Olearia haastii - Daisy Bush

The Olearia (x) haastii, also known as Tree Aster, is a charming evergreen bush from New Zealand, the unexpected resistance to cold deserves to be exploited in many regions with temperate winters. This lovely thick bush is covered with small, shiny green leaves. Its vegetation almost disappears in the second half of the summer under a massive flowering display, made up of numerous white and fragrant daisies. This Olearia, perfect for a small windbreak hedge by the sea, also grows inland, in a bushy bed sheltered from cold winds. To acclimatise it, ensure you provide it with well-drained, light, not too chalky to slightly acidic soil, and a sunny exposure. It can also be grown in a container, which allows it to be sheltered from severe frosts in very cold regions.

The Olearia (x) haastii is a natural hybrid between Olearia avicenniifolia and O. moschata. Despite its origins, it is hardy up to about -15°C (5 °F) in dry soil,  This very thick, rather compact, and rounded bush will reach an average of 1.60 m (5 ft 2 in) in height and 1.30 m (4 ft 4 in) in width, and its growth is quite slow. It is a plant from the Asteraceae family, as evidenced by its head inflorescences that resemble those of asters or daisies. Its angular branches bear tough, ovate to elliptical, entire leaves, 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) long and 1 to 1.2 cm (0.4 to 0.5 in) wide. The shiny lamina are dark green on top, but the underside is almost white. This foliage persists in winter. The remarkably abundant flowering takes place from July to September depending on the region. It takes the form of clusters called corymbs, 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3.1 in) in diameter, made up of numerous small heads 8 mm (0.3 in) wide, similar to small white daisies with a pale yellow centre. The fragrant, honey- and nectar-producing flowers atttract foraging insects. They are followed by the formation of a fruit called an achene, topped with a silky egret. Seed dispersal is ensured by the wind.

The Olearia haastii will naturally find its place in a seaside garden, where it can be planted in windbreak hedges, in front of a row of taller bushes such as the littoral griselinia Griselinia littoralis and the'Olearia traversii. It can also be combined with bushes with staggered flowering such as ceanothus, small arbutus trees or other Olearias. You can also create beautiful exotic beds by combining it with other small evergreen bushes such as Leptospermum (Nanum Tui, Martinii, Silver Sheen), Atriplex halimus, Callistemon, escallonias or even bushy artemisias. It is perfectly adapted to ocean-facing gardens where it appreciates sandy or humus-rich soils. It is happy in many sheltered gardens (in light soil) and also tolerates Mediterranean summers quite well if it benefits from occasional but copious watering and light soil without excessive chalk.