Brachyglottis Walbertons Silver Dormouse

Brachyglottis or Senecio Walberton's Silver Dormouse is a variety of tree senecio recently selected in England for its compact habit, dense and harmonious growth, as well as its more pronounced foliage and flower colours, which are well contrasted. This bush forms a large cushion covered with beautiful grey downy leaves, decorative even in winter, and comes alive all summer with a multitude of small golden yellow daisies. As pleasing to the eye as it is to the touch, it works wonders by the seaside, in dry gardens, and in large pots. This excellent variety has been awarded in England by the R.H.S (Royal Horticultural Society) for its ornamental qualities and performance in the garden.

Brachyglottis, formerly classified as Senecio, are all native to New Zealand. They are charming small shrubs, resistant to sea spray and drought, not demanding in well-drained soil, hardy down to -12/-15°C, and perfectly suited to our Mediterranean and oceanic climates. Senecio greyi is a shrubby plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, surpassed in horticulture by its hybrids, including 'Sunshine', which is probably the most widely planted in gardens. The Walberton's Silver Dormouse selection outperforms 'Sunshine' in terms of colours and tidy appearance: the shrub, more compact and shorter, ages well, and its leaves do not tend to brown in the centre of the growth. The type species, native to New Zealand, grows on cliffs and rocky outcrops, from the coast to the gorges of inland rivers, in the south of the North Island.

Eventually forming a regular, slightly spreading, bushy shrub, about 90cm (35.4in) tall and 1.20m (3ft 11in) wide, this Senecio Walberton's Silver Dormouse requires little pruning, except perhaps in fertile and moist soil where it may tend to thin out at the base. The growth of this plant occurs at a regular, rather rapid pace, with the help of rainfall, mainly in late summer and spring in mild climates. The branches bear entire, ovate leaves, 10cm (3.9in) long. They are grey, whiter underneath, completely covered with silky hairs. Each leaf is surrounded by a thin white border. Flowering generally begins in May-June in the south, resumes in September with the help of rainfall, but takes place from June to September-October further north, as long as the soil remains moist. Leafy floral stems at the base and branched at their tips rise among the foliage, bearing inflorescences in small 2.5cm (1in) diameter heads, of a very bright yellow, arranged in loose clusters.

Brachyglottis Walberton's Silver Dormouse is a plant suited to maritime climates and dry soil, relatively hardy if care is taken to plant it in well-drained soil and in a sheltered location. It naturally blends in, in a dry garden or on a large rockery, with Mediterranean plants such as lavenders, rosemary, Helychrisum italicum, Cistus, or Convolvulus cneorum. To allow it to stand out in a border, away from other gray or silver foliage that could overshadow it, it can also be mixed with purple foliage such as that of Loropetalum 'Fire Dance' or Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb'. The bright pink or red flowers of rose campions (Lychnis coronaria) and shrubby salvias (Salvia greigii, Salvia Royal Bumble) are perfectly complemented by all grey foliage, from spring to late autumn.