Olearia macrodonta Major

The Olearia macrodonta Major, also known as New Zealand Holly because of the similarity of their foliage, is an evergreen bush from mild climates, appreciated for its beautiful gray-green dentate leaves with a silver underside. It flowers in summer, disappearing under a mass of small white and fragrant daisies gathered in large clusters. Not very hardy but resistant to sea spray and not demanding in terms of soil type, it's a perfect choice for coastal areas. Plant it in full sun, or partial shade in warm climates, in soil that is not too dry but well-drained.

The Olearia macrodonta Major is a beautiful bush reaching 2 to 3 m (7 to 10ft) in height and 1 to 2 m (3 to 7ft) in spread, with fast growth. It is a cultivar derived from O. macrodonta, a plant from the Asteraceae family, which can be found in the wild in plains, as well as in subalpine forests in New Zealand, up to 1200 meters (3937 feet) in altitude. The Major variety is mainly characterized by a more upright habit. Its angular and pubescent branches, when young, bear large undulate and dentate leaves, measuring 6-12 cm (2-5in) long and 3-5 cm (1-2in) wide, with a dark olive green color on the upper side, and covered with a white-silver felting on the underside. In summer, the foliage releases a subtle, slightly musky scent when crushed. The abundant flowering takes place in June-July, in the form of branched clusters, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) wide, consisting of numerous fragrant, small white heads with yellow centers.

Hardy up to around -8°C, the Olearia macrodonta Major can be planted in the ground to form a medium-sized hedge, in combination with other evergreen bushes such as bushy ceanothus ('Italian Skyes', 'Concha', 'Puget Blue', 'Skylark'), a spring-flowering broom, Leptospermum, or even red-flowered callistemons (Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens'). It is perfectly adapted to coastal gardens on the oceanic facade as it is not very tolerant of drought and the heat of Mediterranean summers. For gardeners in more continental climates, it remains a beautiful conservatory plant. In a greenhouse or conservatory, it will pair well with an orange tree, a myrtle, a Tibouchina, or a mimosa, a quartet that is extremely decorative, evoking landscapes with exotic charm and scents.