Family: Asteraceae

Native to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, these evergreen shrubs belong to the large daisy family. They have heath-like foliage which is often quite untidy looking. The leaves are generally very small and the massed heads of small, yellow or white flowers are borne at the ends of the stems. Most species have aromatic foliage and some are suitable for drying.

Species

Few of these are grown in the UK.

C. aculeata, common cassinia, is an Australian native. It grows to around 3 m (10 ft), with small, hairy, sticky leaves and small, dense clusters of mainly off-white or cream flowers with papery bracts in summer.

C. arcuata grows to around 2 m (6 ft). This Australian native has tiny, aromatic leaves and pendulous heads of fawn-coloured flowers. It is often known as biddy bush or Chinese scrub.

C. denticulata, from New South Wales, is an erect-growing shrub up to 2-3 m (6-10 ft), dwarfed in alpine areas. It has stiff, lance-shaped, light green leaves and cream flowers.

C. fulvida (Synonym: C. leptophylla subsp. fulvidu), golden heath, zone 8, is from New Zealand and grows to 2 m (6 ft). The dark green leaves are yellowish underneath and the tiny, yellowish flowers appear in clusters.

C. quinquefaria is an open, rounded Australian shrub, 2-3 m (6-10 ft) tall, with linear leaves on sticky branchlets and feathery clusters of glossy white or pale brown bell-shaped flowers during summer.

C. uncata, also native to Australia, is a stiff, upright shrub which grows to 2 m (6 ft). Its curved leaves are thread-like and rather rough, and its shining, light yellow to brownish flower heads bloom nearly all year.

Cultivation

Grow in full sun in reasonably fertile, well-drained soil which contains plenty of humus. Prune in spring by cutting back the old flowered shoots to within about 2.5 cm (1 in) of the old wood. Propagate from semi-ripe cuttings in summer under glass, or take hardwood cuttings in winter, again rooting them under glass.

Climate

Zone 9 for most.