Twiggy Daisy Bush

Twiggy Daisy Bush (Olearia ramulosa) is a loose, spreading Australian native shrub with slender branches, narrow grey-green leaves like rosemary and masses of small starry flowers from spring to autumn. It grows 1m to 1.5m tall and wide, and the flowers are usually white but may be pale blue. It is an easy-going native for gardens from southern Queensland to Tasmania.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers for months. Abundant starry flowers cover the bush from mid spring through to autumn.
• A pollinator favourite. Bees and butterflies feed on the flowers through the warm months, and birds visit too.
• Easy going. It is drought tolerant and frost hardy, and grows in any well-draining soil.
• Happy under trees. In the wild it thrives under stringybarks and gum trees, so it suits dappled shade under established canopy.
• Light upkeep. A light haircut after flowering keeps it bushy and tidies its tendency to sprawl.

Where it works best

Informal hedges and windbreaks. Plant 70cm apart in a single row for a loose, flowering hedge that filters wind.

Under trees. Use it beneath gums and other open-canopied trees, where it is happy in dappled shade.

Native, cottage and coastal gardens. Its soft grey-green foliage and starry flowers blend with grevilleas, correas and grasses, and it copes with coastal sites.

Growing Twiggy Daisy Bush in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun or part shade. It grows wild from southern Queensland to Tasmania and across Victoria, so it suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. It is not found in the wild in humid areas, so north of the Sunshine Coast, test its resilience yourself.

Soil. Any well-draining soil. In the wild it also grows on river banks and in rich, moist soils.

Water and feed. Water until it is established. After that it is drought tolerant and manages on rainfall in most gardens.

Pruning. Give it a light haircut of the leafy growth after flowering. This keeps it bushy and growing strongly, and tidies its tendency to sprawl.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Twiggy Daisy Bush as tube stock only. A tube is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and it suits a hedge line or a native border where you want plenty of plants. Expect a small, upright plant on arrival, with the loose, spreading habit developing as it grows. Plants travel upright and settle in within a few weeks.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse Australian native shrubs
• How to create a great hedge and keep it looking sharp
• Native bee plants
• Drought tolerant plants

Common questions

Will it grow in humid parts of Queensland?

It does well in southern Queensland and the south-east, but it is not found wild in humid areas. North of the Sunshine Coast, treat it as a trial and give it excellent drainage.

How do I stop it sprawling?

A light haircut of the leafy growth after flowering keeps it bushy and tidies the sprawl. It is a relaxed, loose shrub, so accept some natural looseness rather than aiming for a formal clipped shape.

Can I plant it under gum trees?

Yes. It grows naturally under stringybarks and gums, and it is happy in dappled shade as well as in full sun.