Olearia scilloniensis - Daisy Bush

The Olearia (x) scilloniensis is a lovely evergreen bush that thrives in mild maritime climates. When it blooms in May-June, it is covered in a multitude of small white flowers with yellow hearts, similar to asters. The abundance of flowers transforms it into a beautiful white ball with a dusting of yellow, as if weighed down by snow. Its dense and attractive grayish-green foliage persists all year round. It is quite drought resistant, highly floriferous, and one of the most beautiful bushes for creating a permanent decoration in mild climates.

The Olearia scillionensis (sometimes spelled scillonensis) was born in 1910 on Tresco, in the Isles of Scilly, located off the southwest coast of the Cornish Peninsula in the British Isles. It is the result of cross-breeding between Olearia lirata, native to southeastern Australia, and O. phlogopappa, native to Tasmania and the southeastern coast of Australia. This bush, very dense and with a flexible, rounded habit, will reach about 1.50m (5ft) spread, with a relatively fast growth rate. It belongs to the family of Asteraceae. Its angular and downy branches bear narrow, entire, undulate-edged leaves, measuring 6 to 10cm (2 to 4in) long, dark green on top and almost white underneath. The remarkably abundant flowering takes place in May-June, in the form of corymbs composed of numerous small 2cm (1in)-wide heads, similar to small white daisies with yellow centers. The flowering is followed by the formation of a fruit called an "akene," seed dispersal is ensured by the wind.

Hardy down to about -8/-10°C (17.6/14°F), the Olearia scillionensis will naturally find its place in a seaside garden, where it will form, together with spring-flowering bushes such as quince, ornamental apple trees, and Fabiana imbricata, a tenderly blooming grove in spring, protected by a screen of Griselinia australis and Olearia traversii. In a low hedge, it can be used alone or combined with other small evergreen bushes such as Leptospermum (Nanum Tui, Martinii, Silver Sheen), Atriplex halimus, Anthyllis barba-jovis, Hippophae rhamnoides, Elaeagnus angustifolia 'Caspica', or even Artemisia arborescens. It is perfectly adapted to gardens on the oceanic facade, where it appreciates sandy or humus-rich soils but tolerates Mediterranean summers quite well if it receives occasional but copious watering and a light soil without excessive limestone content.