Olearia haastii
Olearia haastii · Asteraceae
📷 Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around olearia haastii and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, small and leathery
- Flowering
- June-July, small fragrant white flowers
- Adult size
- 150 cm tall, compact and rounded habit
- Growth
- Moderate to slow
- Hardiness
- Zone 8-9 (-10 to -5 °C)
- Origin
- New Zealand
- Soil type
- Well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Protect it during winter for the first 2 years with fleece or thick mulch. It dislikes drying, cold winds.
The common mistake
Planting it in a too-exposed or frost-prone spot without protecting young plants can weaken it during winters with temperatures down to -12°C.
The pro's trick
Take cuttings in August from semi-hardened shoots and root them in a nursery bed under a cold frame: 2-year-old plants are more cold-hardy than young commercially-bought ones.
Care
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist without excess, particularly during active growth in spring and summer. Reduce watering in winter. Ensure impeccable drainage to prevent root suffocation, especially in pots.
Light Exposure
Plant your Olearia in full sun for generous flowering and compact habit. It tolerates partial shade but will flower less abundantly. Protect it from strong drying winds that damage the foliage.
Pruning and Cutting
Perform light pruning after flowering (July-August) to maintain a harmonious shape and stimulate branching. Remove dead or misshapen branches. Avoid severe pruning which stresses the plant.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced slow-release fertilizer in spring. Moderate feeding is sufficient: Olearia is not demanding. Stop fertilizing in autumn and winter to encourage dormancy.
Soil and Planting
Choose well-drained, light and slightly acidic substrate. Enrich the soil with potting mix and perlite if it's too compact. Good substrate aeration is essential for plant health.
Diseases and Pests
Olearia is generally robust. Watch for spider mites and whiteflies in overly dry or warm conditions. Excess stagnant moisture can promote rot: ensure good air circulation and optimal drainage.
Did you know?
Olearia haastii is named after botanist Johann von Haast, a German naturalist who explored New Zealand in the 19th century. This New Zealand shrub is distinguished by its wonderful subtle fragrance from its tiny white flowers in summer, a rare characteristic in the Olearia genus. In New Zealand, several species in this genus were historically used to create hedges or windbreaks, so effective was their compact growth.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.