These little shrubs will stand out in your garden with their silvery-white skeletal foliage. Half-hardy in the UK down to -5°C.
This silver-green foliage plant will add a splash of varied colour in your garden. It may look like it's seen an early frost, but this plant is this colour all year round! Its compact foliage criss-crosses with these tough white stems, looking a bit like coral in its growth pattern. In late summer it can produce pale yellow flowers which are popular with pollinators. Usually reaching heights between 20-70cm trall, it will take a few years for your Cushion Bush to reach its full size and maturity.
Evergreen
Cushy, clump forming.
Foliage year-round where temperatures aren't too low, flowers in late summer.
Scientific Name
Leucophyta brownii (Brown's white plant) sometimes known as Calocephalus brownii
Common Name
Cushion Bush, Australian Garland Flower
Origin
Native to the southern coast of Australia
Pruning Tips
Pinch out stems to encourage bushy growth. Can prune a little in late spring to keep it tidy but this plant will not tolerate hard pruning.
Wildlife Value
Can provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects.
Positioning
Put your cushion bush in full sun where it can bask in the glow! Exposed or sheltered spots are both fine.
Water
This plant is drought resistant, so you are more likely to have issues with too much water than too little.
Soil
It is important that your soil drains well for this plant. Adding horticultural sand to the area you want to plant this in can help.
Food
This plant can be quite hungry so will benefit from a monthly feed with liquid fertiliser; a rich compost added to the soil will also help ensure there's enough nutrients in there.
Pet-safe
Yes, no toxicity reported - just make sure your furry friends don't munch the lot or you'll have no plant to enjoy!
Sprouts Top Tips
This plant can be short-lived. To give it the best chance of living longer, a sheltered spot where temperatures don't get too low over winter, or some winter protection, will help as this plant is not happy in the colder, soggier parts of the year (the sort of weather they get less in southern Australia...). It also doesn't need much pruning at all, and can be damaged by a big prune, so stick to a bit of pinching out to keep it neat if you feel you have to prune at all.
Extras
RHS plants for pollinators
