Othonna cheirifolia

Othonna or Othonnopsis cheirifolia, known as the Gillyflower-leaved Othonna, is also named Hertia cheirifolia in Algerian floras to which it belongs. It is a vigorous perennial plant with a woody stump that forms a small, low, dense and wide bush, adorned with beautiful silver-green leaves, decorative even in winter. Its very cheerful flowers, which resemble small golden daisies, bloom between February and July depending on the climate. It is a must-have for the Mediterranean garden without watering to vegetate a raised bed, a rockery, a dry slope. Its stems gracefully cascade from flowerpots and containers.

Othonna cheirifolia belongs to the family of Asteraceae. Here is a species native to North Africa, spontaneous in Algeria up to the Saharan Atlas and in Tunisia where it is found on slopes in arid areas. Its woody stump gives rise to slightly upright, short and branched stems, forming a bushy and compact mass of at least 20-30cm (8-12in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width. The stems root upon contact with the ground, allowing it to spread. Its foliage, evergreen in winter, consists of spatulate leaves measuring on average 10cm (4in) long and 2cm (1in) wide. Their thick and flattened lamina, almost succulent, is a very soft green-grey. These leaves are regularly and vertically arranged on the stem. The flowering can start as early as the end of February in the South. In cooler regions, it blooms from May to July. It takes the form of 4cm (2in) diameter heads, composed of bright yellow ligulate florets surrounding a yellow centre, borne on taller stems than the vegetation. This flowering is visited by pollinating insects.

The Gillyflower-leaved Othonna is decorative all year round and looks superb in a mineral landscape. It is a good ground cover that can be used on a slope or above a stone wall where it will cascade beautifully, along with Euphorbia myrsinites, Tanacetum haradjanii, Erigeron karvinskianus, and Centaurea ragusina and C.pulcherrima: the result is absolutely magnificent!