{"product_id":"olearia-traversii","title":"Olearia traversii","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOlearia traversii\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eChatham Island daisy bush\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eakeake\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the toughest evergreen shrubs you can plant on an exposed or coastal site. Fast and dense, it carries glossy dark green leaves that are silvery white and felted beneath, and it shrugs off salt spray and relentless wind that would scorch almost any other evergreen. If you need a dependable windbreak, hedge or screen by the sea, few plants do the job better.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRated \u003cstrong\u003eRHS H4\u003c\/strong\u003e and hardy to around -10C, it is reliably hardy in mild and coastal gardens. Move it further inland and it turns a touch more borderline: here it is sodden winter ground and freezing, drying winds that put it under pressure, far more than any straightforward frost. Given sharp, free draining soil it comes through winter in good shape and holds its glossy foliage all year round.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun in an open, exposed or coastal spot. One of the very best shrubs for salt and wind.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e any free draining soil, from sand to chalk to loam, across the full pH range. Good drainage matters most.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e a fast, dense evergreen reaching roughly 8 to 12 m if left unpruned, though it clips readily to any hedge height.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e reliably hardy on the coast, borderline in cold inland gardens with wet winters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through the first couple of summers to build a strong root system, after which it becomes impressively drought tolerant. It responds beautifully to clipping, so you can hold it as a tight formal hedge or let it grow into a billowing informal screen. For a coastal boundary, space plants around 45 to 60 cm apart and trim two or three times through the growing season. It also settles happily into a large container for a season or two on an exposed terrace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExplore more of our \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e, browse the full range of \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/coastal-plants\"\u003ecoastal plants\u003c\/a\u003e, and see our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003escreening and hedging plants\u003c\/a\u003e. Olearia is equally at home in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-border-plants\"\u003eexotic borders\u003c\/a\u003e or grown in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e. Before you buy, it is worth reading our guide to \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect from hardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e through the seasons. Every plant is nursery grown, carefully selected for a healthy root system, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"19cm \/ 3L","offer_id":57974449832319,"sku":"OLEATRAV19","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/olearia.jpg?v=1784325625","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/olearia-traversii","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}