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Oldenburgia Grandis
I first came across this rare African member of the daisy family around 30 years ago but it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that I saw this plant in flower for the first time. And what an unusual and arresting sight it was. Stout umbels of woody stems rose from the centre of the plant and were topped with purplish lavender thistle type flower buds. One of the buds had opened to reveal hundreds of creamy white stamens massed as the flower. I expected the buds to be spiny but the bristles were soft. I was lucky enough to be given a flowering stem to bring home. It required a pruning saw and muscles to remove it from the plant and the weight was such that it had to be heaved into my car. However I can report that neither the buds nor the leaves have deteriorated in any way.
A keen floral artist told me that she still had the wonderful felted leaves that she preserved in glycerine around 25 years ago and regulary uses them in her floral creations.
Oldenburgia is a slow growing spreading shrub with large tough leaves, shiny on top and white furry felted underneath. I wouldn’t think insects would dare to eat those leaves as they would get mouthfuls of fur. It requires perfect drainage, sand is ideal, with a mulch of compost but keep well watered through the summer period, and plenty of air movement. A coastal environment is perfect, even salty soils. It makes a striking statement growing near water.
Oldenburgias only tolerate light to medium frosts.
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