#olearia

AKA Glossy Tree Daisy, Solidago arborescens, Olearia nitida, Olearia erythropappa, Olearia multiflora, Olearia populifolia, and Olearia suborbiculata. Most of those synonyms are the work of William Colenso, who I've mentioned before. Apparently one method he used when out exploring and botanizing was stuffing botanical specimens down the front of his shirt while on the move. I can't say I blame him - If I'd actually stopped to properly record every new plant I saw just in that first photo I'd have been there for an hour.

A common shrub or small tree in lowland to alpine scrubland on North, South and Stewart Islands.

Olearia are found in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand and includes herbaceous plants, shrubs and small trees. The latter is quite an unusual growth form for the daisy family. Over 100 of the 180-odd species are endemic to Australia, although molecular evidence strongly suggests the genus should be broken up. The composite flowerheads may be white, pink, mauve or purple.

Olearia teretifolia

05-SEP-2025

Plant of the Day

Saturday 25 June 2022

The evergreen shrub Olearia semidentata (Chatham Island aster, swamp aster) is endemic (naturally occurring) to the Chatham Islands. The flowers made a great welcome to the Marengo Community Garden, Orkney which is sheltered from the wind by drystone walls.

An attractive shrub native to WA, and the region of the SA/NSW/Victorian border. Described as 'Aromatic and frequently glutinous', it grows around rocky outcrops and boulders in calcareous sandy or gravelly lateritic soils - in this case, the latter.

Olearia homolepis

05-SEP-2025