Euryops evansii to draw water from deep underground and withstand drought periods.

Euryops are easy-to-grow, very generous plants in mild climates, which should be pruned back after each flowering period: many new shoots emerge from the stems, even the woody ones! Plant Euryops evansii alongside Senecio (cineraria, grandiflorus, vira-vira) in a coastal garden—they withstand wind and sea spray perfectly, tolerate drought, and thrive in both stony and sandy soils. They can also be paired with rockroses and lavenders. They also thrive in pots on a sheltered terrace or balcony. Gardeners in more continental regions, where winters are harsh and wet, should bring them indoors to an unheated greenhouse for protection.