Olearia traversii

Planting Conditions and Ideal Location

• Light Requirements: Olearia traversii thrives in full sun, which promotes dense growth and flowering. It tolerates light shade but may become leggy in low-light situations.

• Soil Preferences: Prefers well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is highly adaptable and can grow in sandy, chalky, or poor soils, as long as drainage is adequate.

• Moisture Needs: Tolerates dry conditions once established. Young plants need regular watering during the first season, but overwatering should be avoided.

• Planting Time: Plant in spring or early autumn, when soil is warm and moisture is consistent. This gives the roots time to establish before extremes of summer or winter.

• Spacing: Space plants 6 to 10 feet apart depending on use (hedging vs. specimen tree). Allow room for its natural spread if grown as a small tree.

• Positioning Tips: Perfect for exposed, coastal, or windy sites. Particularly valued for its salt and wind resistance, making it ideal for seaside gardens, windbreaks, or shelter belts.

Maintenance, Pruning, and Long-Term Care

• Watering: Water deeply and regularly during the first year. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and only needs supplemental watering during extreme dry spells.

• Feeding: Feed with a general-purpose fertilizer in early spring if grown in poor soil. In most situations, no regular feeding is required.

• Mulching: Apply a light mulch of bark or compost in spring to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Avoid piling mulch against the base of the trunk.

• Pruning: Responds well to pruning and can be shaped as a hedge, screen, or small tree. Prune lightly after flowering or in early spring to maintain shape or remove dead/damaged growth.

• Hedge Maintenance: For formal hedging, trim once or twice annually to maintain density and form. For informal shelterbelts, minimal shaping is needed.

• Pests and Diseases: Generally pest-free and disease-resistant. Ensure good air circulation and avoid excessive humidity to prevent occasional fungal problems.

• Hardiness: Hardy in USDA Zones 8–10 (UK H4–H5). Tolerates light frost but may require protection in colder inland regions. In exposed coastal sites, it excels where other plants may struggle.

Foliage, Flowers, and Garden Use

• Foliage: Features narrow, leathery, grey-green leaves with a white underside, giving it a silvery appearance in wind. The foliage is evergreen and highly tolerant of salt spray and exposure.

• Growth Habit and Size: Fast-growing and versatile, Olearia traversii typically reaches 10–15 feet tall, and up to 20 feet in ideal conditions. Can be maintained as a shrub or trained into a small tree.

• Flowers: Produces clusters of small, daisy-like white flowers in mid to late summer, often subtly scented. Though not especially showy, they are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

• Seasonal Interest: Provides year-round structure and screening. Its wind-polished leaves and summer blooms offer both form and subtle seasonal change.

• Design Uses: Excellent for coastal gardens, hedging, windbreaks, or large shrub borders. Works well as a backdrop for herbaceous plants, or as a standalone architectural feature.

• Companion Plants: Combines well with other tough, drought-tolerant and coastal plants such as griselinia, escallonia, phormium, cordyline, and hebes.

• Wildlife Value: Attracts pollinators and provides nesting shelter for birds when grown as a hedge or dense screen.

• Size
  2L 40-60cm

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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