Helichrysum cymosum
ASTERACEAE

  Online Brand Ambassador     2020-06-08

• Forget the red carpet…say hello to the gold carpet! As variable as it is widely distributed, this neat plant grows into either a mat-forming groundcover or a shrub to 80cm depending on factors like soil type, nutrients, wind and rainfall. Its grey elliptical leaves are beautifully complemented by a sea of discoid canary-yellow flowerheads in late spring/summer. Besides providing much-needed food for bees, this is an important plant in traditional medicine, with the twigs and aromatic leaves being used by people in the Eastern Cape to alleviate pain and clean wounds.
• Flowering time: September-April
  In your garden: Beware, this little guy is a wolf in sheep’s clothing! The woolly grey underside of the leaves gives it a water-wise appearance, but it only really thrives in damp spots. The low-growing form is ideal for moist coastal gardens, being well adapted for salt air and sandy conditions. Plant in full sun or semi-shade and water well.
  Distribution: Mpumalanga to the southwestern Cape on sandy slopes and flats
  Image: © James Puttick