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Olearia avicenniifolia

Common name:	Akeake	Family:	Compositae
Author:	(Raoul.)Hook.f.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:	Olearia albida (Hort. non Hook.f.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	New Zealand.
Habitat:	Sub-alpine scrub to 1000 metres in South Island.
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Shawia avicenniifolia[G]
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Asterales. Renamed to Asteraceae -- Aster family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 3m by 5m . It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf all year, in flower from August to September. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Hedge.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Hedge.

Very resistant to maritime exposure and tolerant of severe pruning[11, 49, 166, 200], this plant can be used as an effective windbreak hedge in exposed maritime areas[75]. It is rather slow growing though[75].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[182, 200]. Thrives in a chalky soil[182] but prefers a light loam or peaty soil[11]. Very tolerant of maritime exposure[11, 75]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[200].
This species is not very hardy outside the milder western and south-western maritime areas of Britain[1], tolerating temperatures down to about -10°c[184]. Another report says that it is hardy to about -15°c[200].
Very slow growing in Britain[75], the plants generally only reach 2 - 3 metres tall in cultivation in this country.
Plants can be pruned right back into old wood in order to promote fresh growth[200]. Any pruning is best done in the spring[11].
Some named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[182].
Flowers best in years following long hot summers[200]. The flowers are sweetly scented[184].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in early spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. If growth has been sufficiently good, plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of the following year, otherwise grow them on for another year in pots and plant them out the following early summer.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in late August and overwinter in a cold frame then plant out in late spring or early summer[78]. Good percentage[11].
Cuttings of moderately ripe wood of the current years growth, 5 - 10cm with a heel, November in a frame. High percentage[78].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers are sweetly scented.

Cultivars

'Talbot De Malahide': This is a cultivar, probably of O. avicennifolia, that has been specifically mentioned for its used as a wind-resistant hedge in maritime areas[11]. Very slow growing in Britain[75], plants generally only reach 2 - 3m tall in cultivation in this country.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Olearia albida (a possible synonym).

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[49] Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties.
Trees and shrubs that grow well in &ndndndnd and other mild areas of Britain. Fairly good, a standard reference book.

[75] Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984
A small booklet packed with information on trees and shrubs for hedging and shelterbelts in exposed maritime areas.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

Olearia avicenniifolia

david nicholls (davidni@xtra.co.nz) Sat Dec 22 22:14:39 2001

Olearia albida tests positve for saponins in the leaves and the wood(A New Zealand Phytochemical survey Part 2 By R.Campbell, Cain & Roche NZ Journal of Science Sept 1961).

I shook some leaves in a jar of water, after 12 hrs the amount of bubbles wasn't bad, have not tried using them for anything, washing, killing fish...

The plant tested negative for alkaloids and all other things tested.

I am impressed with my one plant, it is growing pointing into the prevailing while other plants grow sculpted with the ocassionally hurricane force wind as one would expect, (observation based on one plant only) it is rather slow as you say though, and doesnt get very big at it's best.

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
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