Ozothamnus

( oh - zoh - THAM - nus )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs and shrublets needs full sun and regular water for best performance. All species are native to Australia, and produce densely packed flower heads of typically white (sometimes pinkish) blooms. These shrubs are great accent plants, can be used to cover eyesores in the garden, as specimen plants, or as hedges. Their flowers of some species are cultivated for use in dried and fresh flower arrangements, adding wonderful fragrance, form, and filler for bouquets.

Ozothamnus Species and Varietals

The genus Ozothamnus includes around 60 species and is a member of the plant family Asteraceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words ozos- (meaning branch) and -thamnos (meaning shrub).They typically do well in zones 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Ozothamnus alpinus (Alpine Everlasting)
These plants are endemic to southeastern Australia, and typically reaches between 2.5 and 3 feet tall. Branches are covered in hairs that turn grey as they age, and flowers are white to yellow, surrounded by reddish-orange outer bracts. In the plant's native range, flowering occurs from February through March.

Ozothamnus cuneifolius (Wedge-Leaf Everlasting, Wedge Everlasting)
These plants are native to the forests of Australia, and reach up to 10 feet tall. Leaves are green and have undersides covered with fine white hairs. Flowers are white, and bloom from November through January in the plant's native range.

Ozothamnus cupressoides (Scaly Everlasting, Lattice Everlasting, Kerosene Bush)
These shrubs reach between 1.5 and 3.3 feet tall when mature, and produce whitish tomentose branches. Leaves are scale-like and small. They are green on their upper surfaces and white and hairy underneath. Flower heads appear in dense clusters in summer and fall, and are white.

Ozothamnus diosmifolius (Rice Flower, White Dogwood, Pill Flower, Sago Bush)
These plants are commonly grown for their flowering heads, which are cut off of shrubs and used in fresh floral arrangements. Individual plants reach up to 7 feet tall, and have branches that are rough and densely covered with short hairs. Flowers are white with some pinkish coloration thanks to their colorful bracts. Variety 'Pink' produces pink flowering heads, and 'Radiance' produces profuse stark white blooms.

Ozothamnus leptophyllus (Tauhinu, Cottonwood)
These plants reach up to 6 feet tall when mature, and are common plants in coastal farmlands in New Zealand. It forms a yellow-green to greyish bushy shrub with tomentose branches and leaf undersides. Young leaves are slightly sticky. Flowers are typically white, but can be blushed with shades of pink or red.

Ozothamnus rosmarinifolius (Rosemary Everlasting)
These shrubs are native to Australia, and reach 6-10 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide (in 5-10 years' time) with a dense upright habit. Leaves are slender and dark green, resembling
Rosemary (hence the common name), and flowers are small and white, blooming from red buds beginning in late summertime. The plant has a pleasant fragrance, especially when the weather is warm. Variety 'Silver Jubilee' has silver-toned foliage.

Ozothamnus secundiflorus (Cascade Everlasting)
These aromatic shrubs are endemic to Australia, and reach between 1.5 and 6 feet tall when mature. They have dark green to greyish foliage with tomentose undersides. Flower heads are white, and appear in dense clusters in December through February in the plant's native range.

Caring for and pruning ozothamnus shrubs

Grow these shrubs in full to partial sun; the more sun these shrubs receive, the better they will grow and flower. Plant in well-draining soil; these shrubs are at home in gravelly or sandy soils, and prefer a pH of between 6.1 and 6.5 (slightly acidic). Allow the soil to dry out between waterings; be cautious with watering these shrubs, as they will have issues with root rot if the soil is too wet. Reduce watering during the winter months when the plant is not actively growing. Fertilize with a balanced, liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength in spring, summer, and early fall. Stop fertilizing in the wintertime when growth slows down. Pruning these shrubs is simple; trim lightly after flowering season to encourage a bushier growth and trim dead or leggy growth as needed. If you are growing these shrubs in containers, you will need to repot every 2-3 years to avoid the plant becoming too root-bound.

Propagation

The simplest way to propagate Rosemary Everlasting is through taking cuttings in spring or early summertime. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below.

Propagating Ozothamnus by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.