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Flannel Flower
On a job this week I came across an outstanding specimen of this shrub. Standing 1.2 metres high and around 1 metre wide this dense bushy shrub was clothed in sage green narrow hairy leaves. The tips of the branches each bore one large or up to five smaller flowers. The distinctive feathery silvery green flowers glistened in the sunlight and quite took by breath away .Hundreds of flowers graced this bush and will remain lovely for the next two months. It is a fantastic cut flower lasting from six to eight weeks in a vase. As the flowers are such a neutral colour will they fit into any colour scheme and associate well with all flowers. At only three years of age this Flannel bush had reached maturity and unless trimmed carefully after flowering would become a leggy straggly bush until its demise in a few years.
I recommend treating this shrub as a lovely short term one ,replacing after three to five years. It’s a good idea to have two in the garden at the same time but at different ages.
Phylica plumosa or pubescens comes from the Cape Town province in South Africa and thrives in our coastal environment. Grow in an open soil with the addition of compost and Garden Galore .In exposed situation place rocks at the base to avoid rocking. Occasional watering during summer drought will be appreciated to keep this shrub leafy and happy. Prune back by half after flowering. Even if you pick all the flowers still prune back further to encourage basal growth.
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