Leucophyta brownii
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Calocephalus brownii
- Phonetic Spelling
- loo-koh-FY-tah BROW-nee-eye
- Description
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Cushion Bush is a dwarf flowering shrub, or sub shrub, in the daisy (Asteraceae) family and native to Australia. The plant has a rounded habit with tangled branchlets covered in wooly hairs that give it a silvery appearance. Although it can grow up to 3 feet high in 3 to 5 years, it is more usually in a range of 6 inches to 2 feet high. It produces flowers during summer (December to February in Australia), that are white-yellow with globular heads about a 1/2 inch in diameter. The genus was first described by botanist Robert Brown in 1819 and his name has been given to the only species in this genus.
Cushion Bush grows best in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Once established, it can tolerate wind, salt spray, drought, and frost. However, it requires a well-drained soil that ideally is sandy. It does not need supplemental fertilizers and will thrive in nutrient poor soil. It is a tough plant commonly found on the exposed cliffs and dunes on the south coast of Australia
The leaves reflect light and are easily seen at night making them a good choice for a moon garden or they can be grown as a low hedge. It propagates easily by seed or semi-hardened stem cuttings. It will not tolerate hard pruning, but you can pinch out stem tips of young plants to encourage bushy growth.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known insect pests. Can be susceptible to grey mold.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Leucophyta
- Species:
- brownii
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern and South Eastern Australia
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Dry fruiting heads appear grey-bown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Dome
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Button-like, white-yellow to orange, flower heads with 1/2 inch heads form in the late Australian spring to summer (December through February) pollinated by various insects. Flowers are terminal and pale yellow flower heads age to creamy white.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- White
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Oblanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Short and narrow, scale like leaves in a variety of shapes; lanceolate, linear, narrowly elliptical, narrowly oblong, and ovate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy, tangled branchlets with a silvery appearance.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Poor Soil
- Salt
- Wind
