Leucophyta brownii
Wire-wool plant, Cushion bush
Also known as Calocephalus brownii
- Height × spread
- 0.9m × 0.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A curious and eye-catching plant that has tangled silvered stems that are clad in scale-like foliage. It is often seen tucked into rock gardens in dry and sunny positions. It is a good candidate for a container in colder areas so it can be brought under cover for winter. There are tiny rounded bobble-like yellow flowers that come in late summer. These scarcely notice and are not considered ornamental by everyone. It is a good foil for pinks and purples or could even be tried with other light foliaged plants for something different. An excellent plant for the seaside, it is not, however, long-lived.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Silver
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.9m
- Spread
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Seaside garden, Gravel garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during drought
In drought conditions where established plants in the ground have had no water for a month, do a deep watering. If drought continues repeat after a fortnight. Plants only need watering during spring to autumn growth. Check plants in pots more often.
Established plants have a good degree of drought tolerance. Water after a prolonged period of drought. Many drought tolerant plants can rapidly revive, even when much of the foliage has died. They will respond with new growth.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Prune young growth
Remove the flower and most of the young growth that the plant has made in the previous season. Leave just around 2 centimetres of young growth on the plant. Don't cut into old wood unless it is diseased or damaged.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Pinch out growing tips
On young plants pinch out foliage tips to encourage a pleasant and bushy growth habit.