Brachyglottis

( brack - KIK - lot - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

Brachyglottis is a genus filled with species of evergreen shrubs that produce daisy-form flowers. These shrubs require full sun and moderate to regular water. Cuttings from this plant provide great greenery for arrangements, and last a long time in water. It is considered a 'classic' in most gardens, growing to about 4-5 feet tall and 6 or more feet wide. Stems are stiff and slightly curved. Leaves are leathery, grey-green and outlined in silver-white. Come summertime, yellow blooms appear in clusters. Take care when planting these shrubs in the landscape, as some species have toxic plant parts.

Brachyglottis species and Varietals

The genus Brachyglottis is a member of the plant family Asteraceae and includes 39 species. Many species previously included in the genus are now included in Senecio. Brachyglottis plants grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-12 or Sunset growing zones 5-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Brachyglottis arborescens (Three Kings Rangiora)
This species is endemic to New Zealand, where it only grows on the Three Kings Islands (hence the common name). These small trees or shrubs can reach up to 26 feet tall and produce small white flowers in clusters. Bark is thick, corky and ridged. Leaves are green with tan to brown undersides.

Brachyglottis bidwillii (Senecio bidwillii) (Bidwell's Brachyglottis)
Endemic to New Zealand, these shrubs reach up to just over three feet tall when mature, and produce leathery, oval green leaves that are shiny above and woolly below. Flowers are bell-shaped. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-10, and can handle coastal conditions in stride.

Brachyglottis elaeagnifolia (Curtain Creeper, Parda Bel)
This species of flowering shrub is endemic to New Zealand, mainly on its north island. It reaches about 10 feet tall at maturity. Upper leaf surfaces are green and glossy, and undersides are silvery-white and hairy. Flowers are wooly and white. Curtain Creeper does well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11.

Brachyglottis greyi (Senecio greyi) (Daisy Bush)
This species is endemic to New Zealand, and is a very commonly cultivated garden ornamental around the world. They are ideal for warm and maritime climates, and are tolerant of hot sun, poor soils, wind, and coastal spray. The species forms a mound up to 5 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Varieties include 'Sunshine', and 'Moira Read' (with variegated foliage).

Brachyglottis huntii (Rautini, Chatham Island Christmas Tree)
Native to New Zealand's Chatham Islands, this species forms a shrub or small tree that reaches up to 26 feet tall at maturity. Bark is grey and flaking, and foliage is green. Flowers are bright yellow, and produce seeds in fall.

Brachyglottis repanda (Rangiora, Bushman's Friend, Kouaha, Pukapuka, Wharangi, Raurakau, Bushman's Toilet Paper)
This species either forms a small, bushy tree or a tall shrub, and is endemic to New Zealand. They can reach about 20 feet tall and produce pale green leaves with white undersides, and white flowers from August through October in the plant's native range. Best in USDA zones 9-11.

Brachchyglottis sciadophila (Climbing Groundsel)
These plants are scramblers or climbers, usually found growing over other plants or in mats on the ground. It is the only climbing member of the Asteraceae plant family, and is endemic to New Zealand. It produces woody stems, small green leaves, and yellow flowers.

Caring for Brachyglottis

Take care when planting these shrubs in the landscape, as some species have toxic plant parts. Brachyglottis, or Rangiora, should be grown in a space in the garden that receives full sun; ideally, they appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for the best blooms and growth rate. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants perform well in consistently moist soils. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season, and remove spent flower inflorescences to neaten up the appearance of plants and encourage reblooms. Each year in springtime, prune to cut out older growth that has gotten a bit leggy. These are generally long-lived perennial evergreen shrubs, and can live for decades in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Propagation

The best way to propagate Brachyglottis, or Rangiora, is via semi-hardwood cuttings in summertime. To propagate your plant, follow these instructions:

Gather your materials. You will need clean, sharp garden shears, rooting hormone powder, a pencil, organic potting soil, a 7-8 inch pot, several 3-gallon pots. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or fall, take a few cuttings from your parent plant at are about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long using clean, sharp garden shears. You can take just one, though to increase your chances of success, it is best to take more than one. Make sure you are taking your cuttings from the ends of new growth rather than older growth, as they will root more successfully.
Prepare your pot by filling it with soil and watering it, ensuring that drainage is taking place.
Submerge your cutting completely in a tub of water, then take it out and remove (pinch-off) all of the leaves below the top 2 centimeters (3/4 inches). Dip the bottom of your cutting in rooting hormone powder.
Poke a hole in the soil with your pencil for each cutting you have taken from the parent plant. Ensure that they are spaced at least two inches apart. Then, insert your cuttings into each hole and fill in around the bases (do not pack down).
Place your container in a place in your home that receives bright indirect light. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, while the cutting is taking root.
After three months have passed, your cuttings that have rooted should be showing some new growth. If you have trouble identifying new growth, take progress pictures once a week from the two-month mark, and look for differences. Move your cuttings with new growth into individual 3 gallon pots and feed with a half strength 14-0-14 fertilizer. In about six months, your plant should be ready to be transplanted.
Once in your yard, ensure that the young shrub gets weekly waterings, and enjoy watching it grow. It takes between 5 and 10 years for a plant to reach its mature size.