Olearia teretifolia :: Australian Cypress Daisy

[Steven]

I'm really excited!

While at Bunnings yesterday I found what I first thought was a variety of Juniper. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be an Olearia teretifolia or Australian Cypress Daisy. Originally priced at $11.92 it was reduced to $5. I grabbed the best one there and headed for the checkout with a fiver in hand.

Here it is back in my garden...

Olearia teretifolia.jpg

This is what the tag states...

Olearia teretifolia is a compact form of the plant commonly known as the Cypress Daisy Bush. When not in flower, this Australian native is very upright and architectural in shape displaying tight, healthy green foliage on a small, neat shrub. When in flower, Olearia teretifolia is totally covered in masses of tiny white flowers! A very versatile variety, ideal for containers, gardens and landscaping.

They say it takes full sun to part shade, frost tolerant, light on water, grows to 800mm high and 500mm wide.

The bark and trunk resemble a Juniper or Conifer...

Olearia teretifolia trunk.jpg

As does the foliage...

Olearia teretifolia foliage.jpg

I will do some work to it this weekend and post some more pictures for your viewing pleasure

Has anyone had any experience with this species?

Regards,
Steven

[Asus101]

wow, I think i have one of these. Its only a stick, but i was going to go twisty on it and do something like a shohin juniper I was reading on in bonsai Europe..

i too would like to know some more info on it..

[Joel]

I remember another member bringing two to a club meeting last year. They were originally in a very similar state to yours, Steven. Clinton Nesci stated that he had done minimal work with them, but also that he would be hesitant to remove too much foliage at once. He also seemed unsure of how well they backbud. I know they were wired extensively, but i don't know how well they set.

I have glanced at a few at a local nursery, but all seem to have a straight trunk....very similar to the young cypress at most nurseries. I have been looking out for a nice one for some time, though.

Good luck guys!

JayC

[Steven]

Thanks for the information JayC.
Has anyone else had any experience with this species?

Regards,
Steven

[Greth]

I bought a tired specimen of one of these from the discard dept of my nursery. Currently it is in the garden and totally covered with flowers. what more can you ask for - all the look of a conifer and flowers as well. Have taken cuttings which seem to be doing ok. I might use these in the garden and dig up the mother plant later for bonsai.

[Jamie]

i had one for a while. i planted it into a very large growing container and it was doing very well, i found that it was similar in habit to thuja. where the foliage is only on the outer areas of the branches. i had it out in full sun and it seemed like it was thriving then after one very hot windy day it was no more. thats my experience with them. so if i was to get another it would be kept in a morning sun position and partial shade for the arvo i reckon


regards jamie

[Joel]

Should have just finished flowering Steven. Did it?

JayC

[Greth]

Mine is on the shady side of an apricot, so should get summer arvo shade and full sun in winter, sounds good. But this is a very dry hot garden in summer, will lift it if it shows signs of collapse, and of course keep taking cuttings which can survive in the shadehouse. I lose so many things in my exposed exsheep paddock that I take cuttings of everything possible, and they can survive the summer in the shadehouse. Usually have a replacement ready for anything which dies If the original doesn't die, then I have more to plant elsewhere or to sell.

[Jonden]

I got 1 from Bunnings about 12 months ago, it flowed beautifully last year, I kept it in a shaded area, ( nowhere else to put it ) where it got lots of water and all the inner foliage and the bottom branches have died, the top is healthy and flowered great, so from this I think they need full sun.
I will put it in the garden to see how it goes. They do look great in flower, bonsai flowering like this would be spectacular.
Cheers, Jonden

[tr3nt29]

I think I removed 1 of these from a friends garden (not sure), could you please describe the flowers in more detail?


Collected as a clump of about 6 different trees, only 1 survived and has been left to growout over 2 seasons. The loss of the remainder of the clump has resulted in an amazing display of jin material, which still needs to be worked with.

[Greth]

I will get a photo of mine today and see if I can work out the attachments thingy for this forum.
The main plant is still looking tatty, it wasn't long ago it was a nursery tossout.

cypress daisy 1.jpg

flower closeup..jpg

[Kunzea]

Hi tr3nt29
Your photo looks more like Melaleuca incana, the grey honey myrtle.

Other in this string:
Does anyone have information on how this species buds back after pruning? Many have reported growing it, but what happens when you prune and repot?
Kunzea

[Psymo]

Wow, tr3nt29 i think thats the biggest photo anyones ever posted

[Greth]

Yes, that is nothing like a cypress daisy, I was just too polite to say so.
Ive only had this one a few weeks, don't know yet how it backbuds or anything. Will update when I have learnt a bit more about it. Poor thing was just a nursery tossout, I was looking for bonsai potentials and it caught my eye, then I realised it wasn't a cypress, bought it anyway, I have half an acre to fill with garden. I took two cuttings, one looks like dying, not sure about the other yet, that will tell me whether it is good at producing new material from old wood. Some plants will regenerate from anything, others are just about impossible from cuttings - eucalypts are a good example. Even experts can't get them to grow from cuttings or tissue culture. I know a uni professor who has tried all her life, throwing all the technology she can at them, she is just about ready to admit defeat. The good news is that most plants which are found cheaply in nurseries are pretty easy from cuttings, thats why the growers grow them. The hard stuff is grown from seed and much more expensive, as they take more time.

[Greth]

Here it is now, survived summer ok, and now looking a bit healthier

cypress daisy.jpg