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Family: Asteraceae
Native to: New Zealand
Dimensions: to about 5' tall, 7' wide
Cold resistance: hardy to around 10 - 12°F
Drought resistance: adequate for Seattle area, a little irrigation preferred from Portland south
Key Features: evergreen with silver foliage, pink buds open to white flowers in early summer, versatile and very easy to grow
Uses: feature specimen plant, back of border, container plant, screening; tolerates coastal wind exposure, urban heat; deer resistant, best in sun.
Description:
This is a wonderful plant. It grows quickly into a large shrub to 4 - 6' tall with greater spread, with beautiful silvery foliage. In late spring, pink flower buds appear which open to inconspicuous white flowers; these are followed by showy clusters of fluffy seed heads that remain on the plant into the fall. It's drought tolerant west of the Cascades, evergreen, tolerates sun or part shade and pretty much any soil, and the deer don't eat it. If it ever gets out of hand it can be cut back hard and rejuvenated. It looks like something that ought to be native to eastern Washington, but it's actually from New Zealand; which, of course, automatically makes it cool.
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