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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: Australia (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Lavender Blue |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 4-5 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Olearia phlogopappa 98.289 (Alpine Daisy Bush) - A small easy growing upright evergreen sub-shrub to 4-5 feet tall by 3 feet wide with slender stems holding narrow inch long gray-green leaves with dentate margins that are often covered in soft hairs when young and the foliage has a slight musky odor. Through spring and early summer appear the lavender-blue daisy flowers with a light pleasant scent that are in such profusion that it bends over the stems with their weight. Plant in a well-drained soil in a partially shaded location. It can be planted in cool coastal full sun but even there it is best in partial shade with fairly regular irrigation ever couple weeks or so in the summer, depending on soil conditions and weather. Cold hard to the around 26°F. This fast growing plant can be a bit bare at the base and a light pruning when young encourages denser growth and later pruning can be done after flowering or when taking the stems for use as cut flowers. Useful as a potted plant that can be displayed when in bloom a good coming up from behind other low growing shrubs that hide lower bare branches. Its flowers are very nice in arrangements and attract butterflies in the garden. This Australian daisy looks a bit like the Michaelmas Daisy, a species of Aster (Aster amellus) from the northern hemisphere but this plant hails from Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. The name for the genus is an interesting story in itself. An early report by the legendary botanist and Kew Director Joseph Hooker had the reason for the name being the foliage resemblance to the olive (Olea europaea) but the names author, the German botanist Konrad Moench, noted that when he first described Olearia dentata in 1802 that the name honored Joannis Gothofriedi Olearii whose last name was correctly spelled Oelschlaeger but reportedly used the nickname Olearius because his surname translated to "oil presser". The specific epithet is from two Greek words, 'phlogos' meaning "flame" and 'pappos' or 'pappus' which are the appendages (hairs or scales) that are attached to the developing seeds in some members of the daisy family and for this species alludes to them being reddish. The name Dilly Dilly comes 17 century English folksong Lavender Blue in reference to the color of this plant's flowers. It is a 2016 introduction of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum's Koala Blooms Australian Plant Introduction Program. The arboretum received this plant in 1998 as accession 98.289.
The information about Olearia phlogopappa 'Dilly Dilly' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
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