Hoary Sunray

Images ©:
©Hoary Sunray - Elspeth Swan, © Hoary Sunray - Cathy Powers

Leucochrysum albicans

Variable perennial herb to 15 cm tall with everlasting paperdaisy flowers. Narrow blue-green leaves covered in white cottony hairs to 10 cm long. Flowers are attractive white-petalled with deep magenta on the outside petals and a golden centre.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor, Helipterum albicans
Distinctive Features

Central yellow flowers 2-5 cm wide are surrounded by numerous white bracts, red or magenta underneath.
Biology

Perennial. Grasslands from sea-level to sulalpine regions. Grows on a variety of heavy soil including those derived from basalt, limestone and dolerite. Dies back over summer. Requires bare soil and freedom from competition to germinate.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Sep-Dec
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Asterales
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Leucochrysum
Species
albicans

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Seed becomes jelly-like on wetting and sticks it to the soil to aid germination, an adaptation for dry environments. Listed as threatened at a national level and in Vic and Tas.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

There are a number of subspecies and varieties.
Native Status
Native