Olearia lanuginosa ´Ghost Town´

If your looking for something a little bit unusual to add to the garden, you really should consider this Olearia. While it´s spires of silvery grey foliage may look spikey, they are actually soft to touch. They have a scrambling habit, somewhere between a ground cover and a low growing shrub, you can really have some fun shaping these with a bit of creative pruning. Their height does not usually exceed 70cm, but they can sprawl out to 1m in length. Although this plant is grown primariy for its foliage colour and structure, you will be suprised and rewarded by clusters of tiny mauve, star shaped flowers in spring.

Care

Good drainage is preferred, but these will tolerate fairly poor drainage compared to most natives. Ghost town will cope with full sun or part shade, different light levels may cause a slight change in foliage colour. No pruning is necessary it is entirely up to you how you want to shape them, you can cut a plant back to almost a stump and they will bounce back without a problem.

Uses

The ability to mingle in with other plants makes them great for planting in mixed beds of natives and exotics alike. Ghost town also makes an intrigueing pot specimen, a talking point amongst your friends!